Many drivers are behind the wheel every single day, whether it’s for an hour-long commute to work or a quick trip to the grocery store. Because of how often we drive, it can be easy to oversimplify the task of driving.
However, driving is a responsibility and failing to use basic safe driving skills every time you drive can have catastrophic consequences. As we explain below, some of the most common causes of crashes in Colorado stem from behaviors that every driver knows to avoid from the first day the get behind the wheel.
Dangerous behavior #1: Ignoring traffic laws
Getting a license requires drivers to learn and understand numerous traffic laws, which means that drivers who speed, make illegal turns, run red lights and ignore stop signs should know better. Traffic laws are in place for a reason, and ignoring them is one of the easiest and quickest ways to cause an accident.
Dangerous behavior #2: Getting distracted
Distracted driving remains a very serious problem in this state and across the U.S., despite educational campaigns and laws that prohibit certain types of distracted driving, like texting. Sadly, according to this article on basic safe driving skills, distracted driving still causes an average of 40 accidents per day.
Dangerous behavior #3: Being reckless
Too many drivers fail to appreciate the fact that they are operating a complicated, powerful machine. They do things like follow others too closely, swerve in and out of traffic and drive while drunk, which are all extremely reckless behaviors that cause serious, sometimes fatal crashes.
Drivers who engage in these and other similarly dangerous driving behaviors are putting their lives and the lives of others in danger, even though they know better. These unsafe drivers can and should be held accountable for their actions. If you or a loved one is injured in an accident with one of these drivers, then you should understand your legal rights to pursue a legal claim.