Reduce distractions
Distracted driving is one the many possible causes of an accident, contributing to 21% of fatal collisions every year. At any time of the day, it’s important to always stay focused on the road, to make sure you get to your destination safely. Whether you are distracted by your kids fighting in the back seat, or by fatigue, it is better to stop and resolve the situation than risk being in an accident.
The main causes of distracted driving include:
- Cell phones
- Fatigue
- Children
- Smoking
- Eating
Cell phones are one of the main causes of distracted driving – according to the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, the risk of a collision is 3.6 times higher when using an electronic device while driving. It’s important to follow the highway safety code to avoid any unfortunate accidents.
Fatigue while driving is particularly important: it’s the cause of 20% of fatal road accidents, in for example, Ontario, Quebec and the United States. It’s always better to stop for a rest and get back on the road later. It’s also better not to drive at night or during periods when your body is usually at rest.
Respect the rules of the road
For everyone’s safety, it is essential to respect road safety rules, like speed limits. By speeding, you are at an increased risk of being in an accident and you put your safety and the safety of your passengers at risk. In fact, on average, “in 44% of motorcyclist fatalities over the past 5 years, “speeding” was mentioned as one of the two main causes of the accident,” according to the SAAQ. The same goes for impaired driving. Choose a designated driver, call a taxi or take public transit.
Practice safe driving habits
When driving a vehicle, make sure that you are always visible to other drivers and keep a safe distance between you and the vehicle in front of you.
Also, if road conditions are bad, increase this distance even more. This will reduce your risk of being in an accident.