Nashville car accident lawyer offers safe driving tips from AAA
With the start of the new year, people often make resolutions to make certain changes in their lives. According to AAA, one of the changes people should make in 2024 is to drive safer in an effort to prevent car accidents.
“Bad driving habits may be universal, but they are not irreversible,” AAA says. “Just a few adjustments can change your behavior.”
So what can drivers in Nashville and Middle Tennessee do to make the roads safer in 2024? What are the most dangerous driving habits? And how dangerous are Tennessee’s roads? The legal team at the Law Office of Eric Beasley explains.
What are common dangerous driving habits?
The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety recently released its annual study analyzing the most dangerous driving habits. Based on surveys filled out in 2022 by nearly 2,500 people, the “2022 Traffic Safety Culture Index” revealed some of the common dangerous driving habits:
- 8% of drivers admitted to not stopping for a red light at least once in the past 30 days.
- 7% admitted to excessive speeding, which the study defined as driving 15 mph over the speed limit on a highway or 10 mph over the speed limit on a city street.
- 9% were so tired while driving they had trouble keeping their eyes open.
- 3% were self-described aggressive drivers.
- 15% texted while driving or engaged in other distracted driving behaviors.
- 3% admitted to driving under the influence of alcohol within the past 30 days.
How dangerous are Tennessee’s roads?
According to accident data collected by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), some of the most common causes of car accident fatalities in Tennessee include:
- Drunk driving, which hit a 10-year high in 2021 in Tennessee with 355 car accident fatalities.
- Not wearing a seatbelt, which had its second-highest death toll in a decade in 2021 with 393 deaths.
- Speeding, which recorded its second-highest death toll in 10 years in 2021 with 231 deaths.
What steps can drivers take to make roads safer?
Ensuring road safety is a shared responsibility that every driver can contribute to. By taking proactive steps and following essential guidelines, we can collectively make our roads safer for everyone. Here are some crucial measures and habits that drivers can adopt to promote road safety and reduce the risk of accidents:
- Obey all traffic signs, including stop signs and red lights.
- Come to a complete stop at a stop sign.
- Put your phone in “do not disturb” mode while driving.
- Have a designated driver if you plan to drink alcohol, use public transportation, or use a rideshare service such as Uber or Lyft.
- If driving long distances, take a break every 2 hours to avoid drowsy driving.
- Don’t eat while driving.
- Obey the posted speed limits on highways and residential streets.
- Remain vigilant while driving.
- Drive defensively, which means you should expect the unexpected on the road.
If you've been injured, call the Law Office of Eric Beasley today
You might think you don’t even need a lawyer if you were injured in a car accident caused by another driver. Filing an insurance claim should be easy, right? Unfortunately, that’s often not the case. Instead, insurance companies often do everything they can to stand in your way and not pay you the compensation you deserve for your losses.
At the Law Office of Eric Beasley, we can help you every step of the way. We know how the legal system works in Tennessee. We know what evidence to look for and what legal strategies are the most effective. And we're not afraid to fight back against insurance adjusters when they try to bully people into accepting lowball settlements.
Get a law firm that knows what it takes to win and puts in the work to get results. Schedule a free case evaluation with a Nashville car accident attorney focused on helping people when they need it most. There are no obligations, just straight talk and honest answers about your potential legal options. Don't wait—contact us today.