5 Defensive Driving Tips That Help Prevent Michigan Auto Collisions

 In Michigan, you won’t be surprised to learn we don’t have a mass transit system since we are the home of the big three automakers. In 2020, you would probably also not be surprised to learn that 245,432 Michigan car accidents occur because of a driver’s negligence. Common examples include those who speed too fast, failure to yield, run red lights, distracted while using their cell phones, and engaged in other unsafe acts behind the wheel. Though laws and public safety campaigns aim to deter and reduce this type of negligent or careless driving, you can expect that there will still be motorists on the road who disregard law, putting you at risk of serious injury or death.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) released a statistical projection of traffic fatalities for the first half of 2021 revealed that an 18.4 percent increase in the number of Americans who died in motor vehicle crashes compared to the same six-month period in 2020. This increase follows the estimated 7.2 percent increase in crash deaths recorded in 2020. According to the Insurance Information Institute (III), in the United States 90 people die and another 6,337 people are injured in motor vehicle crashes every single day.

Many of these collisions can be prevented through the exercise of ordinary care by obeying routine traffic laws. Even though you cannot control what other drivers do on the road, you need to anticipate that you are sharing the road with dangerous motorists who put you at risk, and the best way to protect yourself is by practicing defensive driving. Using a defensive strategy goes a long way to reducing the potential for Michigan car accidents,so keep the following defensive driving safety tips in mind:

• Focus On Driving Scan Surroundings. When you are behind the wheel of a car, the only task you should be concentrating on is safe operation of the vehicle. Eliminate all other distractions in the vehicle, including the use of a cell phone, so you are better able to detect and react to careless acts by other drivers. Even a split second matters in an auto crash.
• Be Prepared for Common Dangers. Use your natural intuition when driving and understand how certain maneuvers and positions in traffic create a higher degree of risk for collisions. Give large trucks and commercial vehicles plenty of room to drive, and steer clear of other motorists who appear to be driving erratically. Keep a sharp lookout for pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorcycle riders whose lower profiles make them less visible.
• Don’t Try to Predict Another Driver’s Actions. Do not assume that other motorists will make a safe decision, follow traffic laws, or understand the right-of-way rules. You cannot control their risky behavior, but you have the ability to react in a safe way.
• Use the 2 Second Rule. Experts have a two second rule of thumb emphasize that you should estimate that it will take around 2 seconds for your vehicle to come to a complete stop when you hit the brakes. If you are going too fast for weather conditions, that time period shrinks down to just fractions of a second. You would not be able to avoid colliding with the vehicle in front of you if the forward driver stops or slows unexpectedly.
• Use All Available Communication Tools. There are certain features of your vehicle that are intended to be used to communicate with other drivers in the road such as your horn, turn signals, and headlights. For example, tour turn signals help others anticipate your upcoming move, and a honk of the horn lets another motorist know you’re in the area. You can even use eye contact, nod or hand signals to connect with others on the road. You can also use your high beam headlights during nighttime driving to signal a driver is going the wrong way or their vehicle is drifting in traffic.

Trusted Michigan Auto Crash Lawyer to Advise You

Hopefully, you can utilize these 5 simple automobile defensive driving tips and other defensive driving tips to reduce your risk of serious car accidents in Michigan. If you or a loved are injured in a car collision, please contact The Joseph Dedvukaj Firm to schedule a free consultation at our law offices in Michigan. We can advise you on your rights and options after reviewing your auto accident circumstances. Call today at 866-HIRE-JOE for a free confidential consultation or contact us online.