Being involved in a car accident is terrible no matter how severe or mild it is. Not only that you can get injured but the reparation costs will also give you some headaches.
Unfortunately, road accidents are on the rise worldwide. And, according to the World Health Organization, 1.25 million people lose their lives due to road accidents and there are, on average, about 3,287 deaths every day. Moreover, road accidents rank as the 9th leading cause of deaths globally and are expected to become the fifth leading cause by 2030 unless drivers become more responsible on the roads.
So, as roads are getting busier these days and the risks continue to rise, what can you do to protect yourself and your car from a road accident? Here are 6 ways to do it:
1. Be a responsible driver
First things first, protecting your car from a road accident comes down to you not being the one who causes it. Yes, we get it, most of the time, it can happen that another driver is responsible for crashing into your vehicle. However, the more responsible and far-seeing you are while driving, the fewer chances to cause an accident or to not be able to avoid it.
But what does it mean to be a responsible driver? Well, it isn’t as difficult as you may think, it only takes respecting the road signs and rules to avoid causing a road situation that may lead to a crash. So, don’t even think twice if you should stop at the yellow light or drive faster, don’t change your directions in areas where is forbidden, and, most importantly, don’t drive under the influence.
In fact, drunk driving is one of the leading causes of road accidents. Although you may think that you are in full control over your car, alcohol has multiple effects on you from decreasing attention to driving to hindering your ability to make rational decisions. Moreover, alcohol can also affect your coordination while driving and your ability to react fast to avoid imminent danger.
2. Eliminate distractions
Texting while driving is a big NO-NO! And, it should go without saying that you should avoid using your smartphone while you are behind the wheel. Distractions like using your smartphone, playing music, or anything similar can make you take your eyes off of the road. And, unfortunately, even just a few seconds are enough to cause a road accident.
So, when driving, make sure you always keep your eyes on the road and hands on the wheel to prevent any risk that may appear on the road.
3. Park your car smart
Finding the perfect parking spot in busy traffic, especially when you are in a hurry, seems like an impossible task, right? Don’t worry, you are not the only one dealing with this inconvenience as most drivers struggle to find a place to park their cars safely.
While there might not be an obvious connection between protecting your car from accidents and finding the perfect parking spot, trust us on this one, where you leave your car is extremely important.
So, imagine this: you are in a hurry to get to your meeting and park your car on the side road thinking that you will only be gone for a few minutes and nothing bad can happen to it. Yet, when you return to your car, you notice side scratches and a broken side-view mirror and there is no one there to ask to pay for the reparation costs. Unfortunately, you will have to pay for all the damage that has been brought to your car.
So, parking your car smartly before you leave it is extremely important to make sure there is nothing that may damage it. If you commute every day, you can, for example, choose to rent a parking spot close to your office such as the monthly parking in San Francisco options to make sure you park your car where it is safe.
4. Check twice for pedestrians
Unfortunately, pedestrian and cyclist death rates are increasing these days globally. Pedestrians and bicyclists are the most vulnerable road users who are in danger of losing their lives or getting injured in road accidents.
Like it or not, speeding, drunk driving, and not respecting the red light are only a few of the leading causes for road accidents that involve pedestrians. It should go without saying that, when driving, you need to be extremely careful with slowing down at a crosswalk. Yet, it is also advisable to make sure you check twice for pedestrians at all times while driving.
5. Equip your car
In today’s digital world, the automotive industry has evolved a lot. So much that we will soon be seeing self-driving cars on the roads. The auto industry is one of the industries that was very receptive to technological advancements. So, cars these days are extremely performant and include a number of features that assist drivers and increase safety on the road.
From autonomous emergency braking systems to head-up displays, reverse cameras, and run-off-road protection, these are some of the best safety features in modern cars. So, one of the best ways to protect your car from road accidents is to equip your car with all these features to assist you while driving and help you prevent accidents.
6. Hide your valuables
Finding your vehicle’s glass broken because you forgot to put your valuables out of sight is certainly not a dream scenario. Yet, it can happen if you are not careful about securing your car from thieves. You must always keep valuables out of sight when parking your car to make sure thieves aren’t tempted to break in to steal them. Although this may not prevent all breaks-in, it can lower the chances of attracting thieves to damage your car and steal your valuables.
Protecting your car at all times comes down to being a responsible driver and respecting all road rules and regulations, equipping your vehicle with safety features, and parking your car where no harm can happen to it.