Car crashes can happen in a split second. That is why safe driving should never be taken for granted. In the wake of the horrible accident involving golfing legend, Tiger Woods earlier this week, Alvarez Injury Law wanted to share a few key safety tips for your daily commute:
1. Rule #1 Safety First. Avoiding aggressive and inattentive driving which will put you in a stronger position to deal with other people’s bad driving. Leave plenty of space between you and the car in front. Always lock your doors. Wear your seatbelt to protect you from being thrown from the car in a crash.
2. Maintain situational awareness. Check your mirrors frequently and scan conditions 20-30 seconds ahead of you. If a vehicle is showing signs of aggressive driving, slow down or pull over to avoid it. Keep an eye on pedestrians, bicyclists, wildlife and pets along the road. Anticipate and drive defensively.
3.You can’t control others. Be considerate, but look out for yourself. Do not assume another driver is going to move out of the way or allow you to merge. Assume that drivers will run through red lights or stop signs and be prepared to react. Plan your movements anticipating the worst-case scenario. Anticipate and drive defensively
4. Slow down and don’t tailgate. Posted speed limits apply to ideal conditions. It’s your responsibility to ensure that your speed matches conditions. Increase your following distance for conditions such as rain, fog, nighttime driving, or following a large truck or motorcycle.
5. Distracted driving is Impaired Driving. A distraction is any activity that diverts your attention from the task of driving. Driving deserves your full attention, so stay focused on the driving task.
Tiger Woods was driving in Rancho Palos Verdes, CA, when his SUV crossed a median and veered across two lanes of road before hitting a curb, hitting a tree and landing on its side in the brush. The case is still being investigated, but the records indicate that Woods was going faster than the stated speed limit and there is no indication of any other vehicle being involved.
https://www.golfdigest.com/story/tiger-woods-car-accident-los-angeles