Safe Driving Tips

Every time you get in a car you put yourself at risk of an accident or injury. However, especially in Southern California, avoiding cars all together is simply not an option for most people. So, if you want to minimize your risk of an accident, you need to make sure that you drive safe and even defensively. Take a few hints from a San Diego personal injury lawyer:

Pay Attention

It seems simple, but paying attention to the road and your surroundings is the single most important aspect of driving safely. In fact, distracted driving is increasingly being shown to be as dangerous as drunk driving. Don’t eat, drink, read, talk, text, do your hair, or anything else that will take your eyes and your mind off the road. As many as 9 people are killed each day in the US do to distracted driving.

Hurry Up and Slow Down

The old adage is “Speed Kills” and it is absolutely true. Speeding is the main factor in crashes that claim the lives of 13,ooo people annually.

Get Some Sleep

Nearly as dangerous as distracted and drunk driving, drowsy driving results in over 100,000 car crashes every single year. If you are fatigued, it is possible to fall into a 3-4 second micro sleep without even realizing it.

Blame it on the Rain

But take it into account. Severe whether can make even the safest roadways much more dangerous. So, if you are driving through rain, snow, fog, or on ice be extra cautious and weary of other cars around you. Stopping distance may be greatly increased and visibility greatly reduced.

Give ‘Em Some Room

Don’t tailgate or follow other drivers too closely. There is nothing to be gained from driving too closely. Most experts agree that the 3 second rule should apply. At least 3 seconds should pass between when the car in front of you passes an object to when your car does.

Don’t Trust Other Drivers

You can’t expect all the other drivers on the road to exercise the same level of caution and awareness as you do. You never know when the car next to you will change lanes with out looking, pull into traffic, or slam on the brakes suddenly.

Adhering to these tips and applying them to your everyday driving can greatly reduce the chance that you are involved in a serious car accident.