Florida Car Accident Lawyer Blog
Your morning commute could put you at risk of a car collision in Homestead or your city. Each morning, T-bone accidents, broadside collisions, and rear-end crashes occur in Homestead and across South Florida as people hurry to get into work. Studies show that besides weekends, mornings and evenings have higher instances of crashes, and some studies suggest that your morning commute could put you at risk of a crash.
There are many things that contribute to car accidents during the morning commute:
1) Traffic. When everyone in rushing to get to work for business hours, there is a usually more traffic. In turn, the risk of accidents increases, as does the risk of chain reaction crashes because there are more cars on the roads. When traffic increases, some motorists are also more likely to lose their tempers, which can lead to crashes.
2) The morning school run. Parents dropping off children at schools increases traffic around area high schools and elementary schools and can increase the risk of a pedestrian accident or other traffic collision. Parents can reduce the risk of this type of accident by using school drop-off zones to reduce traffic and to keep children safe.
3) Distracted driving. Mornings can be hectic and many drivers may be thinking about the day ahead and all that needs to be done rather than about driving. Some drivers get to work after their morning routine that they don’t remember the drive in. Driving defensively and making an effort to focus on driving can help prevent distracted driving. Delegating tasks and practicing better time management can also be a big help. Some motorists find it useful to vary their morning commute so that they do not drive on “auto pilot” each morning.
4) Fatigued driving. Many drivers feel exhausted by the workweek or not fully awake by the time they hop in their cars. Fatigued driving is a major risk factor for early morning accidents. Getting a proper night of rest is the best way to prevent this hazard. If you frequently find yourself fatigued, it is important to get medical help, since sleep disorders or other conditions could be resulting in fatigue and a greater risk of car accidents. The most important way to prevent fatigued driving in Homestead and other communities, though, is to change attitudes. Drivers need to take fatigued driving as seriously as drunk driving, since researchers have shown that fatigue affects response times and judgment similarly to alcohol. If you are tired, take an alternative form of transportation to work and skip the morning commute. Do not get behind the wheel of the car if you are too tired or too distracted to focus properly.
There are other things that you can do to prevent a serious morning traffic accident in Homestead or your community. For example, you could try carpooling, which allows you to sit back some of the time and let someone else drive. You can also take public transportation to and from work at least part of the time, if it is possible. Not only is it more eco-friendly, but it is far less risky. There are far fewer train and bus accidents in Homestead than there are car collisions.
Have you been injured during your morning commute through no fault of your own? Contact Flaxman Law Group today for a confidential, no cost case review.