Before You Drive: 5 Things To Do To Avoid A New Haven Auto Accident

There is a lot to discuss when thinking about avoiding a New Haven auto accident and often we talk about the things you can do while you’re driving to prevent any injury or property damage. Did you know that there are also some things you should consider doing before you get behind the wheel, every time, to make your ride safer? It’s true. If you take a few minutes to take steps to keep yourself safe before you even get in your car to head out to your destination you will go a long way in avoiding an accident and any injuries.

At this point you may be thinking to yourself that it is cumbersome to have a checklist for every time you are about to get into your car and go somewhere, but the truth is if you take the time to do these things you will be making your car ride safer. Yes, having a checklist of things to do before you get into the car may become a little cumbersome, but like anything, after the first few times you execute these steps you will get used to them and they will become part of your daily routine. It will go from taking five minutes to 30-seconds in the blink of an eye and you can rest assured you will be better off for it.

These five things are sure to keep you safer and put any concerns you have at rest when you’re driving your vehicle.

1.) Do a safety check of your vehicle, inside and out. You will want to check things like your wiper blades, your tire pressure and tread, the seat belts (making sure they are functioning properly) and your headlight and tail lights. While you may not need to do this every day, it would be a good idea to do it at least once a week to make sure everything continues to be in working order.

2.) Plan your route ahead of time. Many of us will punch or route into GPS and then hit the road without really knowing where the route will wander off to. Instead of doing this, take a proactive approach and plug in your route and then review it so you know exactly where you are going and while you have your GPS as guidance you are still directing the vehicle and making sure you are an active participant in navigating your route.

3.) Make sure anything you may need along your ride is within arms length. Many people have been known to get on the road and then realize that something they need while they are driving happens to be in their bag in the backseat, this is extremely dangerous. Think about your ride ahead of time and make sure everything you need is within reach. The only thing you will want to keep out of reach is your cell phone until you come to a complete stop.

4.) Buckle your seat belt. One of the best things you can do for your safety when you are in a car is to buckle your seat belt. The good news is that a vast majority of us already have this as part of our routine when we get into the car, but if you don’t, make sure you add this to your routine. One of the best life-saving pieces of equipment you have in your car is your seat belt, use it.

5.) Make sure your mind and body are prepared. You can accomplish this by making sure you get a good night’s sleep so you are not driving while drowsy. You should also make sure that you’ve had enough to eat so you do not feel the urge to get food at a drive-thru which can present a distraction to you and cause you to not be focused on the road ahead. Anything you need to do to make sure your mind and body are in the right frame to drive safely, you should do before you get behind the wheel of the vehicle.

Taking these five steps may seem like a lot, but most of them are just quick items on a checklist that will help prevent you from getting into a New Haven auto accident. If you perform this checklist every time you get in the car you will be proactively taking your own safety into your hands and you get breathe easier as you navigate the sometimes difficult traffic in our area. Without this checklist of items you could be putting yourself at greater risk of getting into an accident and experiencing either an injury or property damage.

Regardless of how careful you are and how safely you are driving you may be put in a difficult situation which could leave you injured. If this is what has happened to you don’t hesitate to reach out to our office. One of our experienced attorneys will review your situation and work with you to protect your long-term interests.