Highway hacks that could save your life

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Contact West Coast Trial Lawyers for Legal Assistance

Were you involved in a traffic accident due to someone else’s negligence? West Coast Trial Lawyers is here to help. Our personal injury lawyers have won more than 5,000 cases, which has accumulated to over $1.5 billion in settlements recovered for our clients. Due to our achievements, we have been acknowledged as one of the top personal injury law firms in California.

If you are looking for legal representation for your traffic accident case, we welcome you to reach out to our 24/7 legal team by calling (888) 312-0511 or filling out our quick contact form to schedule a free consultation. 

Safety Tips for Driving in California

Driving a vehicle comes with a lot of responsibilities. Sure, it may seem fun to have the freedom to drive wherever you want, but if you’re not careful enough, you could get yourself into some serious problems or legal consequences. Below, we have created a list of safety tips a California driver should consider taking to lessen the chances of getting into a traffic accident. 

Follow the Posted Speed Limit

Driving in accordance with the posted speed limit is required under California law. Those who choose to speed will reduce the amount of time they will have to react to the vehicles ahead. For instance, you are going 60 mph on a 35 mph road. The driver ahead of you makes an abrupt stop to yield to a jaywalking pedestrian. You are unable to hit the brakes on time to avoid crashing directly into the vehicle, thus causing a rear-end accident. Not only will you need to get your injuries treated, but you will also have to compensate the other driver for the damages you caused them. Moral of the story? Follow the speed limit!

Avoid Tailgating

Driving dangerously close to another vehicle will increase your likelihood of getting into an accident or a confrontation with the driver. Always keep a safe distance from each vehicle ahead of you to avoid causing a rear-end accident. According to the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), you should keep a three second distance between you and the vehicle in front of you to give you enough time to react to the other driver’s actions.

Do Not Enter the Far Left Lane, if Possible

Highways can be nerve-wracking to drive in, especially if you are in the far left lane. Typically, the left side is filled with fast drivers who are trying to get to their destination as quickly as possible. If you consider yourself more of a slow driver, it would be ideal to keep driving on the right lanes to avoid any chances of getting into an altercation with an aggressive or speeding driver.

Always Check Your Blind Spots

When making lane changes, it is important to check your blind spots to make sure no drivers are nearby. Even if your vehicle has a motion sensor to give you a heads up of any drivers that are close to you, you should still observe your surroundings to ensure you are entirely safe to proceed to the next lane. 

Do Not Get Aggressive With Other Drivers

Try to maintain any anger or frustration you may have against another driver when you are on the road. Succumbing to these thoughts and emotions will influence you to act in a dangerous manner that can get you and others around you in a traffic accident. Remain calm and focus on arriving at your destination without the need to angrily react to actions being made directly against you by another driver.

Always Observe Your Surroundings

Keep your eyes on the road at all times. Do not allow distractions to make you lose your focus on getting to your destination safely. Avoid using your phone, eating food, or applying makeup while driving. Failing to do this can get you into an accident with motorists, bicyclists, or pedestrians. 

Wear Your Seat Belt At All Times

Seat belts should be fastened immediately when a vehicle is being operated. If you get involved in a traffic accident, your seat belt will help restrain you from being ejected out of the vehicle. According to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), seat belts help save lives and reduce the chances of the vehicle occupants from sustaining serious injuries after impact.

Do Not Drive While Under the Influence of Drugs or Alcohol

To drive a vehicle, you must be mentally aware of your surroundings. Consuming any drugs or alcohol can affect your vision and your thought process. You will have a difficult time trying to figure out how to navigate your vehicle without crashing into something. Any strange or off behavior that is detected while you are on the road may attract police officers to stop you. 

If you do get stopped, you will be examined by the police officers in order for them to find out how much drugs or alcohol are in your system. Any substance found may result in legal repercussions, such as a fine, prison sentence, or license suspension.

Do Not Drive While Fatigued

It is important for people to get a full 8 hours of sleep to function properly throughout the day. If you are not giving your body enough rest, you will start to notice how weak and tired you are becoming as the day progresses. Any signs of drowsiness or fatigue should be noted before you start your vehicle. If you choose to ignore these symptoms, you may end up falling asleep behind the wheel and cause a traffic accident. 

Drive With an Adult if You Are an Inexperienced Driver

Inexperienced drivers are often found to be teenagers who are either learning how to drive or have just received their California driver’s license. If you are still new to the concept of driving, you should have an adult who is 21 years old or older sitting in the passenger seat. They will give you a heads up on any mistakes you make or give you some helpful advice on how to drive safely.