You read that correctly; certain driving behaviors can actually increase your chances of being in a collision by four hundred percent. According to the California Highway Patrol, distracted driving behaviors--particularly the use of a cell phone--increases your chance of being in a car accident by 400 percent, and makes it 23 times more likely for you to be at risk for collision. Those are pretty astonishing statistics, but the fact that so many drivers continue to text and talk on their phones while driving sadly implies such driving behaviors are not taken very seriously.

Dangerous Driving Behaviors that Put You and Others in Harm’s Way

Sending one single text requires the average person 4.6 seconds of their time, and driving at 65 miles per hour and texting for a mere three seconds is the equivalent of driving the length of a football field completely blindfolded. Although using your cell phone in any way, shape, or form while behind the wheel is the most dangerous and the most commonly talked about distracted driving habit, other behaviors such as eating, interacting with other passengers, and fidgeting with the radio put you at serious risk for accident and injury as well.

When an auto accident occurs, families are left to deal with the aftermath. If the accident results in the death of a loved one, many families are severely affected in every aspect of their life, from the pain of the loss to the costs incurred and the life-long lasting memories of the event. After the occurrence of a fatal car crash, families often seek answers and assistance in putting a new version of their lives back together.

What Happens to the Families

Accident numbers have been on the rise in the last couple of years. In California alone, over 3,000 fatal car accidents were reported in 2013. Not only is a family likely reeling from an unexpected loss of a significant portion of their life, they then are forced to make a quickly pull together a funeral, make necessary repairs, and attend doctor’s appointments themselves. If the victim earned the primary source of income, the family may also face:

All drivers must re-evaluate their driving abilities and skills as they age. Mental acuity and physical strength change and decline as we grow older, putting us and others we share the road with at greater risk for car accidents and injuries. Re-assessing our abilities on a continual basis over periods of time is key to knowing where we stand behind the wheel.

Tips for Prevention

It is important to constantly be alert to any physical and mental changes that may affect our ability to operate a vehicle, and more importantly, to recognize which skills we need to work on to improve our driving as we adjust to those changes. Whether you are aging yourself or you have a loved one who is growing older, here are some ways you can help prevent an accident on the roadways:

When it comes to shaping car accident and injury statistics on the highways, taking a proactive approach through the use of driver’s education is proven way to reduce the number of incidents and fatalities. This is especially the case in terms of youth-related accidents and injuries. Young drivers present a hazard for numerous reasons; not only are they inexperienced, they are more distracted today than ever before.

The Dangers Associated With Young Drivers

Distracted driving and driving under the influence are very real threats on the roadways, particularly where young drivers are concerned. Interacting with other young passengers, the pressure to drink or do drugs at parties or at friends’ houses and then drive, plus distractions from various devices all make it very easy for young drivers to lose focus or make poor decisions behind the wheel. This, in turn, puts everyone on the roads in danger, emphasizing the need for everyone, no matter what age or walk of life, to play a role in prevention.

Each year, an increasing amount of individuals are opting to utilize mass transit services. In 2014, the number of Americans who used public transportation were found to be the highest in 58 years. There are several benefits for those who make the decision to forgo their own personal vehicle and opt to use public transportation. However, the increased usage of this mode of transportation also includes a shift in accident statistics, including a rise in mass transit injury reports. In many situations, the injuries in these types of accidents can be severe and even catastrophic, and victims may be left unsure of what to do next.

Benefits of Public Transportation

Mass transit is comprised of many forms of travel, including but not limited to: buses, trains, and light rail. The benefits of using public transportation are numerous and include such considerations as: