Posted on Monday, August 7th, 2017 at 2:27 am
Are you a safe driver? Most people consider themselves to be safe drivers. However, many people have bad driving habits that put them at risk for a traffic accident each time they get behind the wheel of a vehicle. Two areas where many people need to improve their driving behaviors are avoiding distractions and reducing aggressive driving behaviors.
Multitasking Behind the Wheel is Dangerous
According to the NHTSA, distracted driving resulted in 3,477 traffic-related deaths and 391,000 injuries 2015. AAA Foundation for Safety and AAA Exchange have conducted extensive research and studies on the dangers of distracted driving. Many drivers think that the danger only exists while they are distracted (i.e. looking a map, texting, etc.). However, recent research reveals that drivers remain distracted for an average of 27 seconds after they complete the task.
When a driver attempts to do anything other than focus on driving, the result can be deadly. Taking your eyes off the road, your hands off the wheel or your mind off the traffic ahead increases your risk for an accident. Just taking your eyes off the road for two seconds has been shown to double your risk for a crash. Studies have also concluded than y cell phone use almost quadruples the risk of a crash.
Therefore, it is best to leave the multitasking to work, chores, or other areas of your life. When you are operating a motor vehicle, your sole focus should be arriving at your destination without causing yourself or others injury.
For more information and tips on how to avoid distracted driving, visit AAA Exchange’s Distracted Driving website.
Aggressive Driving Behaviors
Aggressive driving behaviors or “road rage” has become another significant problem on American Roads. AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety has researched this subject too. Recent studies revealed that almost 80 percent of drivers express behaviors related to road rage or aggressive driving in the past year
Examples of road rage and aggressive driving include:
- Running red lights
- Speeding
- Throwing objects
- Yelling or cussing at other drivers
- Tailgating
- Changing lanes without signaling
- Sideswiping other vehicles
- Cutting in front of another driver and slowing down
- Ramming other vehicles
- Getting out of the vehicle to confront another driver
- Blocking another driver from passing or changing lanes
- Forcing a driver off the road
It is estimated that one of the most common forms of aggressive driving is tailgating. Tailgating can result in rear-end crashes that cause serious injuries for both drivers.
AAA Foundation for Public Safety offers tips for avoiding road rage and aggressive driving in its road rage guide. It is easy to become irritated and angry when dealing with traffic and other drivers. Practicing these tips can help you decrease your risk of a road rage accident.
Call a Sacramento Traffic Accident Attorney for Help
If you have been injured by an aggressive or distracted driver, you should not bear the financial burden caused by that driver. Furthermore, you deserve to be compensated for the physical and emotional pain and suffering caused by another driver’s negligence.
Call The Tiemann Law Firm for a free consultation and no-obligation case evaluation. You can reach our office by telephone at (916) 999-9000 or by visiting our website. Our personal injury law firm serves clients in Sacramento, Folsom, Roseville, El Dorado Hills and other communities in the greater Sacramento area.
