Risks You Need To Be Aware Of When Driving

Hundreds of road traffic accidents happen every day causing all sorts of injuries and sometimes even fatal. If drivers are distracted at the wheel, this takes their focus away from the road, and if all the drivers are distracted, then it’s hazardous. Drivers are often tired after being at the wheel for a long time, resulting in errors that could have easily been prevented. There are many reasons why accidents occur, but here are the top five:

risks to be aware of when driving
Photo by Mary Whitney from Pexels

Distractions

Distracted drivers are a widespread reason why people have road accidents. Either because they’re using their phones or eating or drinking behind the wheel. You need to be extra careful when you have children in the vehicle and drive extra safely and try not to get distracted by them, although it can be difficult. Also, try not to get distracted by other people’s driving.

Speeding

Driving too fast is all too common, and often motorists are so used to doing it, they don’t even notice. However, it is illegal and hugely dangerous. The faster a vehicle is going, the longer it takes to slow down. Also if it is just a slight increase in speed, it can result in a much higher risk of being in a collision, so it is essential for motorists to be aware of the rate at which they’re traveling and stay within the speed limits.

Drunk Driving

Although it is illegal, some people still drive after drinking alcohol. Because of this, their response time and their ability to focus on the road are hugely affected meaning that intoxicated drivers are usually slower at braking. Even just a small amount of alcohol can have a significant increase in the risk of an accident. There is no need for anyone to drive after drinking, with taxis, bikes, and Ubers there is no excuse for putting yourself and any other drivers in danger. If you know you will be driving, then you must avoid alcohol, or arrange alternative plans for getting home if you are going to consume alcohol.

Reckless Driving

Tailgating, speeding, changing lanes without looking and ignoring road signs are classic signs of reckless driving. Another illegal driving habit, reckless driving usually involves a driver who is less concerned about other road users than themselves.

Night Driving

Driving in the day time can be hazardous, but driving at night nearly doubles the risk of a car accident happening. When you can’t see what’s coming up ahead, you don’t know what to expect as you drive towards it. As the night gets darker, your awareness of the road and cars around you must go up.

Unsafe Lane Changes

There will always be times where you need to change lanes, and when drivers don’t make safe lane changes properly, it can lead to car accidents. To prevent an unnecessary car accident, use your indicators, check your blind spots and proceed carefully into the next lane.

Fog

Luckily, Fog isn’t the most common weather type. However, driving is a task that does require the ability to see, and Fog makes that extremely difficult. Sometimes you can’t see more than a car length in front of you, so to avoid car accidents use your headlights, never your high beams, when driving in the Fog.

Racing

The Fast and the Furious movies have glorified street racing, and the underground culture of fast cars can mean deadly car accidents. Turbo engines and nitrous oxide boosters, mean that cars can often reach very high speeds during a race, which makes any resulting car accident much more dangerous than usual.

Rain

The weather can harm people’s driving, and rain is one of the most common causes of road accidents. When the road is very wet, it is common for cars to lose their grip, meaning that they are at risk of sliding across the surface of the road. These weather conditions reduce control for drivers and increase the risk of accidents. Rain-related driving risks are often enhanced by poor car maintenance, such as tires that don’t have a deep enough grip or aren’t appropriately inflated.  It is vital to be even more alert and aware of road conditions, speed limits, and traffic during rainy weather.

Legal Requirements

All drivers are required to adhere to the rules of the road and state and federal driving laws, but there may be additional regulations for some drivers. If you have committed driving offenses in the past, for example, you may need to comply with extra measures and guidelines to enhance safety and demonstrate that you are a safe and careful driver. If you have an ignition interlock device fitted in your car, for example, you will need to make sure that you use the device as instructed and that you avoid an ignition interlock violation. If you don’t meet the terms of the agreement, you risk losing your license, your vehicle could be impounded, and you may face further charges. Every driver should be aware of their responsibilities and the laws governing the roads in the relevant area.

If you do find yourself in a car accident whether it’s your fault or not, make sure you speak to a car accident attorney, take photos of any damage, and get all the details you can from anyone else involved in the accident.

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