Driving comes with inherent dangers. The biggest dangers outside of your control is driving during the summer months. Statistically the time between Memorial Day in May and Labor Day in September are the most hazardous. This approximately 100-day period of time is the most dangerous according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
Traffic spikes in the summer and especially on holiday weekends such as Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Labor Day. Further, the miles driven per person reached their peak in July and August as a result of family vacations. It’s critical for every driver to exercise additional care on the road during these periods and all summer long. Many articles tell you what To Do on the road during this time. This article outlines many of the things to Not Do when you’re behind the wheel.
Texting while driving is against the law and one of the most common causes of accidents. Here’s a few more things you shouldn’t do while driving. The most important things to keep in mind include:
• Do not eat or drink when driving. This is another form of distracted driving.
• Do not wear headphones. Makes it difficult to hear emergency vehicles.
• Do not drive with the music blaring.
• Do not keep loose items in your car. Trying to control a loose object leads to many accidents.
• Do not apply makeup. Another form of distraction.
• Do not drive barefoot
• Do not argue. Getting overly emotional often leads to rash decisions.
Driving for extended periods of time makes you tired and keeps you from being as alert as possible. Before you become overly tired, stop for a rest and to get out and stretch your legs. Distractions have been shown to make you less able to react to other drivers and prevent you from driving defensively. Whenever you take your eyes off the road for just five seconds you end up traveling the length of several football fields. There are several types of distractions that you should avoid.
Distracted driving is anytime you’re not paying complete attention to the road. There are three types of distractions;
• Taking your eyes off the road.
• Taking your hands off the wheel.
• Taking your mind off the task of driving.
Some distractions take all of your senses away from the road and make driving more dangerous. Texting includes all three types of distractions and makes driving extremely unsafe. You need to stay focused and drive defensively especially during the summer.
Driving in a defensive manner requires close attention to other drivers and the ability to anticipate potential problems to avoid accidents and other situations. Never drive unless you’re rested and ready to pay attention. Programming your GPS unit in advance is another step you can take. If you’re driving with children be sure to provide plenty for them to do so they don’t require your attention while you’re driving. If you and your passengers are involved in a heated discussion, pull over. Never get behind the wheel when you’re angry as anger leads to erratic driving and poor decisions.
We represent people who are injured because of the careless and reckless acts of others. At the end of the day your case can only be settled one time and you need to know all of the facts beforehand. The reason that insurance companies have paid our clients in excess of $130,000,000.00 is that we get the facts and are not intimidated at the prospect of going to trial when they refuse to follow the law. We help with serious issues that require serious representation. We are the Law Offices of Guenard & Bozarth. We have almost 60 years of experience in our plaintiff’s only law firm. Call GB Legal 24/7/365 at 888-809-1075 or visit www.gblegal.com We Can Help!
