Car accidents are a virtual certainty for just about anyone who drives throughout adulthood. According to the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration, the nation averages 17,250 vehicular accidents every day. Those accidents often cause injuries and almost always require costly auto repairs that car insurance might or might not cover. The following driver safety tips can help you to avoid an accident.

Don't Drive While Drunk or Drowsy

Virtually all drivers know it's against the law to drive while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Even a small amount of these substances can impair your ability to drive safely and might lead you to cause an accident. It's equally dangerous to drive while you are tired and fighting off the urge to go to sleep. Drowsy driving is just as bad as drunk driving and just as deadly. It's better to pull into a rest area or a place of business and take a cat nap than to risk causing an accident.

Don't Let Your Phone Distract You

Distracted driving is one of the newer forms of dangerous driving behaviors that have become commonplace. Smartphones are one of the primary causes of distracted driving, and yours could cause you to take your eyes off the road at the worst possible moment. Many states ban the use of cell phones while driving due to the dangers posed by distracted driving, but some allow you to use hands-free devices to talk or use built-in GPS features. Follow your state's laws and keep your eyes on the road as much as possible.

Follow at a Safe Distance

It's important to ensure you can stop safely or have enough reaction time to avoid accidents while driving. The best way to do that is to follow at a safe distance of at least two car lengths when driving conditions are good. You should leave even more space in front of you when it's raining or the roads have snow on them. If you follow too closely behind another vehicle, you run the risk of causing a rear-ending accident, which would make you liable for the damages and any injuries that might occur.

Maintain Your Vehicle

A poorly maintained vehicle is a potential danger – especially if it has bad brakes, burned-out lights, or bad tires. Maintaining your vehicle and undertaking auto repairs as needed will help to make it safe to drive and lessen the likelihood of causing an accident or being in one. A well-maintained vehicle drives and handles predictably, which makes it easier to avoid accidents.

If you need to get auto repairs and maintenance done to make your vehicle safe and reliable to drive, Armory Shell Towing & Auto Body is here to help. We also offer extensive auto body services to restore damaged vehicles to their former functionality and appearance. Give us a call for a free estimate on any of our services!