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Being a better defensive driver can save your life. Here’s what you should know:

jacksonville, florida – More than 30,000 people die in car crashes in the US each year

Experts say most of these crashes are preventable.

In 2020 alone, more than 3,000 people were killed in car accidents involving distracted drivers, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Ben McCorkel of the Northeast Florida Safety Council says being a consistently defensive driver can make a big difference in saving lives.

“The worst part is having to tell your family that your loved one is no longer coming home,” he said. “I want people to stop it. People don’t need to get that notice.”

Ben McCorkel of the Northeast Florida Safety Council gives Amanda DeVoe a defensive driving lesson. (WJXT)

McCorkell is a former sheriff’s deputy, state trooper, and has taught defensive driving courses for over 40 years.

He’s seen it all while in law enforcement.

“I’ve seen women read newspapers, write checkbooks, and see women put on makeup and men shave. ‘Wait till I get home.'”

He said drivers should check the outside of the car and make sure everything under the hood is working smoothly before opening the doors.

“We want to check fluid levels,” McCorkell said. “Check your oil. Make sure your oil is good. Check your windshield wiper fluid and radiator fluid. Now called coolant. Make sure the fluid is level.” Check.Check if the windshield wipers are in good condition.Clean it.Before you go into it, make sure everything is clean.”

For those who say that even going to the grocery store is a chore, McCorkell had important data.

“Most of the accidents happen within two miles of my home,” he said. “Improper fluid levels can cause accidents.”

Defensive driving can save lives, argues Ben McCorkell of the Northeast Florida Safety Council. (WJXT)

McCorkell said it’s a simple procedure that people tend to forget and that it’s important to always be aware of your surroundings.

If you see a wrong-way car, McCorkell told you to keep this tip in mind…

“Generally speaking, if a person is going the wrong way, they are on your left. The more right you go, the better off you are,” he said. rice field.

When behind the wheel, McCorkell wants drivers to remember that no moment should be taken for granted.

“Two thousand pounds of steel rubber and glass. It won’t give. If it hits you, it won’t give. But your body is really fragile and it will give,” he said.

Ben McCorkel of the Northeast Florida Safety Council gives Amanda DeVoe a defensive driving lesson. (WJXT)

McCorkell also suggests returning to the parking lot if possible. This can reduce the chance of collisions in parking lots.

He also wants drivers to pay particular attention to drunk driving, regardless of the time of day.

He said it was a key point he stressed to students taking his defensive driving course.

6 fatal mistakes

The National Security Council says there are six fatal mistakes drivers make.

Amanda DeVoe joins us to share 6 fatal mistakes drivers make on the road, according to the National Safety Council.

Most crashes resulting in serious injury or death are said to involve one of the following:

  • speeding

  • Violate priority or disregard whose turn it is to go

  • tailgating

  • Improper turning or pulling in public

  • follow too much

  • Then drive left from center. This is when someone crosses the opposite lane on a two-lane road.

Some are intentional, such as trying to pass someone, while others are accidental due to distractions or drunk driving.

Experts say drivers should always be aware, react quickly, and keep their distance from dangerous drivers.

It’s all about stress, patience, attention and consistency.

Trapped or submerged?

More than 400 people die each year in North America from submerged vehicles.

Thousands more struggle to escape vehicles on land.

Whether you’re stuck in a car on the street or submerged in water, McCorkel says there are a few options to keep in mind.

Keep this first aid kit in your car for emergencies. (WJXT)

If you are in danger and need to escape quickly, you can use the glass breaker that usually comes with your emergency car kit. Many of them double as seat belt cutters.

If you don’t have one, he suggests using the headrests that all cars have.

“You have a headrest. There’s a piece of metal in there that will definitely break the window. If you don’t have any metal to break, use your elbow,” he said.

If submerged, officials say to handle this situation differently. In this case, they say, time is short and you need to save yourself.

They say the chances of survival are in the first 60 seconds.

The first 3 things they said you need to do:

  • impact brace

  • keep calm

  • unfasten seat belt

Once you’ve done that, roll the window and go outside to escape.

If the window doesn’t work and you don’t have a glass breaker, use your feet, McCorkell said.

“If that car is submerged and the water is near the window, you can’t easily break it. But you can still break it. You can also use your foot to kick it out.” “The best thing to get out is the windshield. It’s easier to get out than the side windows if it’s submerged in water,” he said.

Authorities told them to swim first if they escaped.

If you don’t know which direction is up, always follow the bubbles rising to the surface.

Also, be extra careful when driving in flooded areas or areas adjacent to bodies of water.

If there is a flash flood warning, avoid driving as much as possible.

People can drown in less than a foot of water.

Copyright 2023 by WJXT News4JAX – All rights reserved.

https://www.news4jax.com/news/local/2023/02/02/drivers-ed-being-a-better-defensive-driver-could-save-your-life-heres-what-you-should-know/ Being a better defensive driver can save your life. Here’s what you should know:

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