Car accidents happen every day on the roads in Knoxville. Many of these incidents are preventable. These accidents cause a great deal of turmoil, trauma and harm to victims and their families. Drivers who learn about the common causes of car accidents can take reasonable measures to avoid them.

Distractions

Driving while distracted is the latest fad for motorists. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, distracted driving claims the lives of eight victims each day. That is approximately 2,920 deaths a year. The most common source of distractions is cellphone use. Whether it is texting, eating, talking, or sleeping, drivers should learn to minimize their distractions to avoid accidents and injuries.

Alcohol, medications and drugs

Operating a vehicle while intoxicated by alcohol, medication or some other substance is illegal. Yet, that does not stop thousands of drivers from doing it every day. In fact, impaired drivers killed almost 15,000 people in 2012, states Safeco.com. Alcohol and the use of certain prescriptions medications and drugs can alter the user’s cognitive abilities and motor skills, making it hard for them to pay attention traffic, road conditions, their driving behaviors and their ability to operate their vehicles safely.

Reckless driving

Reckless driving is any careless driving behavior that increases the risk of accidents and injuries. Motorists who speed, run red lights, ignore traffic signs and drive aggressively are blatantly ignoring traffic laws and rules. Some drivers resort to reckless motor vehicle operation to get other motorists to speed up and move out of their way. Careless driving is very risky behavior that can irrevocably alter the lives of everyone who is impacted by the accidents that occur.

Drivers who take their safety seriously should pay more attention to the roads. They should concentrate on reaching their destinations safely by avoiding all sources of distractions, the use of alcohol and certain medications and by following all traffic rules and signs.

With more motorists on the roads than ever before in Knoxville, the number of car accidents involving pedestrians is increasing. According to the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control, in 2013, emergency rooms across the country treated more than 150,000 pedestrians for injuries they sustained from car accidents. Many of those victims were walking in or near traffic.

Give pedestrians the right away

There are rules that both drivers and pedestrians should follow when they are near traffic. However, many people who walk, ride bikes and run do not always follow them. This can make their actions less predictable. Motorists should lookout for pedestrians, especially children. They may not pay attention to the traffic that is around them and run out into the streets.

To minimize confusion, motorists should approach intersections and certain areas slowly just in case there are pedestrians present, states Safelite. They should stop and give them time to make their intent clear before proceeding through intersections to their destinations.

Obey traffic signs

Drivers should pay careful attention to their surroundings so they can follow the posted speed limits and traffic instructions. Many common areas where pedestrians frequent have signs that indicate their presence and that caution should be taken.

Stay focused

Motorists should minimize distractions so they can avoid crashing into pedestrians. Distractions keep drivers from paying attention to everything that is going, making it hard for them to avoid people and maneuver out of harm’s way.

Pedestrians have a clear disadvantage that makes them more likely to become injured and die from injuries they sustain when vehicles collide into them. Driving is a huge responsibility that motorists should take seriously. They should also be willing to take appropriate actions to keep the roads, walkways and driveways safe for pedestrians.

Hit-and-run accidents are one of the most frustrating and challenging types of situations most drivers will ever encounter in Tennessee. When a driver comes out of what seems to be nowhere and collides with your vehicle, only to take off and disappear, you may find yourself wondering what you should do. Motorists who are prepared to handle this kind of situation can minimize the effects it has on their lives.

Safety first

Pull over to somewhere safe and park your car. If the incident happens at night, make sure you are in a well-lit area. Do not attempt to go after the perpetrator, as this may only escalate the situation. Check yourself and your passengers for injuries. Call law enforcement and emergency medical responders so you and your passengers can receive treatment for your injuries.

Details help

Try to take pictures of your vehicle and look for witnesses, states MSN. Gather their names, phone numbers and addresses. When making your police report, try to be as detailed about everything you can remember regarding the incident. You should also call your insurer to report the incident.

Drivers who leave the scene of accidents they are responsible for leave the victims dealing with the consequences. Victims who suffer little to no injuries often end up paying for damages that occur to their vehicles. The families of people who sustain severe injuries or die end up dealing with the aftermath. Even though the injured parties may have insurance, most insurers require their policyholders to pay deductibles and may not cover the cost of repairs because they do not have enough information to legally pursue the responsible parties.

