Atlanta traffic is no joke and aggressive driving occurs more frequently than not. Reckless driving results in multiple accidents every year, so it is crucial to be constantly aware before you get hurt. A big issue with these reckless drivers is that you can’t really spot them until it’s too late. Here Marietta Wrecker gives you a few helpful tips to avoid reckless driving in 2021.
Be Aware Of Your Surroundings
Distracted drivers are one of the leading causes of car accidents in the United States. Cellphones, the radio, eating, and other passengers are a few distractions that can reduce a drivers alertness. This leads to a decrease in reaction time substantially. Always be aware of aggressive driving by avoiding distractions. Be sure to use your mirrors to observe other drivers when it’s safe to do so, every 60 seconds if on a busy road, as this gives the best chance to spot someone thats distracted.
Keep A Safe Distance
This is a good tip to avoid reckless drivers in general. Keeping a safe distance should help minimize the risk of getting into an accident. For instance, if you see a driver is on their phone then you have more time to react to their mistakes. Always leave an adequate amount of space between vehicles. If the other driver slams on their brakes and causes you to crash into them, the fault will likely be yours. As a general rule of thumb, make sure you keep roughly a car length per 10-20 mph.
Slow Down
Another simple but effective way to avoid reckless drivers is slowing down and avoid speeding. If you give yourself plenty of time to get to your destination, you will be less tempted to speed. Speed limits are created and enforced for a reason. They keep everyone who uses the public roads and highways safe. With that being said, many drivers tend to speed a few miles over the limit, while others blatantly disregard the laws altogether. Speeding is a contributing factor in over a third of all car crashes. The faster you go, the less time you have to react to an unexpected incident. At high rates of speed, drivers may take turns unsafely, miss traffic signs, or fail to notice pedestrians, bicyclists, and other vehicles. To avoid this, slow down and keep your eyes on the road.
Avoid Tailgating
If the car in front of you is driving slowly, you may tend to tailgate in order to let the driver know to speed up or get out of the way. This is never a good idea. If the driver has to make a sudden stop, you may not have enough time to brake. Tailgating often occurs as a result of road rage and can seriously increase the odds of an accident. Avoid tailgating and share the road.
Don’t Drive Impaired
You need to rely on yourself to spot reckless drivers, which is harder to do when you are tired or had to much to drink. Even if you’ve only had a couple of alcoholic beverages and feel perfectly fine, you should avoid getting behind the wheel. Having alcohol in your system can impair your judgment and increase your chances of getting into an accident.
Driving angry can also make the situation worse, as you may react poorly to the other driver and find yourself not focusing either. This results in you being a reckless driver. Stay calm and alert, and if you find yourself getting too annoyed just pull over and take a breather.
Finally, know how new medications affect you before you get behind the wheel. In many cases, drivers discover that a new medication causes serious problems with gross motor functions, attention, or drowsiness. When you take a new medication for the first time, especially a pain medication or cold and flu medication, take the time to learn how that medication impacts you. If it causes distraction or drowsiness, avoid driving while on that medication.
Need A Tow?
When you share the road with a reckless driver, it can substantially increase your risk of an accident, even if you do everything right. If you wind up in an accident because of reckless driving and need a tow, be sure to call us. Marietta Wrecker Service provides emergency towing to the metro Atlanta area, and our “on-call” fleet of tow trucks and service vehicles guarantee a prompt response. Call us today!