Are you someone who gets behind the wheel of a car on a regular basis? If so, you need to put safety at the top of your priority list. Even a relatively minor motor vehicle accident can lead to severe injuries. Some motor vehicle accidents are even fatal. Therefore, you need to do everything you can to minimize your chances of getting in an accident when you drive. Take a look at a few car accident safety tips below, and remember to reach out to a trained healthcare professional if you have been involved in a motor vehicle collision in Daytona.
Never Drink and Drive
One of the most important tips you need to follow is that you should never drink and drive. The legal limit for blood alcohol concentration is 0.08. If your BAC is higher than this, then you could be guilty of drinking and driving. If you drink alcohol and drive a motor vehicle, your reflexes are going to be significantly slower. You might be more likely to fall asleep behind the wheel. Your judgment will also be impaired. This places not only yourself at risk, but also the other people in your car, pedestrians on the road, and other drivers.
In addition to staying away from alcohol, you should also avoid driving if you are taking any medications that could impair your ability to drive. This includes not only illegal medications but also prescription ones. Some prescription medications make it more likely for you to fall asleep while driving. If you have questions about how your medications are going to impact your ability to drive, you may want to reach out to your doctor.
Put Down the Cell Phone
Next, you should also put down your cell phone while you drive. If you are talking on the phone while driving, your attention will be divided between the conversation on the phone and what is happening on the road in front of you. You may not react appropriately to changing road conditions, which could make it more likely for you to be in an accident.
Even though you should not talk on the phone and drive, you should certainly not text and drive. If you send a text message while driving, you will take your hands off the steering wheel of the car. You will also take your eyes off the road. This makes it far more likely for you to be involved in a motor vehicle accident. There are some locations that even have laws against using your cell phone while driving (including Florida). You need to minimize your chances of being involved in a car accident, so make sure you put down the cell phone while driving.
Be Wary of Bad Weather
If you live in Central Florida, then you know the weather can change quickly. Even though this isn’t a place that gets a lot of snow, there are other types of bad weather that can make it difficult for you to drive safely. For example, there may be a significant storm to come through, making the road wet. Or, severe weather can limit your visibility, making it difficult for you to see the car in front of you. You should try to avoid driving in bad weather when you can. If you have to go out while it is raining outside, you should leave extra distance between yourself and the car in front of you. This will give you more time to react to changing road conditions, avoiding a potential accident.
Get Your Car Maintained Regularly
You may think that if nothing is wrong with your car, there is nothing to fix; however, if you want to minimize your chances of being involved in a motor vehicle accident, you need to get your car maintained on time. For example, you should get your tires rotated at least once per year. This will give a professional an opportunity to measure the tread on your tires. If your tires don’t have enough tread on them, you may have a hard time gripping the road. This also increases your stopping distance. There are other important maintenance tasks that need to be completed as well. You may need to have the fluids in your car replaced, and oil changed. All of this is important for making sure your car responds appropriately on the road.
Do Not Drive While Tired
If you feel tired behind the wheel of the car, you should not drive. You might be shocked to hear that some people can fall asleep while driving, but if you are tired, your body will fall asleep just about anywhere. If you are having a difficult time keeping your eyes open, you should pull off to the side of the road and take a nap. Or, you may want to call someone else to come and help you get home if you live nearby. Driving while tired can dramatically slow your reflexes. This can also make it far more likely for you to be involved in a motor vehicle accident.
Minimize Distractions While Driving
Finally, there are plenty of other distractions you should minimize while driving. Even though you need to put down your cell phone, you could also try to minimize the number of conversations taking place in the car. If you’re busy trying to manage a bunch of people in the car, you’re splitting your attention between them and the road. This makes it more likely for you to be involved in a car crash. Furthermore, you should avoid eating in the car as well. This could cause you to take your hands off the wheel. Finally, try to avoid changing the radio station too often. This is another distraction that could make it more likely for you to be involved in a crash.
See Doctor Wagner After a Motor Vehicle Accident in Daytona
Even if you follow all the car accident safety tips above, there is still a chance that you could be involved in a motor vehicle accident. Even if you feel fine, there are some injuries that may not show symptoms right away. Therefore, you should always visit a healthcare professional following a motor vehicle accident.
If you have suffered a car crash in Daytona, you should rely on Doctor Wagner to help you. You need to develop a treatment plan that minimizes your risk of complications and side effects. Doctor Wagner will work with you personally, developing a treatment plan that has been customized to meet your needs. If you have questions or concerns about an injury following a car accident, reach out today to make an appointment.