Accidents remind us that roadways can be dangerous

By Staff
Monday's tragic automobile accident in Littleville that claimed the life of a Franklin County woman served as a grim reminder to all of us that the roadways we travel on everyday can be very dangerous.
The Littleville wreck, one of nine auto accidents worked by authorities in Lauderdale and Colbert counties on Monday alone, was caused by slick roadways, but many other factors can lead to potentially fatal crashes.
Some automobile accidents are simply unavoidable, but there are some precautionary steps we as individual drivers can take to help make the roadways as safe as possible.
Stay focused. There are a lot of things to think about when driving: road conditions, your speed, observing traffic laws and signals, following directions, being aware of the cars around you, checking your mirrors – the list goes on. Staying focused on driving – and only driving – is key.
Distractions, like talking on the phone or eating, make a driver less able to see potential problems.
Stay alert. Being alert (not sleepy or under the influence) allows you to react quickly to potential problems – like when the driver in the car ahead slams on the brakes at the last minute. Obviously, alcohol or drugs (including prescription and over-the-counter drugs) affect a driver's reaction time and judgment. Driving while tired has the same effect and is one of the leading causes of accidents. So rest up before your road trip.
Watch out for the other guy. Part of staying in control is being aware of the drivers around you and what they may suddenly do so you're less likely to be caught off guard. For example, if a car speeds past you on the highway but there's not much space between the car and a slow-moving truck in the same lane, it's a pretty sure bet the driver will try to pull into your lane directly in front of you. Anticipating what another driver may do prepares you to react.
Be aware of your surroundings. Check your mirrors frequently and scan conditions far ahead of you. If a vehicle is showing signs of aggressive driving, slow down or pull over to avoid it.
Again, some accidents are impossible to avoid. But by observing certain rules of safe driving, we can hope to minimize crashes and make the roads a safer place.