Did you know speeding contributed to almost three in 10 traffic deaths in 2022? That’s over 33 people on an average day. The sad reality is these tragic events can be avoided but aren’t.
People tend to forget that driving is a privilege rather than a right. When you earn a driver’s license and get the opportunity to operate a motor vehicle on the roads and highways, there are rules of the road to abide by. It’s up to every licensed motorist to play by the rules.
While you can’t control everything that happens on the road, it’s best to focus on what you can control. That’s where good driving habits and behaviors come into the equation. You can do something to make the streets safer for yourself, other drivers, passengers, and pedestrians.
Here are three tips for being a safer driver and avoiding accidents that can have dire consequences.
1. Avoid Speeding
There are speed limits for a reason. So, if you’re traveling 20 or 30 miles per hour over the speed limit, you’re putting yourself and others in danger. Remember that your response time will decrease if traveling at a high rate of speed. That means your margin for error will drop.
According to one source, almost six in 10 U.S. adult motorists — 59% — admit they usually exceed the posted speed limit by five to 10 mph. Meanwhile, one-third say they stick to the speed limit, and 8% acknowledge they drive more than ten mph over the speed limit. While driving a few miles per hour over the speed limit probably won’t cause any issues, it’s best to obey the law. A police officer can charge you with speeding if you’re even one mph over the posted limit.
An accident caused by speeding can wreak havoc on the lives of the drivers, passengers, and pedestrians involved. In addition to dealing with severe injuries, there’s also mental trauma. If you’re ever injured in a car accident, you must see a car accident lawyer to discuss the situation. That’s the only way to get the compensation and help you need to recover.
2. Distracted Driving
According to one source, it’s estimated that 7.6% of motorists on the road use phones while driving. Meanwhile, the National Safety Council reports that the percentage of motorists using hand-held electronic devices while driving increased 82% — to 3.1% in 2022 from 1.7% in 2013.
When driving, you can’t afford to be multitasking. Your focus should be on the road. Too many bad things can occur if you allow your attention to drift elsewhere. It’s not worth the risk. You can’t eat, drink, fiddle with the radio, play with your dog, comb your hair, or do anything else when driving. Otherwise, you could get into an accident and face a charge of distracted driving.
3. Drinking and Driving
Drinking and driving don’t mix. But that doesn’t stop some people from throwing caution to the wind. When someone gets behind the wheel intoxicated, they increase their risk of injuring themselves and others. Unfortunately, fatalities during such incidents are also a possibility.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that around three in 10 — 32% — traffic collision deaths in the U.S. involve drunk motorists. In 2022, 13,524 people were killed in accidents involving intoxicated drivers. Drinking and driving kills. So, avoid it at all costs.
If you want to be a better driver and contribute to safer roads, consider these three tips. Creating safer roads requires the efforts of all drivers and pedestrians. But all you can do is your part.
