Unfortunately, millions of car accidents happen each year and car owners should prepare for the worst.
No one wants to get into a car accident. Unfortunately, they occur on a daily basis all across the world. In fact, there is an average of 1.3 million deaths caused by car accidents globally every single year, with an additional 20-50 million people left with injuries or disabilities in the aftermath of a crash — that averages to about 3,200 deaths a day. Here are a few tips on how to become a master of the road and be accident free;
1. STAY OUT OF THE FAST LANE.
This isn’t a race – you just want to arrive at your destination alive. Stay away from the fast lane, where most highway accidents occur. If you’re in one of the middle lanes, you have more “escape” options if someone on the road looks like they’re about to cause a problem. On another note, highway patrol is more likely to keep a closer eye on you if you’re driving in the left lane.
2. AVOID BLIND SPOTS
Adjusting your rearview and side mirrors will help to provide you with a nearly seamless panoramic view of the back and sides of your car. However, you can’t rely on these alone! You should physically turn to look directly into lanes next to you to avoid missing something your mirrors left undetected. While you’re driving, you should also keep the blind spots of other drivers in mind as well, especially when it comes to truckers. Try and stay out of others’ blind spots as much as possible or spend as little time as possible in them.
3. KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR CHILDREN.
Young children haven’t the road safety maturity as older kids, so if you’re driving in a built-up area or close to schools, always pay full attention to your surroundings.
Children could step out from in front of a school bus, or behind a parked car so drive slowly in areas with street lights and be prepared for all eventualities.
4. LOOK AFTER YOUR VEHICLE TO HELP IT LOOK AFTER YOU.
Maintaining your vehicle to a good standard is vital.
Get your car serviced every twelve months or 12,000 miles, whichever comes first for you.
It’s a good idea to have your brakes are checked by your mechanic at least every six months.
To avoid sudden stops, check your engine oil regularly and keep an eye for any faults on your car’s digital dashboard if you have one.
Put air in your car tyres regularly, at least once every three weeks and before every longer-than-normal journey to avoid dangerous blow-outs.
We’ve all been driving on the motorway and overtaken a lorry.
And our car gets sprayed with dirt and rain; keep your windscreen and mirrors clean too.
To ensure your sight is never hampered, always keep your windscreen washer fluid topped up and replace your wipers regularly, at least every six months Is recommended.
5. Be cautious at nighttime
Some people choose to travel at nighttime to stay away from traffic, but this only poses new hazards. You might be tired, not able to see everything well or encounter other tired or drunk drivers. Drive with extra caution around the witching hour!
By following the above tips, you should know the best ways to drive defensively and how to prevent a car accident.
However, sometimes, there is nothing you can do and the situation is simply out of your control.
