It has been calculated that around 2.5 million Americans will be injured in a car accident or other motor vehicle crash each year, and approximately another 37,000 will lose their lives. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), and other similar safety associations, this number has actually gone up in recent years. With so many hazards and accidents out there, it is high time that we all accept that we are all responsible for roadway safety. If we really want to stop traffic accidents, then we all must spread awareness and exhibit on the best driving habits.
Here are five ways you can encourage responsible driving behaviors among your friends, family, and community:
- Drive sober: Never get behind the wheel after you have been drinking. Even one drink can make you tipsy and worsen your reaction time for several hours. To promote safe driving among your friends, always offer to be the designated driver whenever you go somewhere for drinks. It might seem stale if you are always the designated driver for your friends, but driving sober 1,000 times and keeping everyone safe is infinitely better than driving drunk once and causing a drunk driving accident. You should also refuse to get into any vehicle that is driven by someone who could be intoxicated.
- Put the phone down: New studies are emerging, including some from the National Safety Council (NSC), that show texting and driving causes more car accidents each year than drunk driving. The statistic is believable in acknowledging that not everyone drinks alcohol but most everyone has a smartphone. Keep your phone in your pocket, purse, or glove compartment whenever you are driving. If you hear an important phone call coming in that must be answered, pull over, well out of the way of traffic, and into a parking lot whenever able.
- Wear your seatbelt: There is no arguing that seatbelts save lives, but some people still believe that they are somehow dangerous. Whenever you are driving, do not start the car until everyone is wearing their seatbelt. With persistence, you can probably condition even your most stubborn friend to make buckling up second nature.
- Follow the speed limit: It is not really stated clearly by the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) or even the Department of Transportation (DOT), but speed limits are not just placed and enforced arbitrarily. Instead, meticulous calculations are used to determine a safe limit for that area based on a number of factors, including nearby intersections, road incline, history of crashes on similar streets, and more. By following the speed limit, you are acknowledging that they are there for your safety and that of everyone else on the road. Speeding also tends to just rush you to the next red light due to most city street layouts, so you never save any significant amount of time but risk your wellbeing in the process.
- Award your teenage drivers: Teenage drivers are still learning the ropes of safe driving and are highly susceptible to adopting the practices of those close to them, for better or for worse. If you are a parent, consider rewarding your son or daughter once a month or once every few months that he or she does not get into any trouble while driving. Many child psychologists and parents will tell you that positive reinforcement is more effective at establishing behaviors.
Car Accident Attorney in Schuylkill County
Sometimes all the best and safest driving practices are not enough to prevent a car accident caused by a negligent, reckless, or intoxicated driver. If you are ever hurt in a collision that was not your fault, The Law Offices of Anthony Urban, P.C. and our Schuylkill County personal injury lawyers can be of assistance. We answer calls 24/7 and schedule appointments on weekends and evenings when convenient for our clients. Learn more about your legal options and chance to pursue fair compensation by contacting us today to set up a case evaluation.