How To Avoid A Car Accident

A ccidents: we all have them. Some accidents are negligible and rectifiable. Others, however, can be dangerous – landing one in murky waters and potentially even being life-threatening. One form of such dangerous accidents is car accidents. Although one can’t usually foresee it, preparing for the worst can help. Here’s how to avoid a car accident:

Prepare For It

While the severity level of car accidents varies from case to case, the statistics for fatal car accidents are worryingly high: it is estimated that globally, they are responsible for the deaths of nearly 1.3 million people annually, and 3,287 people daily. What’s more, they are the leading cause of death worldwide for people aged between 15 to 29 years. It is important to identify the root cause of young adults being at such a high risk of dying in a car accident, to rule out any lapses in one’s road safety preparations beforehand.

Here are the things to look out for – which people (especially the younger lot) may not always be sufficiently careful about:

1. Wear Your Seat Belt

We can’t stress this enough – seat belts are there in cars for a reason. Wear them! Doing so will reduce the likelihood of you getting seriously injured by about 50%. The correct way to wear one is by securing it low on one’s hip bones and ensuring that the shoulder belt goes across the center of one’s chest. Children, on the other hand, should be safely secured in car seats.

2. Choose Your Car According To Safety Standards

The older the model of your car, the higher the chances of it being outdated as per the latest safety standards will be. And the lower the placement of the car’s safety standards, the more likely you will be to not survive in case of a car accident. Features like head support, seat belts, and airbags are a must to have. Additionally, ensuring the good health of your car’s brakes, engine, transmissions, tires, and suspension can act as a solid safeguard against disastrous car crashes.

3. Leave The Dashboard Alone

Seriously, don’t lean against the car’s dashboard. Airbags inflate when there is a high-speed crash. While they tend to be a lifesaver, the force of their inflation can throw you backward and injure you if you are leaning against the dashboard at that moment. Some cars also have curtain airbags (also known as side airbags), which can make leaning against the sides of the car dangerous as well.

4. Don’t Rely Completely on Technology

Technology has transformed our lives in many ways, including by making driving cars easier through advanced features like blind spot assist, backup cameras, and autonomous braking. However, it can not always be trusted because technology is also prone to malfunctioning; therefore, complete reliance on such features can increase the risk of serious injuries in case of an accident.

5. Follow Traffic Laws And Drive Safely

Traffic laws exist to help reduce the chances of road accidents. If you don’t obey them (by, for example, going over the speed limit), you not only put yourself at risk of crashing, but you also set up the other people sharing the road with you for the same. That’s why important to not over-speed or drive in the absence of green light. Also, make sure to be fully focused on driving (instead of getting distracted with things like your cell phone) if you’re the driver, and to sit straight without distracting the driver or leaning your seat too much if you’re the passenger.

Focus On Damage Control

Often, we can take all the precautions possible and still end up meeting an accident due to unforeseen circumstances. Damage control becomes crucial in such situations. Here’s what to do in case you are certain you will meet an accident:

1. Control Your Speed

In some cases, minimizing your car’s speed when you sense an incoming accident can help contain the crash, whereas accelerating the car can be the smart choice if it’s possible to get out of the way.

2. Be Strategic

If crashing into something is unavoidable, try to steer toward the least damaging area (such as bushes rather than another vehicle or concrete structures).

3. Handle Your Car with Care

Switching off your engine, turning on the hazard lights, extinguishing any open flames, and unlocking the doors can help prevent further damage.

4. Contact Emergency Services

Apply first-aid if feasible, and contact emergency services in your area for immediate professional help to minimize the risk of further injuries.

The bottom line is that it’s always a good idea to take the necessary precautions beforehand to avoid getting into such an accident in the first place, as far as possible. Now that we have helped you figure out how to avoid a car accident, go service your car – you can thank us later!