Roughly 80% of all drivers will get into at least one car accident within their lifetime. If you’ve already been in one, you’re probably keen to avoid another. Unfortunately, there are a lot of factors that can result in a collision when you’re driving around Minnesota, and some of them are out of your control.
Fortunately, there are driving behaviors you can adopt to reduce the risk of a car crash. Read on to learn how to avoid a road collision in Minnesota.
6 Tips for Preventing a Car Accident
- Keep Your Eyes on the Road – Distracted driving is the leading cause of car accidents, and nothing distracts a driver more than talking or texting on a cellphone. Not only is this a dangerous practice, it is also illegal to manually use a cellphone while driving under Minnesota state law. You can still talk on the phone via Bluetooth or speaker phone, but it’s still important to be aware of your surroundings at all times when you’re operating a vehicle.
- Don’t Tailgate – Even if you’re in a rush, it’s never a good idea to tailgate the driver in front of you. Not only can this cause anxiety for both you and the other driver, it significantly raises the odds of a collision. If an unexpected red light, a pedestrian or another factor forces the driver ahead of you to slam their brakes, you’ll almost certainly wind up rear-ending them.
- Mind the Weather – Inclement weather is a common cause of car accidents. In Minnesota, a large number of crashes occur during the winter, when snow and ice create treacherous road conditions. In other seasons, heavy rain or fog can also result in an accident. Check the weather before you drive and, if a dangerous storm is anticipated, consider changing your plans.
- Watch Other Drivers – When driving in Minnesota, it’s always good to be mindful of the fact that even if you’re a safe driver, others on the road might not be. Especially when dealing with rush hour traffic, watch nearby drivers for signs that they are distracted, inebriated or just plain aggressive. Identifying dangerous behavior in other drivers can protect you from getting into a collision with them.
- Use Caution at Night – The less clearly you can see the road beneath your wheels, the more likely a car accident is. If you’re driving at night, consider slowing down and being extra-vigilant. Another driver may be driving without headlights on, a tree might have fallen into the road or a family of deer might be making a crossing. All of these things and more pose hazards to nighttime drivers that you’ll want to be on the lookout for.
- Always Drive Sober – Driving while under the influence of drugs and alcohol is illegal in Minnesota, and also extremely dangerous. An impaired driver is far more likely to get into a car crash than a sober one, due to reduced situational awareness and reaction times. Even if you’ve just had a beer or two and you feel a little buzzed, it’s best to wait until you feel nothing before getting behind the wheel.
Get Your Car Repaired After an Accident
Unfortunately, no matter how safely you drive, you might still be involved in a car accident. If you’ve been in a collision, even a relatively minor one, it’s important to have your vehicle inspected and repaired by professional mechanics. Give Arvu Auto a call today if you need post-accident vehicle repairs in the West Minneapolis metro!
