Author: Anthony Proffitt

With the temperatures heating up in Knoxville, many people are taking to the roads by foot, bicycle and vehicle. The increase in road activity means there is a higher risk of car accidents and injuries for everyone, especially pedestrians. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, Highway Loss Data Institute, motor vehicle accidents were the cause of 4,884 pedestrian deaths in 2014. Many more people suffered minor and catastrophic injuries. 

Motorists who know about the common causes of accidents involving pedestrians can adjust their driving behaviors to prevent them. 

Intersections and left-hand turns 

Intersections are particularly dangerous for pedestrians. Drivers sit and wait on traffic lights to give them permission to go, and they look at different corners of the intersections for other vehicles. Some drivers speed through intersections not realizing that they are pedestrians on the roads. Many drivers also fail to keep an eye out for any pedestrians who are crossing at intersections as they make left-hand turns. Pedestrians are three times less likely to be hit by vehicles making right turns than they are by cars making left-hand turns, states TrafficSafetyStore.com. 

Accidents like these are avoidable if pedestrians check all sides of intersections before and during their crossings. Drivers should carefully check for people on the roads before and while they are proceeding through intersections and making turns. 

Driver and pedestrian distractions 

Motorists are not the only ones who suffer when there are distractions on the roads. Pedestrians who are too caught up in their smartphones cannot adequately survey their surroundings to make sure that there is no oncoming traffic that could crash into them while they are crossing the streets. They are also unable to remove themselves from harm’s way if they were to see a vehicle approaching their position on the streets. 

Motorists who use their cellphones, operate their vehicles infotainment centers and give more attention to their passengers instead of the roads cannot see pedestrians. They cannot react fast enough to avoid hitting and injuring them with their vehicles. 

Pedestrians involved motor vehicle accidents are completely avoidable. Pedestrians should practice safety at all times when they are near streets and traffic. They should use the crosswalks, pay attention to the traffic lights and make themselves aware of all nearby vehicles. Motorists should take their responsibility to drive safely seriously to make the roads safer and accident-free.

Many Knoxville motorists assume that summer is the safest driving season of the year. There is no snow on the ground, less rain in the forecast and the temperatures are heating up. According to CNN.com, the summertime is the riskiest time of year for motorists to be on the roads. The closer it gets to Memorial Day, the more dangerous the roads become. 

Drivers should learn about the factors that increase summertime car accidents so they can avoid them. 

More young drivers 

School is out, and many newly licensed and inexperienced teen drivers are on the roads. Young drivers are spending more time driving on the streets. Their inexperience and distractions significantly increase the chances of them crashing into other vehicles and pedestrians. A study posted in USAToday.com states that young drivers who text and drive have a 23 percent higher chance of crashing. Also, teenage-related car accidents are often more severe during the summer. 

Road construction projects 

Many road construction and repair projects occur during the summer because the weather is more predictable and favorable. Road projects can affect the flow of traffic. Many projects result in detours being put in place and reduced speeds. Motorists who are not familiar with the detours, do not pay attention to road construction areas and traffic signs and engage in distractions are likely to crash their cars and injure others. 

Many summertime car accidents do not have to happen. Motorists can avoid them by focusing all of their attention on the roads and driving safely to avoid hitting pedestrians and other drivers.

As a motorist who frequents the roads in Knoxville, you may feel so familiar with your route that you often resort to distractions to keep yourself from getting bored. Although you have managed to drive around without accidents thus far, you should know that distractions are one of the biggest causes of car accidents in the country. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, car accidents that involve distracted drivers injure at least 1,161 people a year. 

With the risk of accidents due to distractions increasing, you should make yourself aware of how your driving actions endanger everyone on the roads. 

Distractions prevent safe driving habits 

“Distractions that result in you taking your eyes off the roads for any length of time present the greatest risk of danger to motorists,” states CBSNews.com. When you text and drive, you are not looking at the roads. You cannot see what is going on around your vehicle. If a driver were to make a sudden stop, swerve in front of you or do some other dangerous driving maneuver, you would be unable to avoid them. When you cannot drive defensively enough to protect yourself and your passengers, other motorists cannot drive defensively to protect themselves from you. 

Car accidents can cause life-changing injuries 

Car accidents are not the only consequences that you face when you engage in distracted driving. Collisions with other vehicles can result in serious injuries that can result in temporary and permanent disabilities and death. 

Distracted driving can be just as dangerous as drunk driving. All it takes is just one unfortunate event to change your life forever. 

Now that spring is here, and summer is on its way, many motorists will be taking to the roads in Knoxville to travel. An increase in motorists means a higher risk of car accidents. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, Highway Loss Data Institute, in 2015, approximately 958 fatal car crashes occurred in Tennessee.  884 victims from those accidents lost their lives. Many of those accidents happened while they were traveling with their friends and loved ones for vacation.

Motorists can take preventative measures to increase the chances of them making it safely to their destinations.

Pre-trip their vehicles

Drivers should thoroughly inspect their vehicles before they get on the roads. They should check their turn signals, wiper blades, fluid levels and brakes. It is also a good idea to have any neglected maintenance services performed before they start traveling.

Avoid distractions

Distractions were the cause of 420,000 injuries from car accidents in 2013, states CellControl.com. Being on the road requires motorists to remain attentive to them. Drivers should keep their cellphones where they cannot access them until they arrive at their destinations. They should also encourage their passengers to minimize the use of their mobile devices while they are driving. Other distracting behaviors motorists should avoid include eating and drinking while behind the wheel, conversations, grooming and adjusting their navigational and entertainment systems.

Remain mindful of road conditions

Warmer weather often brings about an increase in rain and wet road conditions. Motorists should check the weather before they leave for their destinations and adjust their driving behaviors. They should drive slower when the roads are wet to decrease the chances of them hydroplaning. Drivers should also pay attention to the speeds and actions of other motorists when there is inclement weather. They should steer clear of drivers who are driving recklessly.

Drivers can avoid many hazardous conditions on the roads with extra care and caution. Preparing their cars and themselves before they hit the streets can make the roads safer for everyone.