If you want to protect yourself on the road, protect the ones you love, and keep those around you safe, commit yourself to avoiding the three Ds: drunk driving, distracted driving, and drowsy driving. Any one of these situations can lead to car crashes, fatalities, and lives that will never be the same again.
1. Drunk Driving
Drunk driving is an epidemic. Millions of people do it every day. Drivers think they’re just fine, that their reflexes and attention are sharp and they can handle the simple drive home. But over 10,000 people die every year in drunk driving accidents. It takes only seconds to cause a car crash.
The answer is simple: do not drink and drive. If you do drink, don’t get behind the wheel. Sleep where you are, call a cab, or ask a sober friend to drive you. In the moment of your intoxication, you might think the most important thing is getting home – but the most important thing is getting home alive. If you’re drinking, that likelihood diminishes dramatically.
2. Distracted Driving
Think you’re good at multitasking? Think again, especially if you’re driving. Distracted driving has existed as long as cars have been around, but the dawn of mobile phones has made distraction an entirely new and horrific reality.
It’s impossible to avoid distraction behind the wheel, especially if you have passengers, are driving in an unfamiliar area, or are listening to music. It’s easy to be distracted by texts, phone calls, or emails, as well as eating, grooming, managing kids in the backseat, or daydreaming.
If you’re drunk and driving distracted, the combination is terrifying. Distracted driving alone is close to surpassing drunk driving as one of the most serious problems on roads. Add in high speeds, recklessness, and poor weather conditions, and you set yourself up for a potential fatal car crash.
3. Drowsy Driving
Any form of impairment while driving is a disaster. That includes drowsiness. Being in any sort of sleepy state at any time of day causes thousands of auto accidents. When you drift over the line or off the road and your reflexes are on delay, you are a hazard to everyone around you.
If you are tired for any reason at all – staying up late with a child, getting up early for a meeting, just sleep deprived in general – don’t drive or, if you’re already in your vehicle, pull over and take a nap or find a way to wake yourself up. Do not get back into traffic until you’re fully alert.
Stop the 3Ds and Stay Safe on Michigan Roads
Whether you are drunk, distracted, or drowsy, you are an impaired driver. These three Ds mimic each other and affect driving skills similarly, and they are all equal threats to you, other drivers, and pedestrians.
This Valentine’s Day, spread love by behaving properly when you’re behind the wheel. Everyone you love will thank you for it – and even the people you don’t know will be grateful for your gift.
If you are involved in a drunk driving car accident or distracted driving car accident in Michigan, contact Femminineo Attorneys in Mt. Clemens, MI, to discuss your case.
