7 Defensive Steps for Protecting Against Car Accidents


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No matter how safe a driver you are, there will still always be the risk of a car accident when you’re on the road due to circumstances out of your control. While you can’t control the outcome, you can control how much of a risk a car accident will be by taking the right defensive steps as a driver to give you the best chance of a safe drive every time.

Step 1: Never Trust Other Drivers

Even if you want to see the best in people, it’s much safer to expect the worse from other drivers because you never know what they’re going to do. Being cautious with every other driver means you stay aware and react in a better way should the worst happen.

Step 2: Keep Your Distance

Reduce the risk of collisions by maintaining a safe and comfortable distance from other vehicles, especially within a build-up of traffic with higher risks of back -or front- end collisions. Keeping your distance is even more important during bad weather when your stopping distance could be longer.

Step 3: Know It’s Okay to Pull Over

Panicking in unexpected circumstances can increase the risk of hectic driving and a resultant accident. Taking your time is every driver’s right, and remember that you can always remove yourself from a situation and pull over when safe to do so if you feel any risk on the road is high.

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Photo Source: snooper.co.uk

Step 4: Always Check Your Vehicle for Faults

Keep on top of vehicle maintenance and make sure to regularly check that everything is in working order, and especially before long drives. This is particularly important for lights such as brake lights and turning signals to make sure other drivers can see what you’re doing.

Step 5: Invest in Full Insurance

Better protecting yourself against a car accident also applies to the handling of a car accident should it occur. You need to make sure that you and your vehicle are protected in any sort of collision to make sure you don’t suffer financial repercussions. Full insurance is therefore encouraged. Make sure to get car insurance that covers collisions and personal injury, like Root Insurance.

Step 6: Adjust Your Driving for Certain Weather Conditions

The risk of a car accident is increased during bad weather, especially snow, ice, or heavy rain. You should plan ahead for any driving routes and maintain a slower speed with a larger distance between vehicles when heading out on the road during extremely bad weather. If driving during bad weather can be avoided altogether, this will be a safer option.

Step 7: Be Sensible with Speed Limits

Speed limits don’t mean that you have to go at the top permitted speed. In fact, you should always aim to be under if you want to be more cautious. If you feel as though you need to adjust your speed accordingly on a road with limited visibility or because you sense an issue with other traffic, driving slower than the recommended speed limit can help you maintainmore control when needed.

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