In 2020, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found that distracted driving accounted for 9% of fatal crashes. Distracted driving includes anything that takes the driver’s eyes off the road, such as texting. Let’s see how to be safe passenger in the car.
The vehicle’s passenger also poses a hazard. It’s one reason why traffic authorities advise parents to sit their children and teenagers in the back seat.
Let’s look at five tips on how to be a safe passenger in the car.
1. Fasten Your Seat Belt
It’s in the best interest of a vehicle’s passenger to follow safety protocols. It starts with fastening their seat belt.
Data from 2019 shows that the passenger is more likely to pass away in a vehicle accident. Passenger deaths represented 62% of deaths in fatal crashes. It’s a decrease from 1975, but it’s still at least 30,000 lives lost annually.
By being a safe passenger in the car, the passenger doesn’t put their own life at risk.
2. Don’t Backseat Drive
Passengers in a car serve several purposes, but backseat driving isn’t one of them. A driver places their focus on the road. They’ll notice things along the way, but not the same ones that the passenger notices.
Heading down a new route to a new place requires the driver to take more precautions. If the passenger already knows the route, let the driver figure it out or take the wheel.
Individuals involved in a vehicle accident must take action swiftly. Check for injuries. In addition, check to see how the driver and passengers of the other vehicle are doing too. Figure out how to move the vehicles in the accident off the road to prevent additional accidents. Make your way off the road and over to the side too.
In the haze of an accident, it’s important to take note of what happened. Plus, take pictures. You’re going to need this documentation for your insurance company. When you hire a car accident attorney from JT Legal Group or other personal injury law firm, they’ll request the documentation too.
A safe passenger in the car avoids distracting the driver and backseat driving.
3. Help Navigate
Several traffic laws regulate what a driver can do while driving. Drivers can pick from their favorite tech gadgets that help them navigate the road and predict potential traffic obstructions.
Since gadgets require pressing on their buttons, trying to hear what they said, and programming, agencies regulate their use to prevent additional car accidents.
A safe passenger in a car helps the driver navigate to the destination. Before you head out on the road, get on the same page. You want to help navigate in a manner that the driver understands.
Some drivers want to hear simple instructions. They also want to hear them with enough lead time. It’s difficult to exit the highway in a hurry from lane 2 at 60 mph in traffic. Other drivers aren’t always understanding of the sudden merging.
Merging two lanes at a time would cause an applicant for their driver’s license to lose their shot. Experienced drivers shouldn’t engage in that kind of driving either.
Safe passengers help drivers navigate, but get on the same page beforehand.
4. Put Your Smartphone Away
The navigation features provided by smartphones are impressive. Otherwise, put the smartphone away. It’s too easy to distract the driver by the news you’re reading on your device or texting.
If you’re heading out on a long trip, consider leaving the updates through your smartphone for rest and food stops. When the trip is short, the smartphone can wait for attention. Even if there’s an urgent call or text, it’s best to pull over first.
5. Keep Conversations with the Driver Light
It’s OK for passengers to have a conversation with the driver, but keep it light. Talk about the weather, the traffic, or the sites. Keep the political, money, and religion talk outside the vehicle, or at least when it’s not turned on.
On long trips, the driver requires a conversation to remain focused. It keeps their mind from drifting or their eyes from shutting too long.
Conclusion
Given that the passenger in a car is more likely to experience the effects of a vehicle accident, it’s in their best interest to be safe. By employing the above tips, the ride will be enjoyable and safe. As a passenger, It would also be a great help to know the road safety in the US.
