Any person on the road can be in an accident. What happens following the accident is of great importance. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, millions of police-reported crashes occur every year in this country. Each driver can grow personally following one of these incidents. Accidents become teachable moments if handled correctly. Drivers can learn safer habits and become more resilient when out on the road.
Remaining Calm and Composed
People often panic during an accident. They need to remain composed and prioritize the safety of all parties involved. There are several steps to take following an auto accident. The first step is to activate the vehicle’s hazard lights and move the car to a secure location whenever possible. Every person should be checked for injuries, and 911 should be called. Drivers need to exchange information, even though no one should admit fault. If a person makes a statement at the scene of the accident, it can make legal proceedings more challenging in the future.
However, people experience an adrenaline surge during an accident, and the surge can impair their judgment. Cognitive-behavioral therapy techniques, such as deep breathing, can reduce a person’s stress in this type of situation. Once calm, a driver should document all aspects of the accident, including road conditions, weather, and vehicle damage. Photos of the car should be taken from multiple angles to support each driver’s claim. However, the images are also beneficial in determining what happened and how similar accidents can be prevented in the future.
Consider the Cause
Once a person has time to sit down and calm down following an accident, they should consider the cause of the incident to avoid similar situations in the future. They need to determine why the accident occurred and whether steps could have been taken to prevent it. At times, the accident may result from a systemic flaw rather than an isolated mistake. Many vehicles today have dashcams, and drivers should review the footage. If this video footage is not available, the police report can be reviewed. The driver should consider all contributing factors and explore ways to prevent future incidents.
Actionable Insights
Knowing the cause of the accident allows the driver to make changes to reduce the risk of future incidents. For example, if the driver hydroplaned, resulting in the crash, ABS braking techniques should be researched. Once a driver knows what to do in this situation, they can practice the steps needed to prevent an accident.
When distracted driving contributes to an accident, the driver must find ways to reduce these outside influences. A driver may choose to enable do not disturb on their mobile devices when driving or use other hands-free methods. Unfortunately, the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute has found that using hands-free devices still reduces a person’s reaction time by 27%.
At times, the incident may result from a driver not seeing another vehicle in their blind spot or from missing something when entering a high-risk intersection. Driving apps, such as Waze, offer real-time hazard alerts. A driver may also want to invest in devices such as convex mirrors to reduce the risk of future accidents. Establishing SMART goals can help a driver change their habits and increase their safety while on the road.
Drivers should continuously look for ways to improve their habits while on the road. Defensive driving courses are one way to do so. The driver should also embrace technology. Research shows that advanced driver assistance systems can reduce the risk of accidents. However, a driver should not rely solely on this technology. They must remain mindful at all times when driving. Doing so is the best way to stay safe.
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