Decades of advertising and public information have led us to drive safer cars on safer roads. Despite this progress, however, the numbers of road accidents and fatalities is still staggering. In the year 2008, there were more than six million car accidents in the United States of America, which led to approximately 37,000 deaths. Therefore, it is better to drive safe today, to not be sorry tomorrow. Here is how you can assure road safety, in the US.
1. Do Not Drink and Drive
Around 30% of all the car accidents and fatalities in the US involve drivers who are intoxicated. These auto accidents have led to more than 11,773 deaths in the year 2017 alone. Most of these deaths could have been avoided completely if the drivers involved, had not gotten behind the wheel when they knew they were drunk and decided not to drive. It is, therefore, advised that you take a cab or call someone to drop you off at your home when you know you are drunk and would not be able to drive.
2. Keep In Line With the Speed Limits
As one of the most famous old public service campaigns so tersely puts it, “Speed kills.” Recent research has discovered that for each mile per hour which you drive, the possibility of you being in an auto accident increases by more than four to five percent. At higher speeds, the risk also upsurges a lot more quickly. Thus, it is very important that you keep well within the speed limits and avoid over speeding at any cost.
3. Avoid Distractions
Many states in the United States, including Virginia, have passed certain laws which have explicitly banned the use of cell phones when you are driving. The cause of this is the increased numbers of death because of this seemingly very harmless activity. More than 2,600 deaths have occurred every year nationwide. If you think that texting and being on a call while driving is not that big of a deal, it is important that you consider the fact that the vision of a 20-year-old driving and texting is similar to that of a seventy-year-old man.
4. Wear the Seat Belt
Seat belts have saved a lot of lives. When they are worn properly, these prevent you from being thrown around the car if the vehicle crashes. More than half of the accident fatalities were those people who had not used their seatbelts. For the young people, this risk is even higher. More than 70% of the total accidental fatalities caused by not wearing a seatbelt were children aged between 11 and 17.
It is important that you follow the above-mentioned guidelines and drive safely. This will not only be beneficial for you but will also be for those around you. A lot of accidental fatalities are not the drivers themselves but the passengers traveling with them. Drive safe today, and you will not be sorry tomorrow!