Introduction
Almost everyone knows someone who has been in an accident and some of us have even been in an accident ourselves. Car and truck accidents are inevitable as there are more and more drivers on the roads. Even with cars becoming safer, many people die every year from car accidents. With that being said, there is a lot you can do as a driver to help prevent some accidents from happening.
How to prevent accidents
A key method to helping to prevent accidents is monitoring your speed. Driving at a high rate of speed heavily increases your chances of getting in a car accident. According to the NHTSA, “In 2020, speeding killed 11,258 people” (NTHSA, 1). This comes to show that slowing down is always a safer option and could even save your life someday. Another way of preventing accidents is to not use your cell phone while driving. This has become more difficult over the past few years as more and more people use navigation on their cell phones. According to the National Safety Council, “Studies show that driving while talking on a cell phone is extremely dangerous and puts drivers at a four times greater risk of a crash” (CAS, 1). Pulling over to take phone calls or respond to text messages significantly reduces your chances of being in a car accident. Taking proper precautions such as following speed limits and not using your phone while driving does not only help protect you, but also other people around you.
What to do in the event of an accident?
The first thing to do in an accident is to analyze the seriousness of the accident. Asking yourself questions like: ‘Is anyone injured?’ and ‘Are any potentially hazardous substances leaking from the vehicle?’ are important questions for determining what to do next. From this, you can determine whether you need to call the police or even if someone needs serious medical attention. Many minor accidents will not require medical attention. However, it is always better to err on the side of caution and get medical attention if you are unsure if you need it or not (particularly for potential neck and spine injuries). Calling the police can be important as they can provide you with documentation that are helpful with your insurance, this step may be required depending on if you are driving a company car and/ or depending on the jurisdiction where you are driving. In the event that one is hauling hazardous or non-hazardous material, it is important that you notify the fire department, particularly if the material is flammable or hazardous to the environment in any way.
Conclusion
Driving is an inherently dangerous activity. Understanding and practicing safe driving tactics can help to avoid accidents and the consequences which come with accidents. For information about what Highlands Environmental Solutions can help do regarding emergency response and cleanup please reach out to info@hesnc.com
Sources
NTHSA. “Speeding.” NHTSA, https://www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/speeding.
National Safety Council. “National Safety Council Calls for Nationwide Ban on Cell Phone Use While Driving.” The Center for Auto Safety, 31 Mar. 2016, https://www.autosafety.org/national-safety-council-calls-nationwide-ban-cell-phone-use-while-driving/.
