Toronto lawyers explain what drivers can do to avoid a car accident
A lot can happen fast on the road, especially in the Greater Toronto Area. Drivers often change lanes without warning on the Gardiner Expressway or the Don Valley Parkway. Other times, motorists might need to deal with speeding drivers weaving in and out of traffic and collector lanes on the 401.
With so much happening on the road, serious car accidents often occur due to distracted driving. That’s why it’s important to do everything you can to avoid a collision. This includes staying focused on the road at all times. That’s why many traffic safety advocates advise practising “mindful driving.”
What is mindful driving? How can drivers learn to do this on the road? How common are distracted driving accidents in Ontario? Several writers recently offered their advice in an article published by The Globe & Mail.
What is mindful driving?
As the term suggests, mindful driving involves avoiding distractions and staying focused behind the wheel. This might sound simple. But many drivers have a hard time concentrating simply on driving. Drivers also often have a hard time staying focused due to concerns about other distracted drivers on the road, according to recent polls cited in The Globe & Mail article.
“Studies have found that when a driver’s mind is focused on something other than driving – a daydream, a worry, a text, a video, or a phone conversation – the driver’s brain may not react to what the eyes detect on the road ahead,” according to The Globe & Mail.
What can drivers do to concentrate on the road?
So, how can drivers be more mindful? What can they do to stay focused on the road? Suggestions for improving mindful driving include:
- Get a good night’s sleep if you’re taking a long driving trip the next day. Tired drivers often fall asleep at the wheel and cause a collision.
- When you buckle yourself in, make a promise to yourself to be more mindful (distraction-free) while driving.
- Put your phone on silent mode while driving.
- Put your phone out of sight and out of reach while driving.
- When you stop at a traffic light, take a deep breath instead of grabbing your phone.
- Tell any passengers in your car that you are practising mindful driving.
These are just a few suggestions for staying focused while driving so you can remain alert and concentrate on what’s happening around you on the road.
How common are distracted driving accidents?
Even if you do your part to stay focused while driving, distracted driving accidents are still going to occur. Distracted drivers cause an estimated 21 percent of the fatal car accidents in Canada, according to the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police (CACP). They’re also 3.6 times more likely to be involved in a crash.
In addition, 47 percent of drivers in Canada admitted to texting while driving, according to the Canadian Automobile Association (CAA). This might explain why drivers fear texting drivers more than any other threat on the road.
Other drivers should be scared of distracted drivers. When someone reads or sends a text, they take their eyes off the road for an average of 5 seconds, according to the CAA. That means if someone’s driving 90 km/h and looking at their phone, they're essentially driving blind for the length of an entire football field.
Car accident lawyers proudly serving the GTA
You might think you don’t need a lawyer if a distracted driver caused your accident. A Toronto police officer or officer from the Ontario Provincial Police might already be investigating your crash. But their investigation will likely only focus on figuring out why your accident happened, not whether you receive full compensation for your losses.
An experienced Toronto car accident lawyer at Smitiuch Injury Law can help you every step of the way. We understand how the legal system works because we have been helping car accident injury victims for years in the Greater Toronto Area and throughout Ontario. When you have our legal team on your side, you can demand justice.
Learn more about how we can help you after your Ontario distracted driving accident. Contact us and schedule your free case evaluation with a Toronto car accident lawyer who you can count on when it matters the most. Our law firm has three offices conveniently located in Toronto, Brantford, and Simcoe, Ontario.
