Six Ways to Avoid Accidents Before They Occur
Accidents occur when we least expected. You will never predict when or where the accident will occur. When accidents occur, they leave behind trails of destruction, and in some cases, lives are lost. Occasionally, you will hear in the media about a grisly accident on the road that has occurred. Even though you may be less bothered by accident, your whole world will crumble if the victim is a close family member. Although car accidents happen in a matter of seconds, their impact can be checked. Here are six ways to prepare for car accidents before they occur.
1. Ensure that your car meets all the safety measures
Road safety starts with you. It is your responsibility to ensure that everyone in the car adheres to all the road safety measures. First, ensure that your car is carrying only the recommended number of passengers. Do not think about carrying excess passengers or even goods. While in the vehicle, everyone should wear safety belts. Are the seats properly aligned? How is the condition of the safety belt? The safety belts should be in good condition so as to minimize the degree of an injury in case of an accident. The same should apply to airbags. They need to be in perfect condition so as to give you maximum protection. If you are traveling with children, ensure that they are seated at the back. This is because children tend to be restless. Apart from distracting you, their curiosity can make them explore some vital parts of the vehicle, and this can lead to an accident.
2. Check on the speed
It is better to arrive at your destination late and safe than failing to arrive at all. No matter how far or how late you are, do not be tempted to exceed the speed limits. According to statistics, more than 80% of the car accidents in the world are caused by speeding. When driving at extremely high speed, your control over the car goes down. You will only be enjoying the thrill of speed rather than concentrating on what is on the road. This does not mean that you will be completely safe from accidents if you drive within the recommended speed limits. By driving slowly, you will have total control over the car. Low speeds also give you adequate time to react to any incidence that may occur on the road. For example, if there is an oncoming vehicle, you will be able to slow down so as to avoid a head-on -collision. The impact of a collision will be less fatal if you drive slowly.
3. Do not drink and drive
Regardless of the brand or the amount that you take, alcohol will impair your judgment. Your ability to make rational decisions will reduce putting you at high risk of causing an accident. Alcohol can also make you excited and give you extra confidence. You will have the urge to drive at high speed and overtake all the vehicles that are ahead of you. In doing so, you may end up causing an accident. Alcohol can also cause visual impairment whereby you lose the ability to see what is on the road. In doing so, you may end up crashing other vehicles and even pedestrians. Remember that driving while drunk gives you minimal control over the vehicle. Everything that will be happening inside and outside the vehicle will be beyond your means. If you are planning to go out on a drinking spree, do not drive but instead use a cab or let someone else drive you.
4. Avoid distractions
While driving, your full attention should be on the car and not anything else. Both your mind and your body should be on the road. Both of your hands should be on the steering wheel. Of late, the most common distraction that is affecting many drivers is the mobile phone. Probably you would want to text and at the same time drive. Social is always tempting as you would always want to be updated with the trending stories even while on the road. While trying to concentrate on the phone, you will be less attentive to what is happening outside the vehicle. This will lead to an accident that would otherwise have been avoided. If you are a smoker, you can get distracted by a strong urge to smoke a cigarette. The source of distractions can also be outside the vehicle. If you are a man and you spot a cute lady outside, you may be tempted to ogle at her hence giving the vehicle less attention. Billboards and other outdoor advertisement materials can also distract you.
Check on the condition of the car
Before you turn on the engine, check on the condition of the car. The condition of the car may have a final impact on the safety levels. Do not inspect your vehicle casually but instead, check to ensure that all the parts are in a perfect condition. They should not compromise on your safety on the road. How are the tires? Are they showing any possibilities of bursting or will they be able to run for several thousands of miles? A tire burst on the road can make a vehicle to veer off the road and even overturn, therefore it’s recommended to use the best tire for your vehicle. Check on the engine so as to identify any signs of leakage. A leakage, no matter how small it is, can lead to a fire outbreak. You should also inspect the vehicle’s lighting system which includes the headlights, tail lamp, and parking lights so as to know whether they are working well.
Get proper car insurance
Once an accident has occurred, your vehicle may be damaged, or you may get serious injuries. You will also waste lots of hours trying to resolve the issues about the accident. If you were injured in the accident, you would spend several days at a medical facility. In other words, a car accident can bring your life to a standstill. However, with proper car insurance, you will be able to resume your normal life within the shortest time possible. With companies like The Hartford in Las Vegas, there are no excuses as to why someone doesn’t have car insurance. This is a legal requirement for any vehicle driver to have before they get on the road. If you are not too sure on what each policy covers, be sure to do your research, as this is important to know what you are getting yourself into. A comprehensive car insurance policy will cover for the damage that has occurred on the vehicle. This means that you will be able to have your vehicle back in a good condition regardless of how bad it was damaged in the accident. In the case of any legal battle that may arise as a result of the accident, the insurance policy will take care of all the costs associated with the lawsuit. The insurance will also compensate the survivors in case the accident has resulted in death. Why don’t you check out this affordable car insurance here?
A car accident can turn your whole life upside down. Rather than waiting to suffer from the impact of the accident, it is prudent that you take some precautionary measure which will give you some level of protection. With the tips above, you will be the safest driver on the road.