Five Easy Tips for Safe Driving

We can control whether or not we drink and drive, but we can’t control when other people drive intoxicated. When you get behind the wheel, especially at night and on the weekends, staying alert is vital to staying safe.

At Steinger, Iscoe & Greene, our Miami car accident attorneys see far too many cases involving drunk driving, and not every victim lives to seek compensation for their damages. It is our deepest desire to keep the roads of Miami safe and free of drunk driving accidents.

Here are five things that you can do to keep yourself and other drivers safe as you travel.

1. Slow Down

There is an old ad campaign that says “Speed Kills.” It’s a simple statement, but a true one. For each mile over the speed limit that you choose to travel, you increase your chances of getting into an accident by approximately five percent. The risk increases the faster you are going. One of the easiest things to do on the road is to follow the posted speed limit.

2. Stay Focused

Your vehicle is not a rolling dressing room, dinner or phone booth. When you are behind the wheel, keep your full attention on the road ahead of you. Avoid distractions at all costs. Distracted driving is as dangerous, if not moreso, than driving under the influence of alcohol.

3. Stay Awake

Drowsy driving contributed to 795 fatalities in 2017--more than 25% of all distracted driving fatalities. If you feel like you need a nap, don’t get behind the wheel! If you are traveling long distances, pull over when you get tired. Find a hotel or a rest stop and catch a few Zs before you head back out on the road.

4. Buckle Up

Buckling your seat belt is something that you should do as soon as you get settled in the driver’s seat. It’s a shocking number, but more than 50% of people killed in car accidents in 2016 were not wearing their seat belts. These handy inventions really do save lives. Buckle up when you get behind the wheel.

5. Keep Your Distance

One of the safest things that you can do is to keep your distance. There should be about three seconds of distance between your two cars. Wait until the car in front passes a stationary object and then count the seconds that pass before you move by the same object. If you don’t make it to three, you’re too close.

If you are injured in a distracted driving wreck, call our car accident attorneys in Miami at (800) 916-8108. We will review the details of your accident for free and advise you how to proceed.