Car accident data is invaluable because it helps law enforcement, safety advocates, and citizens to identify and combat deadly habits that lead to collisions. Below is an overview of the most hazardous behaviors among drivers.
Avoiding Routine Maintenance
Drivers need to be proactive about taking care of their vehicles. Regular maintenance is one key to preventing inconvenient and dangerous breakdowns. To keep vehicles running smoothly, check fluids, tire pressure and tread, and wiper blades often. Schedule routine service appointments, and address any equipment recalls. The investment of time and money up front can reduce the chance of a costly breakdown later.
Additionally, designate a specific time every week or twice a week to fill up on gas to prevent stressful driving situations. Make it a part of the regular weekly routine.
Failing to Use Turn Signals
Using a turn signal is more than just a courtesy to others, it is a basic safe driving practice. Using blinkers are one way that drivers communicate their moves to vehicles and pedestrians traveling around them.
Driving Aggressively
Nearly 80 percent of drivers admit to acting aggressively while driving in a given month, according to the American Automobile Association (AAA) Foundation for Traffic Safety. Aggressive driving increases the chance of a serious traffic accident or road rage altercation.
Common examples of aggressive driving include:
- Tailgating
- Speeding
- Riding the brakes
- Weaving in and out of lanes
- Running red lights and stop signs
- Changing lanes and turning without signaling
- Blocking or preventing other vehicles from merging or passing
Distracted Driving
When one thinks about distracted driving, texting is probably the first thing that comes to mind. Mobile phone use is a significant factor in distracted driving crashes. However, there are several other distracted driving habits that lead to serious and even fatal accidents:
- Grooming
- Eating or drinking
- Changing the radio station
- Looking at a center display screen
- Turning to look or talk to passengers
Driving Without a Seat Belt
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), proper seat belt use reduces serious crash injuries and fatalities by nearly 50 percent. In a forceful collision with another vehicle, object, or a structure, occupants who are not safely restrained are jolted around. Depending upon the site of impact, they can hit the steering wheel, dash, doors, and even other passengers. In rollover accidents, unrestrained passengers can be ejected from the vehicle.
Impaired Driving
Alcohol and other substances significantly alter the way a person sees the road and reacts to common driving scenarios. While alcohol and different types of illegal and legal drugs affect the body in different ways, they all alter response time, coordination, and decision-making in perilous ways.
Drowsy Driving
When someone doses off while driving, the results can be catastrophic. To prevent a tragic drowsy driving crash, pull over safely and get some rest at the first signs of fatigue. Signs of driver fatigue include:
- Persistent yawning
- Daydreaming
- Drifting out of the lane
- Having trouble keeping one’s eye open
- Forgetting the last few miles driven
If one is injured by a negligent driver, they may have legal options available to them. A lawyer can determine the best course of action.
Brooklyn Car Accident Lawyers at Eaton & Torrenzano Advocate for Clients Injured by Reckless Drivers
Even if you are committed to being a safe driver, you cannot control the choices of other motorists around you. If you were injured by a negligent driver, contact a Brooklyn car accident lawyer at Eaton & Torrenzano. Complete our online form or call us at 718-332-7766 for a free consultation. We are located in Brooklyn and Staten Island, New York, as well as Hillsborough, New Jersey, and we serve clients throughout Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, the Bronx, and Manhattan, Kings County, and Richmond County.