What are the top three lethal dangers while driving?
According to experts, the biggest risks on the road are all self-inflicted by drivers themselves in the form of drinking and driving, driving while distracted, and driving too fast.
What can you do to help end these roadway hazards other than not engaging in them yourself?
1. End illusions about cellphones.
A popular misconception has the majority of drivers believing that cellphone use is safe while driving as long as it isn’t handheld.
Unfortunately, multi-tasking is a myth. Your brain can’t do two things at once — instead, it has to quickly switch back and forth from one task to another, and that slows your response time. Studies have shown, for example, that carrying a conversation causes your ability to process a moving image to slow by up to a third of your normal response time.
Spread the word that cellphones should be switched off while the car is in motion.
2. Spread the word about speeding.
Speed limits are posted for a reason. Studies by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) from 2003-2012 consistently indicate that speeding is a factor in 30 percent or more of traffic fatalities.
Encourage the people you know to obey posted speed limits.
3. Educate your employees about defensive driving.
If you run a business that has employees on the road for a significant amount of time making deliveries or service calls, stress a zero-tolerance policy on speeding, drinking and cellphone use while driving.
Consider putting regular drivers into a self-defensive driving course. Given that the average economic cost of even a nonfatal car accident injury is around $78,000, it could be well-worth the cost.
4. Organize an on-call service for the inebriated.
You can cut down the number of drunk drivers on the road by organizing an on-call service between the people you know. Offer to pick up friends and relatives who are stuck without a safe ride and get others to join you, especially around holidays. Stress the idea that it will be a “judgment free” service to encourage people to use it.
Even with your best efforts, car accidents are still bound to happen. Anyone who is injured due to a driver’s excessive speed, distracted driving or altered mental state while behind the wheel should seek the advice of an attorney as soon as possible.
Source: National Safety Council, “Safety on the Road,” accessed June 02, 2017