California is not among the three deadliest states — Mississippi, Alabama, and South Carolina — when it comes to traffic safety. But the state’s also not part of the three safest states, which are Rhode Island, New York, and Massachusetts.
The traffic safety performance of California is somewhere in the middle. With this in mind, how can you make sure that your driving is on the safe side?
Get Protection
For starters, you’ll need auto insurance so you’re financially protected against accidents and for any liability. Incidents on the road can be preventable, but there’s not guarantee that you might not end up in a fender bender in LA. As such, it helps to have access to experienced disability lawyers, so you have an advocate for your rights if something were to happen.
In 2017, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recorded a total of 3,602 traffic fatalities. The numbers went down from 3,623 in 2016, but California still needs to work on making these numbers drop.
As a driver, it’s your responsibility to have both types of insurance. The state law requires at least the bare minimum car insurance.
The bodily injury liability coverage requires $15,000 to cover the injury or death of any individual in a car crash, and $30,000 for injuries or deaths if there are multiple people involved in the crash.
With the help of a disability insurance lawyer, you can file a claim and receive compensation. The damages will help pay for medical bills (including the cost of future medical care) and loss of earnings (including future earnings).
Meanwhile, the property damage liability coverage requires at least $5,000 to pay for damage done to another party’s property caused by a fender-bender.
While there is no guarantee that accidents won’t occur, you can reduce your risk by following traffic rules.
Know CA’s Traffic Safety Programs
The California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) is carrying out programs in a bid to “save lives through traffic safety efforts.” Here’s what you need to know about these programs:
- Put Your Phone Down. Just Drive. — The California OTS created this program to remind people that distracted driving is dangerous. As long as you’re behind the wheel, you shouldn’t take your eyes or mind off the road.
- DUI Doesn’t Just Mean Booze — In 2014, drunk driving caused the lies of 1,155 people. But the California OTS clarifies that it’s not just alcohol that counts as DUI. Driving under the influence of marijuana and over-the-counter medication is also a crime and a safety hazard on the road.
- Prepare a car emergency kit — It’s important to have the emergency basics, like a spare tire and a vehicle’s car jack and lug wrench. An emergency kit is also necessary, which should include items, like first aid kit, tire pressure gauge, 12-foot jumper cables, and more. But there are also nice-to-have extras you may need, like a tire inflator and a quart of motor oil, among others.
Following safety programs will keep you and others safe on the road.
Driving is a daily activity for most people. Your role is to keep yourself and other people on the road safe. After all, injuries and fatal crashes are preventable.
