5 Tips for Safe Driving

At Howard, Morrison, Ross, and Whelan we work every day with the victims of car accidents. Some car accidents are minor scrapes; others, however, involve life-changing injuries. Either way, there are smart measures you can take to keep your risk to a minimum:

1. Understand alcohol. Most people understand that drunk driving is wrong. It doesn’t just endanger the driver, it also endangers passengers and other people on the road. However, drivers frequently overestimate how much alcohol they can drink and still be “sober” – and underestimate how long it takes to sober up. Even for a larger male, it can take only 2-3 drinks to reach the .08% blood alcohol limit that makes you unsafe (and illegal) to drive. And that’s two standard drinks – most servers pour heavy. For many people, even a single drink can make you unsafe to drive (even if you think you’re fine) and it can take up to six hours per drink to sober up.

2. Bright eyed and no cell phone. Don’t drive drowsy and don’t drive distracted. Drowsy driving is extremely dangerous and results in serious, even fatal accidents every year. Using a cell phone – even hands free – takes so much attention that it makes drivers perform as poorly as driving drunk.

3. Seatbelts. This might seem like an obvious one, but it can’t be stressed enough: motorists involved in accidents are 30 times more likely to be killed if they aren’t wearing a seatbelt. Even on short trips, even in the back seat, even at low speeds – always, always buckle up.

4. Back off. Tailgating may be the most common dangerous driving practice. Most people don’t tailgate aggressively, but do it accidentally when they’re in a hurry. Remember, following close won’t make that car in front of you go any faster – and it’s never okay to tailgate on purpose to try to send a message. Back off and give plenty of space before you find yourself at fault in an accident.

5. Defensive driving. No matter what the circumstances, if there’s one thing that will help prevent or minimize accidents it’s driving defensively. Always stay vigilant, let people change lanes, and give everyone plenty of space.

If you’ve been injured in an accident it’s important to talk to a personal injury lawyer who can help youreceive fair compensation for your damages, injuries and lost wages. If you need a trusted attorney in Virginia, call Howard, Morrison, Ross, and Whelan today.

To know more, please visit: http://www.hmrwlaw.com.