When a car and truck collide, the driver and passengers in the car will probably be seriously injured or killed. Could these trucking accidents in Bowie have been prevented? It’s entirely possible that defensive driving could have averted these tragedies.
Pay Attention!
This is the most important defensive driving tip of all. It’s very common to hear one or both drivers say, “I didn’t see him!” after the accident. Was the other vehicle invisible? No. Driving may be the only life-threatening activity people take for granted. It is dangerous to talk on the phone, tex, eat or daydream while driving. Assume that every other driver on the road is not paying attention, so be super-vigilant. Make a conscious decision, every time you sit behind the wheel, to be aware of everything happening around you. It’s very likely that paying attention while driving will save your life, more than once.
Don’t Speed!
There are very few times in a person’s life where the benefits of speeding will outweigh the risks. The faster someone goes, the more “stored” energy will accumulate that must be dissipated in the collision. Reaction time will be shorter. At 50 mph, the average driver would travel 83 feet before reacting to an emergency. At 70 mph, reaction time increases to 115 feet (7 car lengths). This is not braking time, just reaction time. If another vehicle is creating an emergency condition within the reaction time distance, it’s already too late to brake and avoid the accident. Many experts say that 50 mph is the fastest that anyone should drive at night time
Don’t be Stubborn – Yield!
Everyone knew the traffic laws regarding who has the right-of-way and who should yield when they took the test to get their driving license. Forget whatever you learned! If the other driver is determined to go first or is simply clueless as to the law, let them go first. Yielding will add perhaps 30 seconds to the drive. Any accident, especially trucking accidents in Bowie, will truly ruin your day – or end it.
The nationally acclaimed attorneys at the Jaklitsch Law Group has over 50 years of combined legal knowledge. Recognized as SuperLawyers since 2007, they are dedicated to providing effective legal counsel to those injured by another’s negligence in trucking accidents in Bowie. Please visit the website to schedule a free consultation.
