About 6 million crashes occur on roads across the United States annually, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, resulting in approximately 40,000 deaths and 2 million injuries. Expecting to be involved in a motor vehicle accident isn’t something that one generally thinks about. But, the sad fact is that accidents often occur. Thankfully, many are not serious, but tragically many are—and many of the accidents that occur on American roadways are preventable.
Westboro Toyota encourages everyone to use defensive driving skills to minimize the risk of being involved in a motor vehicle accident. Here are some tips to help keep you and your families safe in your vehicles:
Remove driving distractions—That means not taking cell phone calls whenever possible while driving, or at the very least, using a hands-free device, such as Bluetooth to make and receive calls. Also, never text while driving—not only is it illegal; it’s a serious issue that can result in catastrophic consequences. Whenever possible, pull over to talk, eat, change the CD in the changer or engage in other behavior that could distract you while driving.
Maintain a safe distance with the vehicles around you—By giving yourself a good amount of distance to the vehicles in front of or to the right or left of you, you’re in a better position to anticipate and react to braking, swerving and other maneuvers that could result in a collision with your vehicle.
Slow down and proceed with caution through intersections. Even though you may have a green light that doesn’t mean someone with a red or yellow light is obeying the traffic laws. As you proceed through intersections, reduce your speed and scan the scene from side to side. In the event that someone runs a light or stop sign or an emergency vehicle is passing by, you will have more time to stop and reduce the risk of a crash.
Make sure your vehicle’s safety features are working properly—Get your brakes checked regularly, and inspect your tires to ensure that tread depth is sufficient. Consider, too, that vehicles equipped with anti-lock brakes, traction control systems and electronic stability control systems may help reduce the risk of collisions.
Book your vehicle maintenance appointment with Westboro Toyota 24/7 using our online scheduler, so we can check and fill necessary fluids, inspect your brakes and tires, and perform other key maintenance designed to keep your vehicle running smoothly and safely. Also, use Westboro Toyota's maintenance menu to check on the service your Toyota car, truck or SUV may be due for.
Wear your seat belt at all times—Hopefully this one's self explanatory, enough said!
Keep in mind, too, that it’s important to lead by example. Teach teenage or other new drivers always to respect the rules of the road and to avoid distractions while driving. Toyota offers several Teen Safe Driving courses across the country to teach inexperienced drivers how to do their part to helping to ensure road safety.
