American Highway Safety Tips

In 2010 there were more than 30,000 fatal car crashes on America’s highways.  Traveling at such high speed is an inherently risky activity, and it is well beyond our abilities to make the highways completely harmless. But there are a number of steps you can take to help yourself navigate them safely.

Highway Safety Precautions

1. Preparation – Some of the most important actions you can take occur before you actually get on the road. Always carry a flashlight, blanket, and first aid kit. A cell phone is also a very good idea, but don’t rely on it. Be aware that you could be stranded in an area without service, and ask yourself if you are prepared for extended exposure to the current conditions.

2. Creation of a safe environment – The second step is to maintain a safe environment while driving. This includes keeping the doors locked, seat belts buckled, and children secured in appropriate safety seats. Plan for a possible emergency by never letting your gas fall below 1/3 of a tank. In addition to being smart safety measures on their own, all these steps contribute to the creation of a calm, safe environment that allows the driver to concentrate on what they are doing.

3. Practice safe driving habits – As a driver, you are responsible for the health and safety of everyone in the car. Speeding may be tempting, but shaving a few minutes off your driving time is not worth putting everyone in the car at risk. It is also important to maintain a safe following distance. Try using the “Second Rule” by counting the seconds between the car in front of you passing some fixed point (such as a street sign) and you passing it. If you’re within three seconds on an ordinary road or five on the highway you may be following too closely. It takes the human body an average of a second and a half to recognize the car in front is stopping and apply the brakes, so keep your distance.

4. Don’t drive impaired – Drinking is a factor in more than a third of fatal car accidents. Getting behind the wheel of a car intoxicated is the single worst mistake you can make on the road, one that could easily result in your death or the deaths of others. Respect the highways and the dangers they represent, and don’t venture onto then while impaired.

5. Don’t relax your guard – The most dangerous time of a road trip can actually be when the car isn’t moving at all. If you stop for a break, make sure not to relax too far. Never let children go the bathroom alone, and always be aware of your surroundings. If stopping at night, be sure to park in an open, well-lit area where the car can be plainly seen.

Highway accidents and tragedies are an all too-familiar part of life, but so many of them never had to happen. Following these five simple steps can help keep you and your loved ones safe and sound in your travels.

For more than 20 years, Chris Guedri has been practicing personal injury law at the Richmond firm of Allen and Allen. He specializes in traumatic brain injury, wrongful death, premises liability, and products liability. Chris has been honored by Virginia Business Magazine, recognized by the publication The Best Lawyers in America, andnamed one of Virginia’s “Super Lawyers.”