Michigan car accident lawyers have put together safe driving tips to help people avoid car accidents and travel more safely on Michigan roads. Special attention is given to winter driving, which is always more dangerous in Michigan. Sadly, more tragic car accidents and wrongful deaths occur in Michigan over the holidays and in the winter months than at any other time of year. Michigan personal injury lawyers experienced in handling car accidents are often familiar with many of the circumstances that cause these usually preventable injuries and wrongful deaths.
1. Know your way before you start to drive. Michigan winter nights get dark earlier and roads can be wet and slippery. Don’t try to read a map or directions while you are driving a vehicle. Know your way before you get behind the wheel. And always try to make sure someone else knows your plans.
2. Everyone driving a car on Michigan roads in wintertime should be prepared. This includes keeping a snow brush and ice scraper in your car so you can see before you get behind the wheel to drive.
3. If your motor vehicle stops or stalls, stay in the vehicle after putting on your dome light. If you need to run your car, do it only enough to stay warm and then shut it down again.
4. Know the difference between automobiles with antilock brakes and those without. If you have antilock brakes, which most cars and small trucks come with today, stomp on the antilock brakes. If you do not have antilock brakes, pump your brakes and steer into a skid. It is useless and dangerous to pump on antilock brakes.
5. Always keep heavy blankets and flares, a medical first aid kit, and other emergency items in your vehicle. Always try to keep a flashlight, jumper cables, and some type of warning device in your trunk.
6. Never drive if you have had too much to drink. Better yet, have a designated driver if you are going to a party or out socially where you may drink alcohol. Statistically, more people are injured or killed because of drunk driving during the holidays than during any other time of year.
7. As with drunk driving accidents, injuries and wrongful death due to tired or drowsy driving during the holidays than during any other time of year. Drowsy driving causes car accidents and impaired driving decision making. In Northern states like Michigan it gets dark early, temperatures are cold, people often have too much to eat or drink, and then get into cars with the hot air blowing at full power. It is easy to get tired behind the wheel of any motor vehicle.
8. Make good decisions. Set realistic travel goals if you have to drive for long distances. Try to get a good night’s sleep before you begin a long drive.
9. Watch what you eat when you have long drives. Meals that are high in fat and sugar are shown to cause people to fatigue faster. Those holiday meals are perfect for taking naps afterwards on a couch, but not for getting behind the wheel for a long drive
10. Try to keep your mind alert. As painful as it may be at times, try to listen to talk radio shows instead of music if you feel yourself getting drowsy.
11. If you become tired, it is far better to stop and park your car or truck at a safe place to take a short 20 minute nap.
12. Coffee and other products containing caffeine have been proven to boost short-term alertness, if you feel yourself getting tired and have but a short distance to go. If you are getting drowsy and have to still drive for many miles or for many hours, it is better to stop and try to take a nap or get a hotel room for the night than it is to try to “power through” with lots of coffee and caffeine.
13. Always remember the basics we all learned when beginning to drive a car: maintain your vehicle well, check your car battery, tire pressure, tire tread, and replenish windshield wiper fluid and other fluids.
14. And, as always, buckle up! If you have children, please put your children in child safety seats and if the child is under 12 years old, the safest place is always in the backseat.
Videos - Highest Rated
