When a big part of your life is spent in your car getting to point A and point B, you may find yourself stumbling upon a car crash every now and then. When this does happen, many St. Charles, MO drivers tend to slow down and stare at the car accident when it does happen. This actually has a name, called rubbernecking. This can be very dangerous to not only you but other drivers who are also distracted by the accident.
While it’s tempting to try and see what is going on, it is highly recommended that you avoid doing so. This is because it can lead to serious accidents. If you are still not convinced that looking at an accident is very dangerous, continue reading on for our reasons why.
Distracted Driving
The term rubbernecking is another form is distracted driving since it serves both as a mental and visual distraction. If you get distracted enough to stare at a car crash while passing by, you are taking your eyes off the road. This will increase accident risk. Since a lot of people do this, it is very easy to see why so many car crashes are known to be secondary accidents. Even if you do stare for a few seconds, you risk missing a vehicle, veering into a different lane, or crashing into someone who is breaking.
Slowing Traffic
One thing else that can happen if you are watching another accident is the slowness of traffic behind you. At this point, you are putting yourself in danger by slowing down to stare at a car crash on the road. You may not think that this is happening. However subconsciously, you are slowing your vehicle down while you are staring at the problems. This will cause an accident. A car crash means that not only you, but other drivers are also slowing down to stare at what is happening. This can lead to highway congestion that becomes another high risk for more car crashes. Keep your constant speed, and be alert. This helps you focus on others who may be slowing down to watch the crash.
Loss of Control
The last thing that we want to touch base on is staring at a car crash while passing by. This can lead to a loss of control of your own car. This can result in serious injury and even death in some cases. By staring at a car accident and not paying attention to your driving, you are failing at keeping yourself and others in a safe environment while you are driving.
We hope that it helps you to take a second and think before looking into a crash out of curiosity. Be extra cautious when driving, and take care of yourself and you’re surroundings when dealing with this type of situation.
If you need assistance or have a question about this blog, give our team at Augie’s Towing & Transportation a call today!
