Hopewell Reckless Driving and Insurance Rates
Dangerous driving constitutes many disparate behaviors, each of which has the capacity to endanger the lives of both the driver in question, as well as any other motorists they encounter on the road. The following are the most common reckless driving behaviors. These driving habits should be avoided at all costs. However, if you find yourself accused of a crime relating to these habits, your first step should be to find a reliable attorney to argue your case.
Texting
With the advent of new technology come even more headaches for those on the road. One major complaint you hear these days is the amount of people who text while driving. While this may seem like a rather trivial concern at first glance, texting while driving is actually quite a dangerous behavior.
Studies have shown that texting while driving is just as risky as intoxicated driving. One staggering statistic shows that in past years, 23% of crashes were attributed to cell phone use while driving. Texting while driving primarily occurs in younger drivers, a group which already contributes greatly to all types of auto accidents.
Cell phone use should be avoided while driving at all costs. However, texting while driving remains the most serious offense, as it takes the driver’s attention away from the road for the longest period of time.
Excessive Speeding
Even the best drivers can get involved in accidents while speeding. Excessive speeding can affect a driver’s reaction time when faced with an unforeseen situation, and it can also create a dangerous scenario for other drivers who may be following traffic laws. Speed limits should be maintained at all times by all drivers, in hopes to lessen the impact of any vehicle collisions or accidents. Speeding is also a contributing factor to many fatal accidents. The faster you are going in your vehicle, the more severe an accident is likely to be.
Driving Under the Influence
Driving under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol remains a huge problem in our society. One look at the statistics illustrates just how deeply this problem goes. Approximately one third of all DUI offenses are committed by people with prior convictions, and up to 28 people in America perish from drunken driving incidents on a daily basis.
For those convicted, the legal consequences can have very serious results. The right legal representation is imperative to mitigating the damage incurred from the incident. A good lawyer can counsel you on the best way to proceed, which can make the difference between freedom and incarceration, in many cases.
Aggressive Driving
You hear a lot about aggressive driving behaviors, but it may be hard to pinpoint what exactly they entails. Aggressive driving usually involves one or more of the following behaviors:
- Tailgating
- Lack of appropriate signal use
- Excessive horn use
- Speeding
- Use of rude gestures and language directed at other motorists
Aggressive driving is not only the cause of accidents. In the past years, many people have been hurt or even killed while involved in altercations related to such driving behaviors. In such situations it’s best to take a moment before reacting to another motorist. This can save you from a massive headache, or even grave physical injury.
Distracted Driving Behaviors
While much is said about the dangers of driving while texting, very few people give thought to the act of driving while distracted. Millions of drivers engage in this reckless behavior each time they get behind the wheel. Distracted driving can include things like tending to children in the back seat while on the road, answering mobile phones, playing with the radio, as well as other behaviors that take eMPHasis away from the task at hand.
It’s easy to fall into these types of behaviors, but it’s also worth mentioning the amount of damage they can cause, to both you and other drivers. Distracted driving can lead to devastating accidents and injury, as well as causing untold amounts of property damage. It’s important to stay focused behind the wheel at all times. If a situation arises that requires your immediate attention, try to find a place to pull over before attempting to deal with it.
A Good Legal Team Is the First Step
A good legal team will have the experience to represent you in matters related to reckless driving, ranging from incidents like speeding to more serious offenses, such as DUIs. If you find yourself in the midst of driving-related legal issues, reliable representation is crucial to lessening the impact of fines and jail terms, which can affect guilty motorists for years to come.