As holiday travel starts to ramp up in November, the risk of traffic accidents increases. We know you drive carefully, but what should you do if other drivers put you and your vehicle at risk of a collision? Here are the top five things you should do to avoid a collision.
Drive defensively.
They always stressed this tactic in driving school. The goal is to stay focused on the road, your speed, and where you are in relation to other objects. Distractions are bad, so you should avoid getting caught off guard. Driving takes a lot of mental focus, so it is in your best interest to be considerate of others but take care of yourself first.
Keep your speed down.
Speeding through neighborhoods isn’t safe, especially when pedestrians, children, pets, or local wildlife are nearby. You never know when an animal or bicyclist could jump out from behind a parked car and surprise you. When you keep your speed to the posted limit or slower, you are more likely to avoid hitting any objects.
Put your phone away.
Don’t text while driving. Don’t thumb through social media while driving. Don’t craft an important email while driving. Don’t go searching for your favorite song on Spotify while driving. Don’t try taking pictures while you are driving either. Just put the phone away and pay attention to the road. If you are lucky enough to have a passenger, ask that person to handle your phone for you instead.
Be careful when making left-hand turns.
Did you know that left-hand turns across a road are the most likely to cause an accident? Ask any insurance company and they will tell you that the accident statistics for left-hand turn collisions are around 61 percent! To be more specific, any time you make a left turn across an intersection or street, your chances of an accident go up. If possible, try making more right-hand turns if you want to avoid collisions.
Always have an escape route.
Be sure to position yourself and your vehicle in such a way that you can get out of a bad situation. This means that you should not follow too closely to the driver in front of you. Stay out of other driver’s blind spots. When changing lanes, be sure to give yourself and the other drivers plenty of space. If driving on slick or icy roads, think about how you would get out of a skid or a spinout without harming others. When you constantly focus on having an escape route, you lower the risk of involving other vehicles or objects outside of your vehicle if you were to lose control of your vehicle.
Any time you travel in your car, we hope you always drive safely and avoid getting into any accidents. However, when you need auto body repair for your vehicle, turn to CARSTAR Robert’s Collision & Repair. We are the Monterey Peninsula's premier auto body repair, detailing service, and auto paint service facility.
CARSTAR Robert’s Collision is located just off Highway 1 at the Del Monte Blvd. Pacific Grove exit. Our shop address is 234 Ramona Avenue, Monterey, CA 93940. We strive to be your one-stop auto shop and we work hard to provide you with an outstanding customer service experience. Our skilled technicians provide the best service in the region. Schedule your appointment today!