Most common accidents.

[waynne]

From a guy who was in insurance and saw quite a few claims. Most just fall down to stupidity, lazyness and not paying attention. Here are my top few accident causes.

1) Shunting into the rear of a car at a roundabout having assumed it has moved off. The car will either bottle out and brake or stall and before you get a chance to look back you have gone into the rear of him. Always look in the direction you are pulling away in.

2) Car pulling out onto the main road into your path. Always make eye contact with cars waiting in side junctions and keep your finger over your horn - this is the only way you can warm him because a flash is interpreted as "you can pull out now!" Your insurance company will always ask "did you sound your horn or give any warning" so be prepared to.

3) Losing control at speed. Driving too fast on bends, roundabouts and corners radically reduces your margin of error. If you need to brake suddenly you will not stand a chance so if you find yourself on a blind bend always ensure you can stop safely in the distance you can see.

4) Not braking hard enough/too hard. Subconciously drivers do not press their brake pedal hard enough and end up crashing almost willing themselves into the back of the car. Always prepare your mind to stop the car a few feet behind the car in front - if you focus on the back of the car then chances are this is what you are going to stop at. If you have ABS practice stomping on the pedal, if you dont have ABS then practice cadence braking (soft/hard/soft/hard). A locked up wheel will not slow the car so you must release the brake and re-apply it. Practice the emergency stop regularly and especially if you are in a new/different car.

5) Driving too close to the car in front. Remember it takes a whole second or so to get the message from your brain and to move your foot to the brake pedal. On motorways always be prepared for the worst. You might be able to out brake the car in front but what if he loses control and slides sideways hitting something and stopping dead? Remember that distance is your friend - always keep a bubble of space around your car at all times.

6) Distractions. Playing with the radio, looking out of the side window, dropping something in the car. Most of the time you get away with watching distractions but should the unexpected happen while you are disstracted you will end up in a mess! Keep focussed. Never think that your periphery vision will help you because we all have a natural blind spot.

7) Changing lane on 2 or more lane road. Always look over you shoulder into the direction you are moving and check the cars blind spot. Make this a habit - there are so many drivers out there that rely on their mirrors (or the FORCE!)

Are there any that you can think of?