The New Year is here and if you are still scratching your head over what your New Year’s resolution should be, why not make a New Year’s resolution for safer driving? If you resolve to be a better driver in 2016 and practice safe driving habits, you may save your life or the life of someone else. Some of the most serious injuries that a person can sustain in a car accident include:
An accident can happen in a split second, forever changing a person’s life. The good news is that the vast majority of accidents that occur every year are preventable. A New Year’s resolution for safer driving may be part of the solution.
Safe Driving Habits to Learn Now: You should focus on improving your safe driving habits and the safety of those around you. Here are a few that are especially important:
Do not drive while distracted: Your cell phone, the radio, the kids in the backseat, your pet, an event happening on the side of the road, the morning coffee and your afternoon snack can all be incredibly distracting. While it may be hard for you to commit to not letting things take up your attention, focusing on the task of driving is a huge part of driving safely.
Prepare your route in advance: Before you get in your car to head out on a long road trip, give your route some consideration. Listen to accident reports. Have any traffic crashes been reported? Are there any road closures? Think about the weather. Is it snowing or raining out? If so, is your vehicle prepared to handle the bad weather. The more you know about your route, the more prepared you will be to handle it. And, you will also be less likely to be caught by surprise by traffic, and will be able to leave the house in advance if necessary.
Get your road rage in control: If you are prone to episodes of road rage, you need to learn how to get your road rage under control now. Road rage can lead to bouts of aggressive driving, which in turn increases your risk of being involved in a car accident.
Never drive while impaired: There is no better New Year’s resolution for safer driving than to resolve always to drive while sober and fully aware. This means never operating a motor vehicle after drinking alcohol, using controlled substances, or using certain prescription drugs.
Be patient: Impatience is a major cause of accidents. Some drivers cannot wait for the red light, cannot wait to make their turn, or cannot wait to get to their destination, and end up speeding as a result. While being patient may mean that you arrive at your location a few minutes later than you originally planned, it may also mean that you arrive there in one piece.
Take an Online Course: Another great thing that you can do this holiday season if you want to resolve to be a better driver is to sign up for an online defensive driving course. These courses are relevant to all drivers specifically designed for employees who need to drive on a regular basis. For example, the 90-minute defensive driving course on distracted driving has information that all drivers can relate to, and highlights information like how using a cellphone increases the risk of collision, injury, and death.
When Other Drivers Do Not Drive Safely: Call an Attorney. We hope that you will make the decision to resolve to be a better driver in 2016. However, even the best drivers in the world are sometimes the victims of those who are not. If you are involved in an accident with an irresponsible driver and you are harmed as a result, do not wait to take action. The experienced Utah car accident attorneys at William Rawlings & Associates can help you, whether you are filing a claim with the insurance company or filing a lawsuit. Voted the Top Accident attorneys in Utah, put our experience on your team.