How to Increase Your Chances of Surviving an Auto Accident
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All through your life, you will probably be involved in 3-4 car accidents. Chances of any of these accidents being fatal are low because only three out of one thousand accidents are deadly. You can increase your chances of survival in a car crash by following these tips:
Wear Your Seat belt
Seat belts have saved many lives over the years; this means that you should take them seriously. They stop you from slamming your head into the dashboard when your car brakes suddenly. If your car does not have any airbags, you can fly through the windshield during a crash, which can be fatal.
You need to ensure that the seat belt fits properly if you want it to work as it should. If possible, you need to adjust the height of a seatbelt to make it fit well. If you are short and the belt falls across your neck, you are more likely to die from being strangled by the seatbelt in case of an accident. You can buy an adjuster if your seatbelt is not adjustable to ensure that it fits across your chest.
Put Your Hands on the Wheel
Although many drivers are used to driving with one hand, you should keep both of your hands on the steering wheel for increased safety. If your wrists are bent, they might end up breaking during a car crash. Moreover, putting your hands correctly will allow you to be more responsive and avoid an accident.
Taking time to adjust your posture will take away precious moments from your response time when every second matters.
Adjust Your Headrest and Seat
The more your body is in contact with the seat, the safer you will be. The seats in modern vehicles are designed to protect you in case of an accident. Older cars might not have headrests but modern ones do. A headrest will protect your head from whiplash, which can cause soft tissue damage even in low impact crashes. When you adjust it properly, the headrest provides cervical and head support.
Car Seats for Kids
If you are traveling with an infant who is shorter than 35 inches and lighter than 35 pounds, you need to invest in a car seat. To avoid buying two or more seats as your child grows, you should consider buying a convertible seat. Such a seat will convert from being rear facing to front facing.
You need to make sure that the car seat functions properly for your child and car. If the seat has a high rating from NHTSA, you should opt for it.
Drive Defensively
You must have heard that you need to drive defensively instead of aggressively. Defensive driving will allow you to avoid or respond safely to road hazards. When you drive in a defensive manner, you can protect yourself and other drivers by doing the following:
– Scanning the road and adjusting your driving accordingly
– Paying attention to your surroundings
– Driving weather appropriately by slowing down during snow and rain storms
– Staying two seconds behind the car in front of you
– Being aware of your car's response time and stopping distance
– Watching out for and avoiding aggressive or drunk drivers
– Controlling your emotions when someone cuts you off in traffic
– Keeping the safety features of your car operational by ensuring that your brakes and lights are working
No matter how careful you are, you cannot control the actions of other drivers on the road or avoid accidents forever. You need to keep contacts such as those of lawyers for auto accidents and mechanics handy for such instances.