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Nobody wants to be driving down the road one minute only to find themselves involved in a horrific car accident the next. While this is a terrifying possibility, rest assured knowing that anybody can take preparations to reduce the risk of a car accident. By simply taking the time to research the leading causes of car accidents, particularly on road trips, along with some travel safety tips, a person can keep themself safe on the road.
How Frequently Do Car Accidents Occur?
It may not be a pleasant thought to consider, but car accidents do occur quite frequently on the road. This is why learning how to avoid a car accident in the first place is so important. In particular, it is estimated that there is an average of 13 car accidents every minute in the United States alone. On a global scale, there are over 3,000 fatalities resulting from car accidents on a daily basis, going to show that this isn’t just a domestic problem.
Road Trip Dangers 101: The Causes of Car Accidents
One of the first steps to staying safe on a road trip is understanding the common causes of car accidents out on the road. In particular, the following four items are responsible for a large number of accidents:
1. Vehicle breakdowns on the road
Given the increased amount of time a vehicle is on the road during a road trip, the added strain can put the vehicle at a greater risk for a breakdown. Whether the engine decides to give out due to heat, the wheels wear down too much, or something else occurs, a vehicle stopping in the middle of the road poses an extreme danger for all drivers and can lead to an accident.
2. Impaired driving due to alcohol or drugs
While it’s stressed to drivers from a young age never to drink and drive, as well as to never use drugs and drive, some drivers still choose to break this law. Finding yourself involved in a car accident with an intoxicated driver is a dangerous experience, particularly due to the fact that it tends to happen at a high speed, which is all the more reason to never be the intoxicated party.
3. Driving while fatigued behind the wheel
Another major cause of car accident on road trips is a driver falling asleep behind the wheel of a vehicle. Being on the road for hours on end can be extremely taxing on the body, and sometimes microsleep can occur on the road. In the short span of time that a person falls asleep behind the wheel, they could lose control of their vehicle which would result in a terrible accident.
4. Navigating in unfamiliar weather conditions
An often-overlooked cause of car accidents on the road during road trips is driving during unfamiliar weather conditions. Whether it is heavy snowfall, torrential rain or winds, blistering heat, or something else, unfamiliar weather conditions can quickly lead to drivers making poor choices on the road. This danger becomes even more present when a person is on a road trip as they are more likely to be traveling in an unfamiliar area with different weather.
Safety Tips to Avoid a Crash While Traveling
Once you have identified the common causes of car accidents on road trips, learning how to avoid a car accident is all the more important. To that end, keep some of the following important safety tips in mind:
- Leave at least three to four seconds of space between vehicles to allow for adequate stopping time on the road
- Scan the road at least twelve seconds ahead of your vehicle to spot any road hazards that may be present
- Take care of preventative maintenance to reduce the risk of a mechanical breakdown on the road
- Never get behind the wheel after drinking or ingesting drugs
- Take the time to rest before getting behind the wheel of a vehicle
Even with precautions, crashes can still happen on long drives. If your route passes through Nevada and you’re hurt in a collision, a Las Vegas personal injury lawyer can explain your rights, handle insurance negotiations, and pursue compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Click here to learn more.
The Bottom Line
Rather than allowing yourself to become the victim of a car accident, take preventative action by studying the common causes of a crash and how to avoid them. General safety tips on the road are all well and good, but those taking a road trip need to be even more prepared due to their added time on the road. Therefore, use all of the above tips in conjunction with everyday driving tips to further reduce your chances of being in a wreck.
