How To Prevent A Car Accident

Every two minutes someone driving in the UK is involved in a car accident. In the majority of cases the accident could have been avoided by exercising more caution. We have put together a guide to help you prevent a car accident. Keep your distance Driving too close to the car in front of you increases the odds of being in a rear-end collision. The stopping distance between you and the car in front varies between road conditions and even the type of vehicle you are driving. In wet conditions your stopping distances are doubled. Icy roads will mean that it will take you ten times longer to stop then in normal dry conditions.  It should also be noted that the heavier your car is, the longer your vehicle will take to stop thus increasing the stopping distance. Tail-gating or driving very close to the car in front will reduce your visibility of potential hazards which again increases your odds of having an accident. So what is a safe distance to drive at? I hear you ask.  The best way to check that you are a safe distance from the car in front is to follow the ‘two-second rule’. To do this, wait for the car in front to pass a fixed point, then count two seconds from that point. If you reach the same point as the car in front before two seconds is up, you are too close to the car. Blind Spots Using your car mirrors is essential in avoiding car accidents but they also leave areas which are not visible.  Make sure your mirrors are correctly adjusted to reduce the blind spot area. Don’t over rely on your mirrors; look over your shoulder to check the blind spot is clear. A large majority of motorway accidents occur because people don’t check their blind spot before switching lanes. Also be aware and stay alert when you are driving in someone else blind spot, they may change lanes without any indication. Take a Break Driving whilst fatigued is one of the UK’s biggest killers on our roads.  One in five motorway crashes are due to a driver being tired. Research has shown that over 300 people a year are killed as a result of a driver falling asleep whilst driving. You need to be alert and aware of what other drivers are doing; driving whilst tired will impede on your concentration levels and could result in a car accident. Make sure you take regular breaks if you are driving long distances or have been driving for longer than 2 hours. Finally avoid driving between the hours of midnight and 8.am as this time period is when the body naturally ‘shuts off’ and your concentration levels are reduced.