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The new year means that many people will be thinking of resolutions to make for 2019. Safer driving habits are a very good kind of resolution to adopt.
You may be aware of specific driving habits that you’d like to change, like texting while driving or checking social media, speeding, driving aggressively, or drinking and driving.
If you’re looking to make a change and adopt safer driving habits, there’s no better time than the new year!
Safer Driving Habits to Adopt in 2019
Talking, texting, or otherwise using your phone while driving may be prohibited where you live. Many motorists are often distracted by their smartphones, regardless of the law. Resolving to stop using your phone while behind the wheel could greatly reduce your likelihood of being involved in a potentially devastating accident.
If you have driven after consuming alcohol without consequences in the past, it is a good idea to resolve to stop doing so in the new year. Having a designated driver, using Uber, Lyft or other rideshare services, or calling a cab could save your life and the lives of others.
Another safer driving resolution is to share the road with trucks, cyclists, pedestrians, and electric scooters. Instead of getting frustrated with their presence on busy city streets and sidewalks, resolve to be a more patient and accommodating driver.
This new year, you might want to make a concerted effort to perform more regular maintenance on your vehicle, including getting new tires, having your brakes checked, and getting a full tune-up. You can protect yourself and others by making sure that your car is in proper working condition. Parents should take extra precautions to make sure they have an age-appropriate child’s seat and that the seat is properly installed according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
If you are riding a motorcycle, be sure to wear a helmet. Even if your state’s law doesn’t require a helmet, studies have shown that helmets dramatically reduce the chances of suffering a serious head or brain injury.
Taking a Pledge for Safe Driving in 2019
Several organizations allow you to make pledges committing to safe driving behavior. Impact Teen Drivers (ITD), for example, allows you to make a distracted driving pledge to be an attentive driver.
AT&T similarly offers the It Can Wait pledge to drive distraction-free. American International Group, Inc. (AIG) has a Road Safety Pledge in which you can pledge to make the roads safer by being more considerate to others on the road, maintaining a safe stopping distance, avoiding distractions while driving, not wearing headphones, not driving after drinking alcohol, slowing down in urban and residential areas, and numerous other behaviors.
You don’t necessarily have to take an online pledge to commit to safer driving behavior. Your own personal initiative will work just fine.
If you happen to be injured or your loved one is killed by an unsafe driver in the greater Dallas area, do not hesitate to seek legal representation. An experienced attorney will be able to help you seek all of the compensation you are entitled to.
The record of success for Tate Law Offices, P.C., includes $3.7 million recovered in a fatal car accident. Call us or contact us online to schedule a free consultation.
