Watching For Drunk And Distracted Florida Drivers
Corbin Sutter
Accident Lawyers
Many Florida drivers develop bad driving habits on the road. However, we need to continue using common sense and safe defensive driving techniques in order to avoid accidents every time we get behind the wheel.Watching for drunk and distracted Florida drivers is just one way to better protect ourselves while on the roadways.
Impaired Driving
Did you know that one-third of all crash deaths in the United States involved an impaired driver? When you drive under the influence of drugs and alcohol, accidents become all too common.
An impaired driver has a much slower reaction time, a lack of coordination, reduced concentration, decreased vision, and inhibited judgment. Even a small amount of alcohol in someone's system can seriously affect their driving.
For safe driving, you must be attentive, be quick to react to situations, and practice good judgment. Judgment skills play a vital role when it comes to making decisions while driving. They help you stay alert and focused while being aware of your surroundings.
There are also economic costs that come into play when there is a crash with an impaired driver. There can be a reduction in productivity, workplace losses, legal expenses, medical costs, emergency medical services, insurance administration costs, and property damage.
Distracted Driving
Distracted driving is equally risky and has led to fatal and serious car accidents. In 2018 alone, more than 2,000 people lost their lives as a result of distracted driving. Texting while driving is one of the more common distractions. When you send or read a text, it takes your eyes off the road for at least 5 seconds. This is extremely dangerous when you are driving and should be well aware of what is going on around you.
Other distractions while driving include any visual distractions that take your eyes off the road, auditory distractions, manual distractions, and cognitive distractions. It only takes a few seconds to put yourself and others on the roadway at serious risk when you let those kinds of distractions take over while driving.
Accident Prevention
When you come up with a plan and take the necessary steps to avoid accidents before they happen, you are doing what you can to keep yourself and others safe. The best thing you can do while driving is simply to pay attention to your surroundings. Pull into traffic slowly, and take the time to stop, look, and listen.
Before going on a green light, pause for three seconds before entering the intersection. This helps avoid an accident with someone who wasn't prepared to stop at the red light. When driving, you should also train yourself to scan the road at least 12 seconds ahead. This allows you to spot any potential problems there may be and tells you
if there is something up ahead that you should be avoiding.
You need to concentrate on where you are driving. If you are on the highway, position yourself far enough away from other vehicles so if they were to stop suddenly or swerve, you have more time to react.
If you follow these simple tips and avoid driving under the influence or letting distractions take over, you will be in a much safer position when driving. Remember: always keep an eye on what is going on around you.
If you take these measures and still find yourself the victim of a car accident, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries and other damages. Contact an experienced personal injury attorney who can review your case and determine what compensation you are entitled to as a result of the accident.