Thousands of accidents in the U.S. are attributed to both negligent and aggressive driving every single year. There are a lot of different reasons that these accidents happen, but at the end of the day they still happen at an alarming rate, and drivers should always be prepared. This article will take a look at the causes of negligent driving and how a driver can take precautions against negligent driving. The term negligent often gets thrown in with the word accidental, and while the two can be connected they can also be much different. Negligence means you were doing things to create an unsafe environment, and sometimes accidental is an unavoidable situation no matter the circumstances. Here are some things that can be done to protect yourself and those in a vehicle with you from negligent drivers.

Check Driving Conditions

Look at conditions before you drive. Check the weather before you leave, because bad roads lead to more accidents, which is a fact. Windy conditions lead to more swerving and over correcting, and on two-lane roads that are very problematic. Fog, rain, and snow create slick wet roadways, so planning ahead when these conditions are a great safety precaution you can take. Just like any time you travel, make sure you have set aside plenty of time to get to your destination. Mixing bad road conditions with being in a hurry will lead to negligent driving.

No Place for Road Rage

Do not ever escalate a situation with another driver. Those very same drivers who are constantly in a hurry everywhere they go, are also the same drivers that create road rage incidents. They swerve in and out of traffic at dangerous distances and speed, they run through traffic signals in a desperate attempt to get where they are going quicker. The bottom line is if you get into some type of altercation with these negligent drivers, they will explode with even more anger and make the road much more dangerous. It is always best to slow down and let them go ahead of you on the road.

Two Deadly Factors in Bad Driving

Drunk driving has consumed public service announcements for years and years. Distracted driving on smartphones is now rivaling the same danger of drunk driving. The last thing most drivers ever want to think about is hurting themselves or another occupant, or another vehicle. Drunk driving accident lawyers are now also highly involved in negligent cases involving smartphones and other technologies. It is always of the utmost importance to know what is around you.

Awareness Is the Key

Being aware of your surroundings is by far and away from the most important thing you can do to ensure your safety from negligent driving. Distracted driving has quickly one of the deadliest things every year in the U.S. People will travel at unsafe speeds and following distances all while they pay attention to something other than their surroundings, especially their smartphones. Always be aware of what is going on around you, and always have a way out of something bad on a roadway.

These simple pieces of advice can help create a safer environment to travel in and never get into a car without buckling your seat belt.