While there have been impressive safety advances in car manufacturing over the past few decades, car crashes are still responsible for nearly 1,000 deaths in Florida every year and tens of thousands of injuries. In 2023, Broward had over 13,000 motor vehicle crashes, injuring over 5,400 people and killing 73.
The really tragic part of the sad stories behind these numbers is just how many of these accidents are preventable. As Pompano Beach’s top personal injury law firm, Long, Jean & Weschler, P.A. represents accident victims. While this is our business, our team would be gratified to see a substantial reduction in preventable accidents.
If you’ve already been injured in an accident, contact our law firm to discuss your case free of charge. On the other hand, if you want to learn some tips to help prevent you from being involved in an accident, this article will be incredibly beneficial to you.
Don’t Underestimate the Value of Defensive Driving
Defensive driving means proactively avoiding accidents. It’s one thing to operate your vehicle safely within the limits of the law. It’s another to anticipate the actions of other drivers and take measures to avoid a collision. In some cases, there’s really nothing you can do to avoid being involved in a collision. For example, driving through a green light and a speeding vehicle violates the right of way. In other cases, you have much more control.
In order to be a defensive driver, you need to pay attention to what other drivers are doing. Is another vehicle trying to pass your car? Has the driver behind you been tailgating you? Are the two vehicles in front of you involved in an escalating road rage incident? Avoiding these situations can help you avoid multiple accidents over the course of your time as a Florida driver.
Factors and Causes of Avoidable Accidents
The average person drives for 60 years during their lifetime. With all of that time behind the wheel, you might conclude that drivers will eventually become flawless vehicle operators, but that is clearly not the case. The more time we spend behind the wheel, the more likely we are to develop unsafe habits.
The following factors can cause accidents, contribute to the likelihood of an accident, or increase the severity of an accidental collision.
Weather Conditions and Driving
South Florida often has sporadic and unpredictable weather. Our famous afternoon showers, which last just long enough to wet the roadways, can make them extremely slippery until they’ve dried. Many experts agree that roads are the most slippery within the first 10 minutes of the beginning of a rain storm.
Rain can reduce visibility, extend stopping distances, and increase traffic density as drivers slow in response to the weather.
The following safety tips can help you avoid an accident due to inclement weather.
- Reduce your vehicle speed – You don’t have the same control over your vehicle as you do on dry roads.
- Increase your Following Distance – It takes longer to stop on wet roads. You should double your following distance.
- Brake Sooner – As you approach an intersection, make sure you apply your brakes earlier to avoid overshooting the intersection.
- Avoid Puddles – Puddles can hide road hazards that would otherwise be visible.
- Maintain Your Equipment – Make sure you have functional windshield wipers and that all of your lights are working.
Distracted Driving
A distraction is anything in the car that divides your attention. Distractions can include cellphone usage, in-car computer systems, food and beverages, children, and pets. The NHSTA reported that 3,308 people will killed in distracted driving accidents in 2022, and many times more were injured due to distracted driving.
These tips will help you avoid distracted driving in an accident.
- Pause Notifications on Devices – Many devices have an away message that informs others that you’re driving and will see their message when you stop.
- Use Handsfree Options – Most newer vehicles have a hands-free interface that allows you to listen to directions from your device, talk on the phone, or listen to music. Avoiding these distractions is safer, but if you do need to use your phone, keep your eyes on the road and hands on your wheel with hands-free functionality.
- Preplan Your Route Before You Leave – GPS has been a revolutionary breakthrough, but looking down at your phone or at the in-car display to see when the next turn is coming up is a distraction.
- Use Animal Carriers – If you can, put your animals in a kennel to prevent them from jumping into the front seat or causing other distractions.
Speeding
Speed is always a factor in the severity of car accidents. The faster the cars move with respect to one another, the greater the energy they generate upon impact. Most drivers exceed the speed limit occasionally, but even if you always drive within the posted speed limit, you may be moving too fast for the conditions.
It’s important to note that the higher your vehicle’s speed, the less time you have to respond to new situations that arise while driving.
Here are a few tips for driving at safe speeds:
- Know the Speed Limit – Keeping the flow of traffic is not a valid defense for speeding. If you know the speed limit on the roads where you’re driving, you can use it as a baseline for calculating a safe speed.
- Reduce Speed for Special Conditions – You should drive slower in inclement weather. If there is heavy traffic, decrease your speed and increase your following distance, even if it means allowing other cars to get in front of you. Watch for special hazards, like construction zones, winding roads, etc.
- Use Cruise Control to Avoid Speeding – If you’re on the highway, you can use cruise control to avoid the temptation of speeding.
