9 Important Car Accident Prevention Tips

Did you know that millions of Americans get in car accidents every year? If you want to learn how to prevent car accidents, we can help.

In this guide, we’ll go over different causes of car accidents and how to avoid them. These accident prevention tips will help you.

Want to learn more? Keep reading.

1. Ways to Prevent Rear-End Collisions

A lot of times, you can avoid a rear-end collision. When driving, make sure you keep plenty of distance between yourself and the car in front of you. This way, if you need to stop, you can do so safely.

If driving in messy conditions, give yourself plenty of space between other drivers.

While driving, try not to become distracted. Don’t look at your phone or take your eyes off the road to grab a sandwich. Otherwise, if the vehicle in front of you stops, you’ll end up rear-ending them.

2. Where Should You Park?

Do you need to leave your vehicle parked on the side of the road or in a parking lot? You can avoid accidents or damage to your car in a few ways.

Make sure you don’t park in a busy section in the parking lot. Look for a spot that’s further away from all the traffic. You’ll lower your chances of getting hit by another vehicle.

When you park, try to pull into the middle of a spot. You don’t want to park too close to the line. Otherwise, a swinging door could hit your car.

When parking on the street, don’t choose a spot near a driveway or a busy intersection. Drivers might not see your vehicle and could end up side-swiping it.

3. Don’t Drive Fast In Poor Weather Conditions

During the winter months, check the weather conditions. Make sure you get winter tires before the winter season hits.

Slow down if the weather changes, and it begins to rain or snow. Even if you’re the only driver on the road, continue to drive at a slower speed, so you have more control.

A lot of people have trouble in the rain and end up hydroplaning. Do you want to learn more about how to drive in the rain? Check out these tips.

4. Drive Defensively

Be on the lookout for drivers or pedestrians. Even if you don’t see anyone, you shouldn’t use your phone to text or eat food while driving. Something could change fast, and you want to be able to react.

Don’t assume the other driver is going to do the right thing on the road. You want to make sure you’re always watching out for potential accidents.

If you’re driving in a new area, take your time. Be on the lookout for one-way streets or crosswalks.

5. Avoid Speeding

Speeding tends to be one of the leading causes of motor fatalities and accidents. People who speed end up putting themselves and others at risk.

If you’re speeding and hit an ice patch, you could end up in an accident you could have otherwise avoided.

Make sure you slow down if you notice you’re speeding. You don’t want to end up in an accident or get a speeding ticket.

6. Watch Out for Windshield Damage

Windshields get damaged when stones and rocks fly up in the air from other cars. Keep distance between yourself and other drivers. A cracked windshield could cause an accident.

In the winter, try not to drive directly behind a snowplow. The snowplow will drop salt or other substances, and the pieces are big enough to chip your windshield.

7. Be Careful At Intersections

A lot of accidents tend to occur at intersections. A distracted driver might not notice the signal’s change from green to yellow. Some drivers might not see a vehicle pausing before turning.

Try always to be a defensive driver. Once the light turns green, quickly look for anyone driving through the interaction.

Watch out for drivers speeding toward the yellow light to cross. Be cautious instead of zipping through the yellow light.

8. Where Are Your Blind Spots?

You can avoid car accidents with some basic driving fundamentals. Make sure you’re aware of different blind spots. Knowing your blind spots will help you avoid an accident.

Adjust your mirrors after someone else drove your vehicle. Don’t forget to check your different blind spots before you change lanes.

9. Avoid Backup Collisions

Some people end up in car accidents when backing out of a driveway or parking spot.

If you can, park in a way that prevents you from having to back up when you leave. Also, park in an area that doesn’t force you to back up into traffic.

If you don’t have a backup camera already, consider getting one installed. For now, make sure you continually assess your surroundings before backing up.

Use the most direct and shortest route possible when backing up. Reverse in a straight line and only turn once you’re clear of other vehicles or obstructions.

Back up slowly and keep looking around for traffic. Don’t try to answer your phone or eat something while backing up.

Now You Know More About Accident Prevention

We hope this guide on how to prevent car accidents was helpful.

Use these different accident prevention tips when driving. Make sure you slow down in bad weather, be a defensive driver, and don’t drive too close to others.

Are you looking for more helpful auto tips? Check out our resources on the blog.

Alicia Baker
Alicia is a Canadian writer whose enthusiasm for cultural and automotive are combined in her writing. Her background includes links to insurance, finance, and automotive safety.