We all know that the road is an inherently dangerous place. Every single driver is statistically likely to get into at least two accidents in their lives. However, you are able to adjust those odds in your favor. People don’t take road safety seriously enough and they don’t often consider where the majority of risks come from. Here, we’re going to look at the three biggest causes of road accidents and what you can do to make sure that you’re being a responsible driver.
Your car
The majority of drivers do not take good enough care of their cars. Besides taking it into the garage every time you suspect something is wrong with it, you should be taking more time to maintain your vehicle. All new cars and most used cars come with a log book, for instance. This book shows how often it needs maintenance and what kind of maintenance, exactly, it needs. Taking closer care of your car can save you the costs of major repair bills down the line, and highlight problems growing under the surface. Most importantly, it lowers your risks of a malfunction that could end in you losing control of the car, such as issues with the steering or the brakes. It also lowers your risks of a breakdown, which can be potentially fatal. After all, if you’re left on the side of a road in the middle of the night without the right visibility gear, other drivers may not be able to avoid you.
Other drivers
It sounds easy to blame other drivers, but the truth is that no matter how safely you drive and how much you take care of your car, you can’t control how others drive. Learning defensive driving techniques, the practice of keeping road awareness and being ready to react to danger can help. But if you get into an accident, the important thing is ensuring that you’re not on the hook for any damages, especially if someone else’s driving injures you. Look online at Greene Broillet & Wheeler to see what is involved in getting legal help after an accident. If you let someone else escape their responsibility, then you risk being held accountable instead, including the costs of all the damages to your own vehicle and medical bills.
Your driving
That said, you have to acknowledge your own responsibility to drive safely on the road. Avoiding the urge to speed, taking precautions to make sure you never drink drive, and simply being more mindful of the risks on the road can drastically lower your chances of getting into an accident. It’s worth taking a look at AARP for the benefits of driving safety courses, even after you’ve long received your license.
You can’t stop every accident or breakdown from happening. However, you can certainly reduce your chances of getting caught up in them and of seeing justice done when you’re the victim of an accident. If you’re not ready for the responsibility, you shouldn’t be on the road.
