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Traffic Accident Insurance Claims Article
By: Dan Baldyga
While on a trip, or even close to home, we all
want to keep driving for as long as possible. Yet nobody,
in their right mind, wants to be a threat to ourselves (or
others) because we’re too sleepy to operate our motor
vehicle.
Self-awareness of our sleepiness is always the
key to driving safely!
In a report dated just last year 2004, the National
Safety Council wrote that traffic death rates are 3 times
greater at night - - than during the day!
This report also stated, “Driving at night
is more of a challenge than most people think and it’s
much more dangerous”.
So, you may ask, “What is it that makes
night driving so dangerous”?
The NATIONAL SAFETY COUNCIL’S answer to
that one is as follows, “DEALING WITH THE DARKNESS IS
AN IMPOSSIBLE TASK. 90% of a driver’s reaction depends
upon vision and that is severely limited at night. Depth perception,
color recognition plus peripheral vision are compromised after
sundown” .
PLUS: Another huge factor, as stated by the
NSC (which adds to even more danger when you’re night
driving) is fatigue. Day or night drowsiness will always make
one’s driving more difficult because it dulls concentration
and it surely slows reaction time.
IN ORDER TO PROPERLY HANDLE THE ABOVE
FACTORS
THE FOLLOWING IS RECOMMENDED
#1. You must observe night driving safety as
soon as the sun goes down. Twilight is one of the most difficult
times to drive because your eyes are constantly changing to
the growing darkness”.
#2. YES, it’s a “Time Consuming
Headache” - - HOWEVER: You should prepare your car for
night driving. Clean headlights, tail lights, signal lights
and windows at least once a week and even more often if necessary”.
You must do this - - especially if you’re
on a long trip!
#3. Your headlights must be properly aimed.
Headlights can blind other drivers and they also reduce your
ability to see the road.
#4. If you have any doubt at all you should
turn your headlights on. Under normal circumstances lights
will most likely not help you see in early twilight but they’ll
always make it easier for other drivers to see you. Being
seen as is important as seeing.
#5. Reduce your speed and increase your following
distances. It’s much more difficult to judge other vehicle’s
speeds and distances at night.
#6. When following another motor vehicle you
must keep your headlights on low beam so as not to blind the
driver ahead of you.
#7. If an oncoming vehicle doesn’t click
from high to low, you can avoid the glare by watching the
right edge of the road and using it as a steering guide.
#8. Make frequent stops for light snacks and
exercise. If you’re too tired to drive, stop and get
some rest.
#9. If you have car trouble, pull off the road
as far as possible. If you have what are identified as “Reflecting
Triangles” you should warn approaching traffic by setting
them up near your vehicle and about 300 feet behind it.
PLUS: Whether you have reflecting
triangles or not you should:
A: Turn on your flashers plus your dome light.
B: Get your body off the roadway.
C: Remove both yourself and your passengers away from the
area.
In 2004 NHTSA (The U.S. National Highway Traffic
Association Administration) estimates that approximately 100,000
police-reported crashes involved drowsiness and fatigue as
a principal casual factor. In their report they stated, “About
one million crashes per year were thought to be produced by
Drowsy Drivers”.
In a poll NHTSA ran in 1999, 62% of all adults
surveyed reported driving a car (or some other vehicle the
previous year = in 1998) while feeling “Drowsy”,
27% said that they had, at some time, dozed off while driving
and 23% of them said they knew who had experience a fall-asleep
crash.
This report also said, “People tend to
fall asleep more on high-speed, long, boring, rural highways”.
And that “The New York Police estimated that 30% of
all fatal crashes, along the New York Thruway, occurred because
the driver fell asleep”.
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DISCLAIMER:
The purpose of this article "YOUR
CAR ACCIDENT INSURANCE CLAIM DRIVING WHILE FIGHTING TO STAY
AWAKE" is for all readers to understand the motor vehicle
accident claim process. Neither Dan Baldyga, Scott Baker,
I GOT HIT, LLC, and/or the Accident Resource make any guarantee
of any kind whatsoever, NOR do they purport to engage in rendering
any professional or legal service; NOR to substitute for a
lawyer, an insurance adjuster, or claims consultant, or the
like. Where such professional help is desired it is THE INDIVIDUAL’S
RESPONSIBILITY to obtain said services.
Dan Baldyga’s third and latest book,
AUTO ACCIDENT PERSONAL INJURY INSURANCE CLAIM (How To Evaluate
And Settle Your Loss) can be found on the internet at http://www.caraccidentclaims.com
or http://www.autoaccidentclaims.com.
This book reveals “How To” handle your property
damage claim so you won’t be taken advantage of. It
also goes into detail regarding BASE (The Baldyga Auto Accident
Settlement Evaluation Formula). THE BASE FORMULA explains
how to determine the value of the “Pain and Suffering”
you endured - - because of your personal injury!
Copyright (c) 2005 By Daniel G. Baldyga.
All Rights Reserved.
Dan Baldyga - Author
dbpaw@comcast.net
AUTO ACCIDENT PERSONAL INJURY INSURANCE CLAIM
(How To Evaluate And Settle Your Loss)
http://www.autoaccidentclaims.com
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