Every year, drivers in the United States are involved in an average of 6 million car crashes that injure more than 3 million people and kill more than 32,000. The sad fact is that many of these crashes are preventable. Here are a few tips that could help prevent you from being involved in or falling victim to a serious injury or fatal car crash.
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The best decision you can make to survive a vehicle crash is to wear your seat belt. No one plans on getting into a crash when they get into a car, so wear your seatbelt every single time. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that 14,955 lives were saved by drivers and riders who were simply wearing their seat belts in 2017.
Slow down
According to the NHTSA, speeding accounts of more than one quarter of all traffic fatalities. This includes going faster than the posted speed limit, as well as going faster than you should for the road conditions. When road conditions are hazardous, slow down even more.
Use a designated driver
Every 48 minutes in the United States, someone dies because of a drunken driver. Alcohol, marijuana and other drugs can significantly impair a person鈥檚 ability to drive because of slower coordination, judgment听and reaction times.听If you choose to use drugs or alcohol, be sure to get a designated driver or call for a rideshare.
Put away the distractions
When you think of distracted driving, most people think of cell phones. But听eating and drinking, talking to people in your vehicle, adjusting the stereo, entertainment or navigation system, and putting on makeup are just some of the other ways that your attention is taken away from driving safely.
In 2017, more than 3,100 people were killed due to distracted driving. Make sure that your time behind the wheel is dedicated to getting you safely to your destination.
Remember, many of these tips are not just for your safety and the safety of the occupants of your car, but also for others on the road. The life you may alter may not be your own.
