4 Everyday Things You Can Do to Prevent Car Accidents

Sadly, car accidents happen suddenly all the time. Many of them result in damage done to vehicles and injuries for the drivers and passengers. Some of these injuries result in permanent disability. Others result in death. While car accidents are terrifying, there are thankfully things you can do on your own to lessen your odds of being involved in one.

Below are four everyday things you can do to prevent car accidents.

Drive Defensively

The highway system is not the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. There is no reason to drive aggressively. Speeding is illegal. Not only is it dangerous, but it will result in huge fines for you at some point. There’s also no reason to drive bumper to bumper with other cars. Instead, try to drive defensively. You’ll be driving more safely and your car insurance rates will remain low at the same time.

Perform Routine Maintenance

A poorly maintained car is a dangerous car on the road. Breakdowns could happen at any point, even while on a busy interstate freeway. Get your oil changed as often as your owner’s manual tells you to. The same is true for sparkplugs, filters and brake pads. Without brake repair, you may not be able stop your car fast enough to prevent an accident. Routine maintenance is that important.

Don’t Drive Distracted

Distractions are another common cause of accidents that could be avoided if drivers were more mindful of their behavior. Thanks to smart phones, the internet and communication with the rest of the world is available almost everywhere on the planet. However, that does not mean it should happen in your car. Put your phone away while you’re driving. Avoid other distracting behaviors as well. Even eating while driving could cause you to lose attention long enough to be involved in an accident.

Don’t Drive While Tired

Everyone should know to never drive drunk or while under the influence of drugs and alcohol. However, far fewer people think about how their poor sleeping habits impact their driving ability. According to the Sleep Foundation, going without sleep for 24 hours is comparable to having a .10 blood alcohol level. Get some sleep if you need to drive. If you can’t, have someone else drive you.

Car accidents happen all too often. Thankfully, there are steps you can take to lessen your chances of being involved in one. The four suggestions above can help protect you from some of the major causes of car accidents.