A long day at work can be made even longer if one needs to commute to work. Commuting to work can be more than an added expense and inconvenience, it can be perilous. Every year workers miss work and have mounting medical bills due to being injured in an accident while commuting.
Commuting to Cincinnati costs the average driver $7,089 per year, based upon data from the Department of Transportation and the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This cost includes fuel, vehicle maintenance and time spent driving instead of working. What is not calculated is the cost of getting into an accident and experiencing personal injuries. The hidden cost of commuting is the increased risk of motor vehicle accidents while commuting. The more time spent on the road increases the chances of an accident.
Safety tips for commuters
According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), here are a few basic safety tips for commuting to work:
- Maintenance: Making sure to do routine maintenance and a general safety check before driving your vehicle can help to avoid accidents.
- Safe driving practices: Using the seat belt, keeping within speed limits and not tailgating can help keep drivers and passengers safe.
- Don’t be distracted: Talking on the cellphone, shaving, eating or putting on make-up can lead to being a distracted driver. All those things can wait until arriving.
- Sleepiness: Driving while being drowsy can lead to slower reaction times and a lack of alertness. Make sure to get a proper night’s sleep and maybe grab a coffee or tea before driving home in the afternoon.
There are many causes and many ways to mitigate risks while driving to work. Despite taking all safety precautions, accidents happen. This is why it is important to be proactive in preparing for the unfortunate possibility of being involved in a motor vehicle accident.
To make sure that your rights are protected, it can be beneficial to have strong legal counsel that is experienced in personal injury cases that result from a motor vehicle accident.