3 Tips To Keep Your Family Safe On The Road
The biggest cause of death for children and young adults are motor vehicle accidents and road traffic injuries. According to the World Health Organization, these incidents claim more than a million lives yearly. In contrast, an estimated 50 million more suffer from non-fatal injuries, which could sometimes result in permanent disability.
Many of these cases are due to human errors, including speeding, drunk driving, and non-use or misuse of protective gear like helmets and seat belts for adults and child seats or boosters for kids. Distractions while driving, such as using mobile phones, can also negatively affect road safety.
Other than this, certain external factors can also contribute to vehicular accidents. Unsafe or unfinished roadworks, vehicle malfunction, or inadequate enforcement of traffic laws could lead to disaster on the road.
Should you get involved in a car accident, remember to keep calm so that you can pay attention to the situation and be able to respond accordingly. Check yourself and the other passengers for injuries, then call for medical assistance when necessary. Police must also be called to the scene to document the accident for any insurance or personal injury claims.
Take pictures of the damages inside and outside the vehicle and the surrounding areas to help support your case. “Clear and conclusive evidence that can’t be left open for interpretation is critical to making a substantial injury claim. As soon as you’re hurt, take notice of your surroundings and any evidence to further prove to the insurance company that their insured customer is the one at fault,” says Los Angeles personal injury attorney.
Of course, the best scenario is to avoid getting into vehicular accidents. While some factors are beyond your control, you can do a few things to minimize the probability of an accident and reduce the severity of damage in case it happens. Here are simple ways in which you can keep your family safer when on the road:
- Use Your Safety Gears
In many cases, fatal injuries or disabilities could have been prevented if the driver or passengers had worn the recommended protective gear inside the vehicles. By simply ensuring that all the adults are wearing their seat belts and the kids are properly seated on their boosters or child car seats, you are already increasing their chances of safety.
Seat belts, car seats, and helmets can save lives, which has been proven repeatedly throughout the years. Child safety seats are able to reduce the risk of fatal injury by as much as 70% for infants under one year of age. Make sure that the child safety seat that you are using is compliant with vehicular safety standards so that it can provide the necessary protection for your child if a collision occurs.
Always use a helmet to protect your head when riding on two wheels. Every year, around 800 cyclists die from motor vehicle crashes, many of which could have been prevented by a helmet. This is because head injuries can cause irreversible damage to the brain, and wearing a helmet can reduce the risk of a severe head injury by almost 85%.
- Be Responsible When On The Road
Accidents caused by human errors could be reduced if everybody were more responsible while behind the wheel. As a driver, you can directly affect the safety of everyone inside your vehicle and those in the cars around you. Follow the traffic rules and keep your speed within the required limits. If you are tired or sleepy, take a power nap before heading out or get someone else to drive you.
About 40% of vehicular accidents can be traced back to drunk driving. And in fatal crashes involving children, more than 60% were riding in a drunk driver’s car. Thus, be responsible and do not drink alcoholic beverages if you know you will be driving.
Distractions from simple actions like using mobile phones while driving can also lead to car crashes because a lot can happen in the few seconds you take your eyes off the road. Even hands-free devices cannot be considered safe, so it is best to avoid them and return the call after arriving at your destination or find a place to park before taking the call.
- Keep Your Vehicle In Good Shape
Having your vehicle in top condition reduces the risk of accidents from your end. Your car should undergo regular maintenance checks with a mechanic who will ensure that all the safety features are working. Before heading out, check if your fluids are topped off, and your tires are still in great shape.
Whether driving during the day or at night, your headlights, taillights, and signal lights must all be functional so that other drivers can see you and anticipate your next move. Your front and rear windshields, as well as the windows, must be clear of obstruction so that you can clearly see the road signs and the other vehicles around you.
For emergency purposes, it is best to keep a supply kit in the trunk of your car at all times. This includes a spare tire, a tire iron, and battery jumpers. This will enable you to do a quick fix if necessary, so you won’t have to stay too long at the roadside while waiting for assistance.
