Every New Year, people make promises to work on themselves and make good changes in their lives. Most of these changes consist of perfecting their bodies, sharpening their minds, creating more, spending less, etc. This year we should reassess how we drive our cars and respect the roads to respect others. Here are 3 very important New Year’s Resolutions from Consumer Reports to consider as we drive into 2020:
Never Drink and Drive
It gets said but drinking and driving is never okay. The cost of a Lyft, Uber or taxi is so much less than the cost of a DUI or the price for your funeral. Even those who are below the legal blood-alcohol content limit can cause deadly accidents. In 2017, nearly 2,000 people died in alcohol-related traffic accidents where the driver was less impaired than the established blood-alcohol limit according to The Zebra. Call a rideshare or a taxi whenever you’ve had a drink or two. Better safe than sorry.
Always Wear Your Seatbelt
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) found that 89.6% of drivers and passengers use a seatbelt when they are in the car. This is great news but it is also estimated that 2,549 additional lives could have been saved by using a seat belt in 2017. If you are one of the few who do not use their seat belt, please make the change this year and keep yourself safe!
Don’t Use Your Cell Phone Behind the Wheel
Put your phone down or pull over to answer it. In 2017 the Chicago Tribune found that 1 in 4 drivers used a cell phone right before they were involved in a crash. It can be vital to keeping everyone on the road safe. If the impulse to check your phone is too strong, consider downloading an app to block incoming messages and calls while driving.
Source: Consumer Reports