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1. Make sure you feel well enough to drive

This might seem obvious, but often this can go out of the window when you need to be somewhere. It’s important that you feel well enough to drive before setting off, and that you haven’t been impaired by any medications. A touch of flu could make you feel drowsy and slow down your reaction times.

2. Stick to the speed limit

Speed limits are applied to certain roads for a reason, so by not adhering to them, you might put yourself, and others, at risk.

3. Consider the weather conditions

Whilst speed limits are there to be adhered to, if you’re driving in conditions that are less than ideal - maybe the roads are icy, or a thick fog has developed – it’s a good idea to go slower than the speed limit.

4. Keep a safe distance from other cars

Keep at least a two-second gap between your car and the car in front.

5. Don’t drive erratically

Not only will your car thank you for this one, but so will other road users.

6. Keep an eye on your mirrors

Keep checking your mirrors so you’re fully aware of what’s going on around you.

7. Don’t get distracted

Distractions are everywhere nowadays. Your phone, the radio, or even your passengers can distract you from the road – and even a split second distraction could cause an accident.

8. Carry out any required maintenance

As well as making sure you’re well enough to drive, it’s important that your car is too! Check your tires and oil before heading off.

9. Keep an emergency kit in the car

There’s no harm in keeping some emergency items in the car, just in case! Sensible items to include could be a warning triangle, some warm clothing, a first aid kit, and maybe even some food and water.

10. Put your seatbelt on!

If you happen to have an accident on the road, your seatbelt could save your life. Make sure your passengers are strapped in too before setting off.

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Key points

In 2020 there were 3,692 road casualties reported by police forces in Wales; a 36% decrease compared to 2019

819 of the casualties were killed or seriously injured (KSI), a decrease of 31% compared with 2019

2,873 had slight injuries, 38% lower than the figure for 2019

72% of KSI casualties in 2020 were male

There was a 37% decrease in child casualties (those aged under 16) and a 32% decrease in young people casualties (aged 16 to 24), compared with 2019

Young people aged 16 to 24 are disproportionately more likely to be casualties in road accidents; they make up 11% of the population but 22% of all casualties

When adjusting for distance travelled, motorcyclists and pedal cyclists were more likely to be casualties than car users

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https://gov.wales/sites/default/files/statistics-and-research/2021-09/reported-road-casualties-2020-881.pdf

Information from the Welsh government.

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https://www.comparethemarket.com/car-insurance/content/road-traffic-accidents/

More information about accidents from compare the market.

25 common causes of accidents:

1. Distracted Driving. Distracted drivers are the top cause of car accidents in the U.S. today.

2. Speeding. Speed kills, and traveling above the speed limit is an easy way to cause a car accident.

3. Drunk Driving. Driving under the influence of alcohol causes car accidents every day, even when they are one the top causes that can be avoided.

4. Reckless Driving. Reckless driving is a moving violation in which a driver displays a disregard for the rules of the road

5. Rain. Car accidents happen very often in the rain because water creates slick and dangerous surfaces for cars, trucks, and motorcycles

6. Running Red Lights. Drivers that run red lights, run the risk of causing wrongful death because they often cause side-impact collisions at high speeds.

7. Running Stop Signs. Each year, thousands of car accidents occur because one driver ran a stop sign. Many rollover accidents and side-impact car accidents result from drivers that run stop signs.

8. Teenage Drivers. When teen drivers hit the roads they don’t always know what to do and that lack of experience ends up causing car accidents.

9. Night Driving. Driving in the daylight can be hazardous, but driving at night nearly doubles the risk of a car accident occurring.

10. Design Defects. Automobiles have hundreds of parts, and any of those defective parts can cause a serious car accident.

11. Unsafe Lane Changes. When drivers don’t make safe lane changes properly, it often leads to a car accident.

12. Wrong-Way Driving. When you go the wrong way, everyone is in danger because as you head towards a car accident.

13. Improper Turns. The reason that we have stop lights, turn signals, and lanes designated for moving either right or left as opposed to straight is because when drivers ignore the rules of the road, car accidents are often the result.

14. Tailgating. Many fatal car accidents have occurred when a motorist dangerously tailgated another driver at high speeds. You can prevent these car accidents by giving the car in front of you a one-car-length buffer for every 10 mph you drive.

15. Driving Under the Influence of Drugs. It’s not only alcohol that is dangerous when mixed with drivers on the road. Drugs, both legal and illegal, can impair your ability to fully function as a driver.

16. Ice. Ice is a major cause of car accidents for cities with cold weather climates.

17. Snow. Like ice, cities with cold winters know all-too-well just how dangerous snow can be for commuters.

18. Road Rage. By tailgating another driver in anger or speeding past another driver only to pull in front of them and brake, these road “ragers” cause many needless car accidents each year.

19. Potholes. Drivers run the risk of losing control of their car or blowing out a tire when they drive over potholes.

20. Drowsy Driving. Driver fatigue isn’t talked about a lot, but how well can we expect anyone to drive when they’re having trouble staying awake. Most of the car accidents caused by drowsy driving occur at night.

21. Tyre Blowouts. Tyre blowouts can cause you to lose control of your vehicle, and they are especially dangerous for bigger automobiles like semi-trucks.

22. Fog. Fog isn’t the most common weather occurrence, and that’s good news for car accidents statistics. Driving is a skill that requires the ability to see, but fog makes it extremely difficult to see sometimes more than a car length in front of you.

23. Deadly Curves. Many motorists have lost control of their cars along a dangerous curve and lost their lives in a car accident.

24. Animal Crossings. Wild animals will wade out into the street, and it’s up to you to make sure that you don’t get into a car accident with them.

25. Street Racing. With turbo engines and nitrous oxide boosters, cars often reach very high speeds during a street race, making any resulting car accident much more dangerous and unlikely to yield any survivors.

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Table shows the consequences of dangerous driving as stated by the AA.  A link to the full table of consequences.  Dangerous Driving | What is it and what are the penalties? | The AA

These are all other examples of dangerous driving:

Racing or going too fast

Ignoring traffic lights or road signs

Overtaking dangerously

Driving when unfit, e.g. injured or with eyesight problems

Knowing the vehicle's faulty or unsafe to drive

Distracted driving, e.g. reading, looking at a map, tuning a radio or talking to passengers

Driving on a hard shoulder reserved for breakdowns

The following causes of dangerous driving are specific offences in their own right:

Drink driving

Drug driving

Using a handheld mobile phone