Road Rage and Aggressive Driving
Driving while you’re in an excited state is never a good idea, but when you have two drivers with competing emotions, it’s a recipe for disaster. Unfortunately, many drivers meet aggressive driving by matching it when the safer answer is to avoid it altogether.
To avoid aggressive driving and road incidents, try these tips:
- Don’t React – If someone lays on the horn because you are taking too long to respond to a traffic signal change, take a breath and just drive away.
- Move Away – If you can put a lane between you and the other driver, take it. Sometimes, that physical space will be enough to calm them down.
- Change Your Route – An aggressive driver may pull up to you at an intersection. It may be in your best interest to make a turn, even if you were planning on going straight.
- Call the Police – If you can’t get away from the aggressive driver, call the police and let them know the location, direction of travel, vehicle description, license plate number, and driver description.
- Don’t Pull Over – Pulling over to hash out your differences with the other driver is extremely dangerous. Avoid this at all costs.
Drowsy Driving
When you feel fatigued, your reaction time slows, your vision is not as sharp, and your judgment is adversely affected. Unfortunately, there’s no real effective solution for dealing with fatigue. Coffee and other stimulants may mask the symptoms of fatigue, but it’s not a lasting solution. Here are some tips for combating driver fatigue:
- Take a Break – Stop the car, get out, and do a few jumping jacks. If you have a little more time, take a quick nap, but never sleep in a gas-powered car with the engine running.
- Grab a Coffee – Caffeine will help you feel more awake and alert. Understand that your reflexes are probably still slower than if you were well rested, but if you have to drive, caffeine can help prevent nodding off behind the wheel.
- Take Turns Behind the Wheel – If you’re with another driver, switch places with them periodically. The rest periods will extend your driving capacity.
Driving Under the Influence
Under Florida law, if you have a Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) of .08 or higher, you’re considered DUI under Florida law. However, your reaction time can be slowed even after a single drink. Other prescription and illicit medications can also affect your driving ability. If you have been drinking, you should not get behind the wheel of a car. You could endanger your life and the lives of others. Here are some tips to help you avoid situations where you might be tempted to drive under the influence.
- Use a Rideshare Service – If you believe you’ll be drinking, consider using a rideshare. Not only is this safe, but it’s cost-effective when you compare it to the average cost of a DUI arrest in Broward County.
- Use a Designated Driver – Have a friend give you a ride. Offer to return the favor on another night.
- Wait Until You’re Sober – If all other options are off the table, wait until you’re sober. If you decide to sober up in your car, it’s important to note that it’s illegal to be in active control of a running vehicle while under the influence.
Additional Tips for Avoiding Accidents
The following safe driving habits can help you avoid accidents and may also assist other drivers in your area.
Proper Signalling
Whether you’re getting ready to make a turn or changing lanes, use your turn signal. This gives other drivers around you a visual cue that their driving environment is about to change. Even if they don’t actually notice the gesture, they may subliminally register the signal.
Vehicle Blind Spots
Every vehicle has blind spots. Many car manufacturers have started installing sensors and/or cameras that warn drivers of vehicles and other objects in their blind spots. It’s also important to be aware of the blind spots of other vehicles. Riding in a blind spot means that the other driver can’t see your car if they decide to make a lane change.
The larger the vehicle is, the longer its blind spot is. Semi-trucks, for example, have long blind spots. If you’re passing a semi-truck, do not remain in the next lane going at the same pace. Accelerate and move ahead of it.
Safe Following Distances
Rear-end crashes are among the most common types of injury-related collisions, but they’re mostly preventable. Drivers should employ the two-second rule under normal conditions and extend it to four seconds if conditions make it riskier. To use the two-second rule, pick a stationary object and note when the car in front of you passes. If you reach the same object within two seconds, you need to increase your gap.
Night Driving Safety
Several factors affect our driving at night. In addition to some objects being more difficult to see, our reaction times tend to be slower. Additionally, as we get older, our night vision becomes poorer. This change is so gradual that we may not realize it’s happening. You should have your eyes checked regularly. If you’re fatigued, be aware that your reflexes will be slower, and your visual acuity will be reduced. Reduce your speed and take shorter trips at night.
Avoid looking at phone screens, as they can reduce your night vision. Also, make sure all of the lights on your vehicle are working properly.
Personal Injury Lawyers in Pompano Beach
As personal injury attorneys, we have reviewed hundreds of traffic crash investigation reports. More often than not, the reports mention one or more of the above-listed factors. Safe driving habits can reduce your chance of being involved in an accident, avoid traffic tickets, and reduce your insurance premiums. If you have been involved in an accident in Pompano Beach, FL, contact Long, Jean & Weschler, P.A. for a free consultation. We represent clients on a contingency basis, so our clients do not have to pay out of pocket. Call today!
