3 Causes of Baton Rouge Auto Accidents

Staying safe on Baton Rouge roadways is not always easy. Despite your best efforts, there are many elements that are simply beyond your control. Other drivers, inclement weather, and road construction all play a role in your safety behind the wheel. Remaining alert and aware of your surroundings is your best defense against a collision.

There are several different potential causes for an auto accident, but recognizing the top few and taking precautionary steps to avoid them can help keep you and other drivers safe. Here are three of the most common causes of collisions:

Accidents Due to Driver Distraction

 Campaigns to raise awareness of the dangers of texting while driving have brought this particular issue to the forefront recently. However, while it is incredibly dangerous, texting is part of a much longer list of distracting activities that drivers participate in behind the wheel. Motorists make phone calls, eat, apply makeup, and even surf the internet while operating their vehicles, and the consequences can be deadly. In fact, over 3,000 people lose their lives each year due to distracted drivers. 

If you need to make a phone call, send a text, or grab a quick bite, take an extra minute or two to pull over while completing your task. Furthermore, if you see a driver who appears to not have their full attention on the road, keep a safe distance and exercise extra caution when passing or approaching them.

Accidents Due to Driving While Impaired 

In 2011, 1.2 million drivers were arrested for driving under the influence (DUI). While the number may be shocking, it still doesn’t account for those who made it to their destination uneventfully, or those who were involved in a fatal accident. Driving under the influence of alcohol or narcotics seriously inhibits your concentration and reaction time, increasing the likelihood of an accident dramatically. If you drink, do not get behind the wheel of a vehicle. Instead, ensure that you first have a designated driver available to take you home, or call a cab. Additionally, if you know someone is under the influence, do not allow them to drive. Offer to drive them, or call someone for them. Preventing drunk or impaired driving will ultimately save lives.

Accidents Due to Speeding

Speed limits are set to keep motorists, pedestrians, and anyone else on the roadway safe. However, they are frequently ignored. We live in a time when speed is nearly always seen as a positive. We want to get to our destinations as quickly as possible, but when doing so puts yourself and other drivers at risk, it’s best to slow down.  The National Safety Council estimates that over 13,000 lives are lost each year due to speeding. In most cases, these lives could have been saved if drivers had simply slowed down.

Consider the consequences of aggressive driving. Even if you’re running late to a big meeting or major event, the risk associated with speeding is not worth it. Slow down, and keep yourself and others safe. Furthermore, if you must share the roadway with someone who is driving hazardously, allow them to pass, and keep a safe distance.

Medine’s Collision Center wants you and your loved ones to arrive safely at your destinations, but we also understand that you cannot always avoid a collision. If you have been involved in an auto accident and need a trustworthy and reputable company to guide you through the repair process, contact our shop. We are proud of the quality work that we provide and our ability to get Baton Rouge drivers back on the road. .