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Technology and safety features on board vehicles have advanced greatly over the past few decades. Drivers can now access various features such as emergency braking, automated parking, and smartphone integration. However, all these amenities will not be enough to prevent car accidents if the driver is negligent.
Whether driving alone or with passengers, driving safely should always be your top priority. Don’t get distracted while driving, especially if there are intersections. A lot of accidents happen at intersections. The NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) estimates that almost 97% of intersection accidents are caused by drivers who are not paying attention. Often, intersection accidents occur because the driver has obstructed views or is unable to see oncoming vehicles or other hazards fully.
Understanding Accident Hotspots
A road traffic accident hotspot is where road traffic accidents are more likely to occur. Human decisions, surrounding factors, vehicle conditions, and road management can all contribute to repeated incidents at a given location.
Among all the factors that cause a car accident, driver behavior is the most consistent and measurable variable. It is common for near-crashes to occur when drivers apply harsh braking, acceleration, or swerving, but they do not result in the same outcome as a car crash. Thus, identifying and analyzing near misses can provide a wealth of insight into how to prevent accidents.
Accident Hotspots Scenarios
Let’s look at two examples of near-crash situations to understand how car crashes occur and can be prevented. Driving behavior is one of the factors that identify near-hits:
Intersections Outside the City
Roads outside the city are typically quieter. However, they are mostly uncontrolled and lack traffic signs. In T-intersections, when two drivers are not paying attention to the road and other vehicles, a T-bone or angle collision can happen. Other outside factors like poor visibility and lighting can also cause an overspeeding driver to crash into the vehicle from the other corner. Without improving conditions in these sections, they might become an accident hotspot.
Turning Left at a Busy Intersection
Left-turn lanes in city centers have advanced signals coordinated with pedestrian signals. However, vehicles don’t always see pedestrians crossing a crosswalk when they turn. Studies indicate that truck and SUV drivers hit pedestrians more often when leaving a stop sign. Some vehicles have an A-pillar support in the windshield, which blocks the driver’s view when turning at an angle. In such situations, the driver may use harsh braking, or it will be too late to see the pedestrian, resulting in an accident.
When any of these scenarios happen repeatedly, an area will become a crash hotspot unless new laws and regulations are established to prevent them.
Driving Safety Tips on Accident-Prone Areas
Safety is important, but we sometimes overlook small details that might make a difference in staying safe when driving. Keep safe on the road with these tips:
Keep your eyes on the road.
A key ingredient to driving safely is to ignore distractions and maintain focus on the road. Avoid multitasking at all times and use your phone and other devices when driving. Also, make sure to stay within the speed limit—overspeeding gives you less time to react to obstacles on the road and increases the severity of the crash.
Practicing defensive driving.
How does defensive driving work? Using defensive driving techniques, motorists focus on driving safely and preventing accidents. Being aware of your surroundings is the key to driving safely. Always expect the unexpected and assume that other drivers will do something crazy so you can be prepared to avoid it. Don’t drive too close to other vehicles, and put at least a two-second cushion between you and the vehicle in front.
Plan for safe driving.
When driving, especially long-haul drives, prepare everything before you leave. Schedule your stop for food and rest breaks and make phone calls. Check your vehicle’s mirrors and climate controls, and adjust your seats for more comfortable driving. It is also important to check your brakes and steering and ensure you have enough fuel until the next stop.
Make safety a priority.
When driving, it is important to prioritize safety. If you are traveling with cargo, make sure it is secure and won’t move around. If something falls to the floor, don’t attempt to retrieve it while driving. Always wear your seatbelt, and never drink and drive.
Road Safety Tips: Be a Responsible Driver
When it comes to road safety, you are your own best safety feature. Even with advanced technology, if you don’t practice safe driving, you are at high risk of getting involved in an accident, whether in a hotspot area or not.
Follow road safety laws, speeding laws, and traffic laws.
Low-speed zones are designated on some roadways. Schools, close-to-intersection streets, and areas with high pedestrian traffic are examples of these areas. Make sure to follow the speed limit in these areas, as driving over the limit puts you and others at risk.
You should also observe proper road safety in such areas. For example, if a bus stops with a stop sign on its left, children are crossing, and you should slow down. You must also stop at signs and watch for pedestrians and other drivers before stepping on the pedal.
Never drive under the influence or while intoxicated.
Driving responsibly means not getting behind the wheel after drinking alcohol. By doing so, you put yourself and others in danger. The term drunk driving also refers to driving under the influence (DUI) and driving while intoxicated (DWI). When you drink alcohol, your reflexes slow down, your mental acuity temporarily goes down, and you may be less able to control your vehicle and drive safely.
DUI arrests can result in jail time, a suspended license, and fines, among other consequences. In the case of a hit-and-run or fatal crash while driving impaired, the consequences can be even worse. Additionally, open containers of alcohol are prohibited in cars. You should keep alcoholic beverages sealed and in the trunk when transporting them.
Consult an Accident Lawyer
Sometimes, no matter how careful you drive, accidents can still happen, possibly because of someone’s negligence. When that happens, contact a reputable and experienced personal injury lawyer. They should be able to tell you your legal rights and options if you suffer an injury.
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