By now, you’ve probably heard about the 100-car pileup on I-40 near Statesville, and the 21 people who were injured as a result. WRAL and other sources report that the accidents were caused by low visibility from Sunday night’s rainstorms, wet roads, and possibly rubbernecking. Thankfully, no one was killed.
It’s terrifying to see something like this happen so close to home. Many of us take I-40 every day, and have friends and family who do the same. For that reason, we want to do everything in our power to keep them safe, and sharing information is the best way we know how.
1. Monitor your following distance
Many accidents – including Sunday’s pile up – are caused by drivers following too closely. A good way to avoid this is to employ the two-second rule. The two-second rule states that a driver should be at least two seconds behind the car in front of them. So, when the car you’re following passes an object (tree, light pole, etc.), start counting. If you reach the object before you reach “two-Mississippi,” you’re following too close.
2. Watch your speed
Believe it or not, they don’t set the speed limits by pulling numbers out of a hat. Everything from population of the area, road design, and geographic location are used to determine a safe speed limit, so don’t ignore it. We’re not saying you have to follow it exactly, but don’t over-do it. Plenty of research shows the correlation between higher speeds and more accidents.
3. Respect Mother Nature
When the weather changes, so should your driving habits. Rain, snow, and ice all affect your stopping distance, and an active storm can severely reduce your visibility. If you’re on the road and a big storm rolls in, we say pull over and wait it out – especially at night. No destination or appointment is more important than your life.
4. Maintain your vehicle
You wouldn’t go for a run in flip-flops, would you? So, why drive on the road with bald tires? Having the proper equipment is essential to safety, whether you’re jogging a mile or driving to work. Keep your car maintained and it will keep you safe.
5. Avoid distractions
Put down the cellphone. Please. It’s not going anywhere – we promise all the texts, snapchats, Facebook updates, and tweets will be there when you’re done! Sorry to be pedantic, but we’ll try anything to stop you. Just think, if you’re traveling down the road at 70mph, you’re moving at 105 feet per second. At this speed, you cover the entire length of a football field in just 3.4 seconds. Think about that next time you’re tempted to send a text while driving.
Do your part
Hold your family and friends accountable. If you see them driving recklessly, tell them how it makes you feel. At Leith, we want nothing but a long and happy future for all our families, and keeping each other safe is the first step.
For more information on defensive driving, feel free to check out www.safetync.org.