Buckle up, this is a wild ride. Nearly 2.3 million people are sent to the hospital for serious or fatal injuries annually. That’s just in the United States!
If nothing else, that should make you want to wear your seat belt.
Even though driving is likely the most dangerous thing you’ll do today — or ever, for that matter — you shouldn’t fear it. You should simply avoid these 5 common causes of car accidents.
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Put the Phone Down
First and foremost, if you’re reading this on your phone while you’re on the interstate, you’re nuts. Put it down and read it when you’ve initiated the car’s parking brake.
Having your phone out while driving is incredibly dangerous. It’s almost the equivalent of driving inebriated.
Unsurprisingly, driving with your phone out is outlawed in most states in 2021. Just having it out, with the screen on, can be a moving violation.
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Changing the Tunes
As much as you hate the song that’s playing, don’t let it distract you. If you can safely change the channel, do so, but don’t ever take your attention off of the road for music.
A lot of vehicles incorporate music controls directly into the steering wheel nowadays. This was a direct consequence of so many accidents directly caused by fiddling with the radio.
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Ironic Causes of Car Accidents: Rubber-Necking
Rubber-necking is exactly what it sounds like. It’s when you turn your head, almost like you have a rubber neck, to watch something off to the side.
Any time you take your eyes off of the road, you’re introducing danger into your drive. Checking out the mayhem on the side of the road causes a lot of accidents.
If you’ve ever been the victim of rubber-necking, check out justcallmoe.com.
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Substance Use
Unfortunately, a lot of people get behind the wheel after a beer. Or two. Or six.
Drunk driving is a leading cause of car accidents in the United States. When driving impaired, reaction times, decision making, and depth perception are dysfunctional. These abilities are critical in getting from point A to B in a vehicle.
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Anger in Your Eyes
As much as you’d like to shout at the guy that cut you off, letting it go is best. Anger can be an equal impairment to alcohol use.
There’s a reason it’s called blind rage. Your vision goes dark and you can’t control your actions thoroughly.
Road rage is serious. Anything that happens on the road should be forgotten and forgiven.
Buckle Up, Drive Safe
Driving in the States is almost considered insane. Traveling to work or the grocery store can be a risk not worth taking. But as long as you practice good driving, your chances of an accident are substantially lowered.
When in the car, put your phone down and don’t mess with the radio. Don’t rubber-neck or drive impaired, either by alcohol or rage.
Are you interested in learning more driving tips? Check out our other articles on car accident prevention and driving safety.
