As soon as you get into a car, you assume a certain level of responsibility. It’s up to you to make sure that you are following the rules of the road and keeping other drivers safe. Awareness is key to safety, which is why it’s so important that you know what potential dangers you may face while driving. These are the most common causes of accidents that drivers should be aware of. 

DRINK DRIVING 

This one is an obvious one, but many drivers underestimate just how dangerous it can be to drive under the influence of alcohol. One of the busiest counties for drink driving in the country saw 452 alcohol related crashes in 2016, and 9 of them were fatal. In many cases, drink driving incidents do not involve a huge amount of alcohol and even a few drinks can seriously impair your ability to drive. In a lot of places, the law allows a driver to have a certain number of drinks and still be legal to drive, but if you want to be safe, it’s best to avoid drinking altogether. 

SPEEDING 

Speeding is another very common cause of accidents and it is easily avoided. People speed because they are impatient or they are late and trying to get somewhere in a hurry. But even exceeding the speed limit by a small amount can increase the danger to other drivers and pedestrians in a big way. Increasing your speed from 20mph to 40mph can increase the total stopping distance by 80 feet, which could be the difference between stopping in time and running somebody down. People often think that it doesn’t matter if they exceed the speed limit a little bit but it can increase the chances of a fatal crash by a long way. 

WET WEATHER 

A lot of accidents happen because people are unprepared for wet weather and they do not adjust their driving to account for it. When the roads are slippery, your braking distance is increased by a long way, and it’s a lot easier to lose control of the car. If the weather is bad and you are going to drive, it’s important that you stay safe on the road and drive carefully. It’s important that you ensure that your tires are not worn down and if the tread is gone, replace them right away. 

TIREDNESS

Most people know that drinking seriously impacts your ability to drive safely, but they don’t realize that tiredness can be just as dangerous in some cases. When you are incredibly tired, your reaction times are slowed and your ability to concentrate is seriously affected. If you fall asleep at the wheel, that puts you and other drivers on the road in grave danger, so it’s vital that you take regular breaks if you are on a long drive. 

As a driver, it’s important that you take responsibility for your own safety and the safety of those around you. These are some of the biggest driving dangers that you need to avoid. 

Photo Credit: Aston Martin