Hit-and-run accidents are not always easy to deal with. However, staying calm and taking the rational approach to these situations can help to make them less burdensome.

Each day, more and more drivers in Tennessee are driving while using their cellphones to go on social media. As popular and exciting as social media can be, doing so while driving is extremely reckless and dangerous. Teen motorists are more likely to engage in this type of behavior. The number of adolescent drivers who post on social media and text while operating vehicles is 60 percent, states Medical Daily.

Teens are not the only ones who are acting so recklessly. Many adult motorists are aware of the risks and dangers that are associated with distracted driving, especially when it stems from social media use. They still choose to engage in the behavior anyway. Many drivers feel that it is more important for them to read, socialize and respond on social media than it is for them to remain fully attentive to the roads They are acting as risk takers. The few seconds that it takes motorists to look at their phones, open apps and use them are crucial. In that short amount of time, accidents can happen and lives can be lost.

According to CNN, the percentage of teen motorists who felt that it was wrong to use their cellphones while driving to interact on social media was six. This suggests that most young drivers ultimately feel that they are invincible behind the wheel and that they have nothing to worry about as far as accidents and injuries go.

As interactive and thrilling as social media can be, drivers of all ages need to understand the impact that it can have on their driving performance and safety. Exercising patience and common sense can help them to avoid the risks of distracted driving and social media use so that the roads become a safer place.

One of the most common causes of car accidents in Knoxville is drowsy driving. You should learn how to avoid drowsy driving to increase your safety on the roads. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, every month, one out of every 25 motorists drive when they are tired. It is a growing epidemic that affects everyone on the streets. Each year, hundreds of people lose their lives to this type of incident while thousands of others sustain mild to severe injuries from them. Many motorists who end up driving while fatigued do not plan to do it. Feelings of tiredness usually develop during the course of their travels.

Get rest

Drivers who plan to be on the roads for a long period of time should make sure they get enough rest before they leave. Even with rest, motorists should plan frequent rest stops into their journeys so they can stop, stretch and relieve themselves so they can feel more alert before they continue on. Drivers who are experiencing difficulty staying awake should eat and drink lots of fluid to fuel their bodies. “Some drivers may benefit from using caffeinated beverages for a short-term energy boost”, states Cars.com.

Avoid alcohol

Anyone who plans to drive should avoid alcohol. Even motorists who plan to be on the roads for a long period of time should steer of alcohol and any medications or substances that may interfere with their alertness. People who are driving while tired already have reduced response times. When alcohol becomes a factor, their levels of alertness and driving skills become more affected.

Drivers who understand the dangers of drowsy driving can take steps to avoid and protect themselves, their passengers and other drivers. Their preventative actions can decrease the number of sleepy driving car accidents that occur.

Knoxville parents who have teens who have or plan to get their driver’s licenses should take some time to help them to become better drivers. Each year, thousands of people are injured and killed on the roads from car accidents. The most common cause of death for teenagers is car accidents. According to the Wall Street Journal, 54 percent of teenage drivers who have driven under supervision still make serious driving errors that lead to crashes. Out of all the risk factors that teens face when they are behind the wheel, their inexperience is the biggest one increases their risk of accidents.

Lead by example

It is hard for parents to expect for their teens to drive responsibly if they do not do so themselves. Teens tend to follow the actions of their role models and people they look up to. It does not matter how much experience they have behind the wheel, parents should continue to act as good driving role models for their teens to emulate, states the American Academy of Pediatrics.

For example, parents should avoid using their cellphones and mobile devices anytime they are driving. They should always wear their seatbelts and obey all traffic rules. For driving situations that involve road rage, parents should remain calm, rational and behave appropriately to prevent the incidents from escalating further.

Talk to them

Parents should have regular discussions with their teens to ensure that they understand how their driving actions can affect others. They should discuss any current traffic safety trends and issues that are relevant to the situation. They should establish ground rules and implement penalties if they are broken that restrict teens from using their driving privileges.

Continue to offer guidance after licensing

Just because teens are licensed to drive does not mean they are prepared for the roads. They need much more driving time to improve their skills. Parents should offer continuing instruction and discussions so their teens become more responsible drivers who can think and react just as rationally as any other well-experienced motorists.

Driving is a privilege for teenagers. Parents can help them to respect this responsibility by guiding and instructing them before and after they receive their licenses.