According to the 2006 Pennsylvania Crash Facts and Statistics Report, there were almost 130,000 reported car accidents last year, causing 96,000 injuries and 1,525 deaths. All in all, people have a one in eight chance of getting into car crash each year. What are we to do about these frightening statistics? We certainly can't just give up driving and stay home - we need to get to our jobs, buy groceries, and see loved ones. Luckily, although we can't entirely prevent all car and truck collisions, we can greatly reduce your risk of being involved in an accident with a few safety tips.

Pennsylvania Car Accident Safety Tips: Taking Precautions And Saving Lives

According to the 2006 Pennsylvania Crash Facts and Statistics Report, there were almost 130,000 reported car accidents last year, causing 96,000 injuries and 1,525 deaths. All in all, people have a one in eight chance of getting into car crash each year.

What are we to do about these frightening statistics? We certainly can't just give up driving and stay home - we need to get to our jobs, buy groceries, and see loved ones. Luckily, although we can't entirely prevent all car and truck collisions, we can greatly reduce your risk of being involved in an accident with a few safety tips.

  • Dive defensively. This is a timeless lesson that you've probably heard before - but there's a reason it is so popular with parents and driving instructors alike. Driving defensively can keep you alert and keep you from crashing with another aggressive driver. Don't assume someone is going to turn just because their turn signal is on. Leave an appropriate amount of space between you and the car in front of you.
  • Buckle up. We can't stress enough how much this simple step can save lives - in fact, many have calculated that wearing your seat belt could save up to 9,500 lives a year across the country. Don't rely on your airbag. Don't only wear it during the day. Don't think that you are too cool for it. It could easily be the difference between life and death.
  • Stay calm. Don't be an emotional driver - it can lead to bad decisions, bad driving and even road rage. Even if you find yourself in a situation involving a bad or aggressive driver on the road with you, do not escalate the situation. Call the police from your cell phone and report the bad driver, and then get out the situation you are in by stopping for a few minutes or taking a different route.
  • Get your eyes checked. If you are an older driver, make sure you frequently check your vision, especially if you drive at night. If you are concerned that you may be becoming too old to safely drive in general, take friend or relative with you in the car and have them evaluate the situation. A significant number of accidents are caused by those who simply don't know that they are no longer able to operate a vehicle appropriately.
  • Watch Your Teens. Teens, especially males with new licenses, are much more likely to not wear their seat belts, dive drunk, drive recklessly, and cause accidents. Although you can't watch your newly-independent teens at all times, you can lay ground rules, instate curfews, and sit down and teach your teens the importance of driving safely.

These tips may seem simple - and filled with common sense. Yet the vast majority of car crash injuries and fatalities would be prevented if we all followed them. Practice these tips yourselves each time you get into your car, and tell your loved ones about them too. Traffic accidents are decreasing every year (even as traffic increases) but there are still tens of thousands of lives we can save in 2009.


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