Articles Posted in Distracted Driving

While Florida pedestrian accidents and car accidents can occur at any time, there are many things you can do to help reduce your risk of being in an accident – before you even get in the car:

1) Protect yourself with excellent insurance. Good insurance can help protect you if you are in a collision and ensures that you as well as the other driver are covered for medical bills and related expenses in the event of an accident. Buy the best quality of car insurance you can afford to ensure that you don’t have to pay multiple costs out of pocket.

2) Turn off your cell phone or mobile device. Distracted driving has been proven to increase your risk of being in an accident. Just listening to your mobile device ringing can distract you – and can tempt you to pick up the phone or to sneak a peek at that text message. Put away your device and make sure it is off before you drive off, so that you can put all your focus where it belongs: on the road.

3) Make sure you are ready before you get in the car. Before you get in the car, make sure you are ready to drive safely. Make sure that you have not consumed anything which may affect your ability to drive. Prevent a Florida drunk driving accident by avoiding drinking before you drive, but also take a close look at your medication and any over-the-counter medication you are taking. Make sure it is safe to drive with the medications you are taking. Also, avoid driving when you are sleepy or very emotional.

4) Make sure that your car is ready to avoid accident. Keep your car in good repair and make sure that you walk around your car before you get in. Any tire problems or mechanical problems you have can affect your ability to control your vehicle and prevent an accident. Check with the manufacturer about any known problems with your vehicle. This is especially important if you have an older car – check to make sure that previous owners have had any known problems or recalls addressed.

5) Know your route. Knowing where you are going and having a clear idea of your route ensures that you can focus on driving – not on finding house numbers or street names. Use GPS or online mapping before you leave the house. Keep a copy of the map with you when you drive, but be prepared to pull over to read directions or have a passenger direct you as you drive. Trying to figure out your route as you drive is very distracting.

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Many fatal Florida truck accidents and car accidents take place on highways. The high speed allowed on highways combined with occasional driver error and high traffic often results in dangerous conditions that lead to serious accidents. After the fourth of July weekend in 2007, for example, the Florida Highway Patrol reported 31 people were killed on Florida highways. There are many that such accidents on the highways can be avoided:

1) Wear a seatbelt. According to the FHP, in about 67% of fatal Florida highway car accidents, seatbelts were not worn. Wearing a seat belt is the law in Florida. You can receive a fine and ticket for failing to wear your seatbelt. Even more seriously, you could lose your life or sustain a serious injury in an accident if you fail to wear your seat belt. Many Florida brain injury patients and spinal cord patients sustained their injuries because they were in a car accident and were not wearing a seat belt at the time.

2) Do not drive under the influence. Florida drunk driving accidents claim many lives. Driving with an excessive blood alcohol limit in Florida can mean license suspension, fines, and even jail time. It can also cost lives. If you have had one or more drinks, avoid driving.

A few basic errors by Florida drivers result in a disproportionate number of Florida pedestrian accidents and car accidents. Among the riskiest behaviors are:

1) Speeding. About two out of three polled drivers admit to speeding on occasion. However, even going 5 miles an hour over the speed limit can put you at an increased risk of car accidents, especially in bad weather or with poor road conditions. Many Florida car accidents are caused by people simply driving too quickly for Florida conditions. About one third of all fatal car accidents are caused at least in part by speeding. Speeding can increase your risk of an accident up to sixfold, but usually only saves a few minutes of time.

2) Not giving right of way. Florida drivers are busy drivers, and even courteous drivers sometimes fail to follow right-of-way rules. About 40% of all car accidents and Florida truck accidents take place at intersections, meaning that right of way rules played at least a part in the collision.

Distracted driving has been in the news. Most Florida drivers know that distracted driving can help increase the risk of Florida car accidents. However, many drivers may not realize just how significant a risk distracted driving really is. Virginia Tech Transportation Institute and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration conducted a sturdy in 2006, in which they studies motorists using 100 cameras for more than one year. The cameras were used to capture all types of motorist behaviors in an effort to determine what activities impacted driving ability.

Researchers found that drivers were sleepy and were eating, applying cosmetics, drinking, smoking, reading, and using mobile devices while driving. Researchers also concluded that in about 65% of close calls and in about 80% of all car accidents, distracting behaviors such as these played a key role. The study found that sleepiness increased the risk of a car accident by a minimum of fourfold. Researchers concluded that women were more likely to be in car accidents caused by distracted driving.

The 2006 study concluded that cell phones, cosmetics, and mobile devices posed a special risk in cars. Drivers who were dialing a number on their mobile devices increased their risk of a car accident 2.8 times when compared with non-distracted drivers. Female drivers applying cosmetics were 3.1 times more likely to be in a car accident than non-distracted drivers.

According to The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there are two deaths each day across the country in work zones. At this time of year, construction sites and road work zones are more prevalent as the nice weather permits building work which cannot always be completed in the winter. However, drivers out for summer errands are not always cautious about slowing down or staying well out of the way of crews and workers, and this can and does cause many Florida truck accidents and car accidents each summer. According to experts, there are several things that drivers can do to make roadways safer for everyone:

1) Stay alert to construction work and road work signs. In most areas, signage is posted well ahead. Stay alert to these signs and pay attention to the new speed limits, hazards, and lane changes in the area. Being prepared can ensure that you can ease into the new driving situation carefully.

2) Stay alert for others in the construction area. Work areas have a way of pushing everyone together – pedestrians, motorists, city workers, trucks, and bicyclists. You need to be cautious about these other individuals sharing the road with you. Each year, serious Florida bicycle accidents and pedestrian accidents occur at work sites. Make sure to stay alert and be prepared for the fact that some pedestrian and bicyclists may not be obeying the rules.

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