Top 5 Ways to Avoid an Auto Collision

You don’t want to think about a car accident, or what comes next–calling the police, checking for injuries, exchanging information and trying to remember the chain of events that lead up to it. An auto collision can turn into a major headache which most people would like to avoid.

Here are some helpful tips to help you avoid an accident and become a safer, more cautious driver:

o   Don’t drive distracted. Too many auto collisions occur because of distracted driving. Do not do any activity that may take your eyes off the road. Wait before or after your trip or until you are parked. Distracted driving is unsafe, irresponsible, and an auto collision can happen in a split second with devastating consequences.

o   Don’t drive drowsy. Drowsy driving can be extremely dangerous and it leads to thousands of auto collisions each year. When taking long road trips, try to take a break every couple hours and if you feel tired, stop driving and take a nap. If it is late at night, find a hotel and turn in for the night so that you feel refreshed in the morning.

o   Use your turn signal early. Don’t wait until the last second to make a sudden lane change, to exit or to make a quick turn. Using your turn signals early will give other drivers plenty of notice which will help you avoid an auto collision.

o   Avoid road rage. Use caution and be aware of other drivers around you. Change lanes when you can to give aggressive drivers more room and let them pass you. Don’t follow too closely, and when changing lanes, don’t cut off any drivers. If others drive aggressively or tailgate you, don’t retaliate. It’s just not worth it.

o   Avoid night driving. Due to visibility at night, traffic death rates are three times greater than during the day. Night driving can also be dangerous because there is a higher probability that you may encounter drunk or drowsy drivers on the road.

Even with our auto collision avoidance tips, you can’t always avoid other dangerous drivers on the road, such as those who run a red light, drowsy drivers, or distracted drivers. Most drivers are likely to be involved in an auto collision at least once in their lives.

If you do get into an auto collision and need to repair your vehicle, the best advice we can give is to do your research when looking for an auto collision repair shop. Carwise.com is a great place to find recommended auto body shop near you, with real reviews from real customers. Carwise can also help you keep track of your auto collision repair status, so you won’t have to keep calling the shop to get updates.