According to statistics compiled by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the rate of fatal road traffic accidents (RTAs) decreased slightly in 2022 after a three-year upward trend. The fatality rate of 12.8 per 100,000 people was down from 13 in 2021, 26 of those deaths occurred in the small city of Spokane, Washington.
The United States experienced substantial improvement in road traffic security and automotive safety during the late 1970s. The IIHS released its first fatality rate report of 22.5 deaths per 100,000 people in 1980, which marked the lowest count since then up to when 10.3 persons lost their lives in 2014. The continuous improvement in traffic safety is driven by enhanced vehicle security technologies and traffic regulations, but driver awareness remains the primary cause of safety improvement.
American drivers play a crucial role in creating safe road conditions for themselves and others. Defensive driving consists of multiple techniques dedicated to foreseeing safety risks while preventing incidents from happening. Every driver should learn defensive driving methods, which need to be adopted in every situation, even when other motorists act poorly or the weather remains unfavorable. Defensive driving transforms you into an actively responsible driver who controls the safety of every person inside your vehicle. This article explores the essential elements of defensive driving technique.
Seatbelts Save Lives
Research from the 2022 IIHS fatality report indicates that vehicle occupants in America use seatbelts during driving at an 91.6% rate. The figures change significantly in death-related crashes. During RTAs in 2022, 45% of drivers and 42% of passengers among all deceased vehicle occupants failed to use their seatbelts. This percentage shows the critical link between seatbelts and survival, and it is your cue to ensure everyone aboard your car, SUV, truck, or minivan is properly fastened.
Consciously Eliminate All Driving Distractions
Within the 42,514 deadly RTAs reported by the IIHS in 2022, distracted driving caused 3,126 fatalities. Although the use of smartphones and other mobile devices generates more news headlines on the topic of distracted driving, daydreaming is far more common.
Eliminating driving distractions requires a conscious effort. You can start by acknowledging the three abilities that keep you safe behind the wheel: visual, manual, and cognitive. All abilities should be dedicated to analyzing the road ahead and your surroundings; they should never be encumbered by any distractions. If you must stay connected to mobile apps, synchronize your smartphone with the car’s infotainment system or configure Android Auto or Apple CarPlay for this purpose.
Stay Within the Speed Limit
Speed plays a deadly role in more than 25% of all American fatal transport accidents since speeding leads vehicles beyond tolerable safety constraints, which roads were engineered for. Being quick behind the wheel greatly intensifies the danger that affects you and your vehicle occupants, alongside other road users.
The pressures of modern life are the main motivators for speeding. When everything feels rushed and overwhelming, we think that going faster can help us process things more efficiently. The danger and consequences of speeding are not worth the time savings you might perceive. A good strategy to this effect involves allowing ample travel time so you can stay within the posted speed limits.
Regular Auto Maintenance
Your road safety depends completely on how well your vehicle is maintained. Keeping your vehicle on the road by performing regular maintenance serves two purposes: first, to lengthen its operational lifespan, and second, to stop mechanical issues that threaten driver safety.
The owner’s manual of your vehicle contains suggested maintenance schedules that you should review for proper guidance. Keep tire rotations as well as pressure checks on your schedule. Acquire knowledge about suitable tire PSI values that work during different seasons while considering how loaded tires should be. Each brake service should be performed without delay, and you need to notice any wheel, steering column, or axle noises and vibrations for potential issues.
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