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How to recognize reckless driving on the road

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Photo Credit: AndreyPopov

When you think of reckless driving, you might think of drunk drivers, massive accidents and worse. However, the most common kinds of reckless driving are much more insidious and happen every day on the road. You might be a victim of someone’s negligence regardless of if you’re out for a casual drive or whether you’re moving across the country, so stay safe when you’re driving.

However, if you do get into a car accident and know that another driver is to blame, you can hire a good lawyer. You don’t need a fancy guide to figure out how to do this. Big cities have established law firms that are teaming with good lawyers. You will have no trouble finding a criminal lawyer in Appleton, WI, who will be by your side every step of the way. All metropolitan cities have good lawyers so don’t worry if you need to file an injury claim.

Ideally, though, you should stay safe and unharmed while you’re driving and the number one step is recognizing what reckless driving looks like.

#1: Speeding

Most reckless drivers are guilty of speeding and driving dangerously. Any time you start to cross the speed limit, whether that’s by 5 or 50mph, you should know you’re being reckless. Speed limits exist for a reason and you need to follow them. Otherwise, you could careen sharply into a turn and collide with an oncoming car. Stay safe and keep everyone else safe by following the speed limit.

#2: Tailgating

Tailgating causes a lot of narrow misses. And that’s in fortunate cases. Most people believe that the only thing tailgating does is cause fender benders. When you tailgate, the car in front of you doesn’t have enough space to brake if they need to. Now imagine if both cars are traveling at lightning speeds.

You could easily lose complete control of your car if the car ahead of you were to suddenly press the brakes. You should always leave sufficient space between your car and the car right in front of you. Tailgating is definitely a form of reckless driving.

#3: Running Lights

People do this one all the time despite its obvious dangers. If the lights turn yellow and you have time, you should stop. Even if you speed into the intersection a second after the light turns red, you could end up in a nasty car accident.

If you don’t, you will still end up with a hefty fine and have to pay the price one way or another. When you’re at a red light, you should wait for it to turn green before moving. Once it does turn green, you should look both ways and then start to drive. This can save not only your life but other people’s lives as well.

What to Keep in Mind

You might not be a reckless driver yourself but it’s imperative that you recognize when other people are driving recklessly. Once you understand this, you can save yourself from a potentially fatal accident on the road. Remember to swerve away from a reckless driver. Don’t engage in any sort of race or another challenge, especially if you suspect they’re drunk or intoxicated in some other way. Stay vigilant and stay safe on the roads.

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