4 Tips For Driving Safely & Avoiding Car Accidents In New York City
As personal injury lawyers in New York City, we have helped many car accident victims over the years. Through our experience, we have gained insights into some of the most common causes of car accidents in our city.
Below we have created a list of useful tips to help drivers stay safe and avoid accidents on our roads.
1. Obey The Speed Limit
Speeding is one of the most common causes of auto accidents on our roads.
Fortunately, New York City has recently reduced the speed limit to 25 mph on all streets throughout the city (unless posted otherwise) in an effort to eliminate traffic-related accidents. However, this initiative will only work if drivers decide to follow the newly enforced speed limits.
If you notice yourself driving over the speed limit, slow down. By reducing the speed of your car you give yourself and other drivers more time to react to unexpected circumstances while driving .
That said, you should not drive excessively slow either as that can be dangerous too.
2. Maintain A Safe Driving Distance (Don’t Tailgate)
Rear-end accidents happen all the time in New York City because drivers do not leave enough room between their car and the vehicle in front of them.
No matter how fast you’re traveling, you should keep a safe distance between your vehicle and the vehicle in front of you.
This can be especially important in hazardous weather such as rain or snow, as these conditions can make it much more difficult to stop your vehicle in a moment’s notice.
On the other hand, if a vehicle is following you too closely then you should switch lanes or pull over where in a safe place to let the driver pass you.
3. Communicate With Other Drivers
Communicating with other drivers is key in order to drive safely.
Although obvious, many drivers in New York City fail to use their turn signals when changing lanes. If you are going to switch lanes, use your turn signal and make sure you give other drivers enough time to recognize your intention before you actually change lanes.
Car accidents can also occur when multiple vehicles approach an intersection and stop at their respective stop signs simultaneously.
In this situation, it is important to look at the other drivers at the intersection and communicate effectively with them before proceeding.
4. Keep Your Vehicle In Good Shape
Maintaining your vehicle is important for your safety, as well as the safety of other drivers and pedestrians.
In addition to staying up to date on inspections and maintenance, you can help keep your car in peak condition by:
- Checking your oil often
- Checking the tire pressure (see owner’s manual for suggested pressure)
- Washing your windows regularly
If you notice any unusual sounds or if anything feels strange, you may need to take it into the shop to get it checked out.
Car Accident Lawyers In New York
The attorneys at Lipsig, Shapey, Manus & Moverman, P.C. represent drivers involved in all types of car accidents throughout New York.
However, many of our clients are involved in accidents that were caused by dangerous driving or the negligence of others and which could have been avoided with proper safety precautions.
While new technology can help us avoid some accidents, it is ultimately our responsibility to drive safely at the end of the day.
We hope that these tips will help you to drive safely in New York and avoid accidents.
If you have any questions, or have been involved in an accident, you can contact us for a free consultation.
