Driving is the most common method of transportation among American adults. When you sit in your car and prepare to depart, you must accept the inherent risks that come with driving. As a Baltimore MD car accident lawyer from Cohen & Cohen can explain, there are several strategies and mindsets you can adopt to make auto travel more safe for yourself, your passengers, and others on the road. Keep reading to see how to to reduce the risk of an accident in Huntsville.

10 tips that any driver can use to reduce their risk for an accident in Huntsville

1. Focus on Driving: Phones have quickly become the most common distraction for drivers around the road. Although distractions are not limited to phones when behind the wheel. It may seem obvious, but everyone could use a friendly reminder from time to time. When driving, focus on the most important thing, driving.
2. Anticipate Other Drivers’ Errors: Drive as if other drivers have no knowledge of traffic laws. It pays to assume that a driver will merge into your lane without signaling, or that they will run a stop sign. By anticipating that other drivers will break traffic laws, you can help keep yourself and your passengers safe!
3. Obey Speed Limits: Speed limits are in place to help keep everyone on the roadways safe. Do your part in maintaining a safe environment by obeying this simple rule. By obeying the speed limit you are setting an example for other drivers and are contributing to safer road conditions for others on the road, such as pedestrians and cyclists.
4. Buckle Up: Driving a car, even at seemingly slow speeds subjects the body to forces that can easily lead to injury in the event of a sudden or unexpected change of speed or direction. When you prepare to depart, always, always buckle your seatbelt and ensure that every passenger in your vehicle has their seatbelt fastened properly. Seatbelts save lives!
5. Allow Ample Time to Get to Your Destination: By allowing yourself more than enough time to travel from point to point, you will feel less compelled to rush, speed, or otherwise make compromises in your driving. Even if you are running behind schedule for an important meeting, take your time and focus on navigating your vehicle safely.
6. Yield! There are scenarios that you will encounter when driving when you must make decisions. During moments of uncertainty, take the defensive route and yield to others on the road. Yielding when you are unsure of the move to make will help keep you out of potentially dangerous situations.
7. Keep Right: This tip applies mostly to roads with more than one lane, such as highways or interstates. If traffic happens to be moving faster than the speed limit, or faster than you are comfortable driving - keep to the right lane. This will allow faster traffic to pass on the left, clear of common vehicle blindspots.
8. Always Use Turn Signals: Behind the wheel, your turn signals are your best friend. Turn signals are an essential tool for communicating with other drivers on the road. Those who neglect to signal when turning or making a lane change are endangering everyone else on the road.
9. Look both ways: Whether you are approaching a greenlight, or crossing at a 4-way stop sign, it pays to look both ways. Even when the light is green, look left and right for drivers who may appear to be neglecting to stop.
10. Make Space: Allow ample space between your vehicle and others on the road. You can defend against accidents by allowing yourself space to stop if the car in front of you stops unexpectedly. Allowing plenty of space will help prevent being involved in a rear-end collision, giving you time to react to changes in road conditions and traffic.