Highway Safety Basics

Highway Safety Basics for All

An experienced Personal Injury Lawyer can inform you of your rights if you or someone you know was injured in a motor vehicle accident. In 2017, there were 37,133 people killed in motor vehicle crashes. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT), 16 percent of these fatalities were pedestrians, 14 percent were motorcyclists and 2 percent were bicyclists. sixty-four percent of crash fatalities in 2017 were passenger vehicle occupants and 2 percent were occupants of large trucks. While highway safety is improving over the last decade, we still have work to do to mitigate the vast majority of vehicle crash related fatalities.

From the statistics stated above, everyone is at risk. The three biggest causes of vehicle crash fatalities are:

• Alcohol
• Speeding
• Distracted Driving

Basic highway safety tips can help to combat these poor driving habits and can keep you, your staff and your loved ones safe on the road.

Alcohol

As the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration(NHTSA) puts it, “if you feel different, you drive different.” All 50 states have laws against driving under the influence of alcohol. Thinking, reasoning and muscle coordination are all affected by alcohol making it dangerous to have even one drink and drive. Remember these tips before making the mistake of drinking and driving.

• If you are planning to drink alcohol, designate a non-drinking designated driver. Use taxi services, if needed.
• If you are the host, make sure all of your party guests leave with a sober driver.
• If you see a drunk driver on the road, call law enforcement immediately.
• Always wear your seatbelt to protect yourself from other impaired drivers.

Speeding

In 2017, speeding accounted for more than a quarter of all traffic fatalities. Data tells us that speeding is on the rise. This trend could be due to many factors like increased traffic congestion, stressful schedules or a general detachment and disregard for other drivers. Whatever the cause, we can all do more to keep the roads safe from speeding accidents.

• Always observe speed limits and reduce your speed in inclement weather.
• Give speeding drivers plenty of space.
• If someone is trying to pass you in the left lane, move over and let them by.
• Use good judgement to avoid aggressive drivers tailgating or intimidating you.
• Call the police if you believe another driver is harassing you.

Distracted Driving

NHTSA reports that approximately 481,000 drivers are using handheld devices daily. There are three main types of distraction where driving is concerned; manual, removing hands from the steering wheel, visual, taking eyes off the road and cognitive, thinking about anything other than driving. Texting is exceptionally dangerous because it engages all three of these distractions. Adhere to the following safety standards to keep our roads safe of distracted driving.

• Never text and drive. Pull over if you must or wait until you’ve reached your destination.
• Save phone calls until the end of your trip.
• Don’t try to multitask while driving. Using a handheld device, changing the radio, setting GPS and even eating are dangerous activities that can increase the risk of an auto accident.
• Remain focused on the task at hand, driving, for the entire time you are behind the wheel.

If you or someone you know was injured in a car accident, contact The Personal Injury Department at The Law Offices of Young Wooldridge, LLP. A personal injury lawyer at The Law Offices of Young Wooldridge, LLP can inform you of legal options you may not know you have.