Car Accident Lawyers Assisting Injured Motorists and Passengers in Charleston and Throughout South Carolina
It is no secret that distracted driving endangers lives: the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recently reported that approximately ten percent of all traffic fatalities in the United States result from drivers who are texting while driving alone. Yet there are many other ways in which a South Carolina driver may become distracted or otherwise dangerous on the road.
Top Ways to Minimize Driving Distractions and Dangers in Columbia, Charleston, Myrtle Beach and Clinton
With gas prices in South Carolina lower than they have been in recent years, many families will be taking to the roadways and highways over the next several weeks to visit friends and family for the holiday season. Whenever a roadway or highway experiences increased traffic, the risk of you or a loved one being involved in a South Carolina car crash increases. Do not needlessly place yourself or others at further risk of injury or death: observe the following simple and effective safety tips:
- Put the cellphone away while driving. Do not use a cellular phone to text, talk, or search the internet while you are driving. You should consider refraining from any use of your phone whatsoever while driving, as even “hands-free” technology can still take your attention away from the road. Before getting behind the wheel, text or call family and friends to let them know you are about to start driving and when they can expect to hear from you. Turn your phone off while driving (or at least to “Silent”) so you will not hear alerts and be tempted to look at your phone. Resolve that if you must look at your phone, you will do so only after pulling off in a safe location and stopping your vehicle.
- Use seatbelts. You have heard it before, but the simple message bears repeating: Seatbelts save lives. Insist that your children wear their seatbelts at all times in the car (or, if they are too young for seatbelts, ensure that they are properly secured in an appropriate child safety seat). Set a good example for your children by wearing a seatbelt yourself. Tell any adult passengers riding with you that they, too, will need to wear a safety belt while riding with you.
- Get help in limiting distractions. Encourage others who may be traveling with you to not play music or videos too loudly so they do not become a distraction to you. Your passengers should also refrain from engaging you in conversation or pointing out things for you to look at – especially when there is a great deal of traffic around.
- Get plenty of rest before and during your trip. Driving while drowsy causes many of the same impairments and limitations that driving while intoxicated can cause (impaired judgment, impaired reflexes, etc.). Make sure you get plenty of rest the night before you embark on your journey. In addition, you should plan for periodic rest breaks while you are traveling so you can get out of the car and refresh yourself. If you feel tired while driving, it is best to pull off at a safe location and stop (or stop for the night at a hotel or motel).
- Keep your eyes and attention on the road. Taking your eyes or attention off of the road – even if only for a few seconds – turns you into a distracted driver and your car into a potential weapon. A car traveling at 55 miles per hour can travel the length of a football field in a matter of seconds, so taking your eyes off of the road to look at another passenger in the car or an accident on the side of the road means you can travel several hundred feet unaware of what is in front of you. If your car has collision avoidance technology, do not rely on this technology alone to keep you safe.
Contacting Your South Carolina Car Accident Lawyers at Joye Law Firm
At Joye Law Firm, we want you and your family to remain safe this holiday season while traveling. We know, however, that even if you take every precaution and practice safe driving habits that this will not completely protect you from being involved in a car crash caused by a distracted driver. When this happens, count on Joye Law Firm to be there to assist you in obtaining compensation for your injuries. Our firm has years of experience helping residents of Columbia, Myrtle Beach, Charleston, and throughout South Carolina receive monetary damages for their injuries. Call our firm for help, or contact us online, and let us go to work for you helping you recover from your car crash injuries.
Categories
Archive
