A study of car accidents in Marietta, Cobb County, GA recently determined that over 50% of all motor vehicle collisions were caused by drivers following too closely. The study was conducted by the Marietta Police Department who has issued the following guidelines to help drivers avoid accidents:
“1. Use the 2 second rule- you should always allow 2 seconds between your car and the car in front of you to allow ample time to react to a situation. For every adverse driving condition (anything other than a daylight driving) add an additional second to the time frame. Eg. If it is raining and night time add an additional 2 seconds (one second for the rain and one second for driving at night.)
2. Scan to the horizon- Although paying attention to the vehicle in front of you is important, being able to anticipate potential problems by looking ahead and up the road can be crucial in avoiding a collision
3. Limiting distractions in the vehicle- the use of smart phones, GPS’s, advanced entertainment packages in vehicles, and even passengers can all lead the driver to do everything else but pay attention to the road. Focusing on driving and limiting distractions will greatly increase your ability to avoid accidents.
4. When stopping, watch the tires- when you come to a complete stop, make sure you can see the tires of the vehicle in front of you. This will allow you to ample space for an “escape route” in the event a situation unfolds where you need to make a sudden lane change to avoid a collision.”
For more information on the study, click HERE.
If you or anyone you know has been injured in a motor vehicle or tractor trailer accident, call The Hendon Law Firm today at 770-284-3737 for a free consultation.