Are you a driver in Dallas Texas? With drivers who commute in Dallas 46% more likely to get into a wreck than the average U.S driver*, the likelihood is that you’ve probably known somebody who’s been involved in some sort of traffic collision or accident.

For the lucky, a couple of bruises and some insurance paperwork is the most you’ll need to deal with, but for others, the consequences are fatal.

So in a year where normal life stuttered to a halt due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and we were told to stay at home, minimize unnecessary trips and advised to avoid the roads, it is worrying for drivers in Dallas to hear that early data indicates motor vehicle deaths in the US in 2020 were at their highest in 13 years**.

Dallas is already one of the most accident-ridden cities in the nation, with statistics placing the city high on the list of motor-related traffic deaths year-on-year*.

So, what can Dallas residents, and the US presidency, do to minimize the chances of fatal accidents in Texas and the US?

1. Back calls for President Biden to commit to zero road deaths

The data from the National Safety Council (NSC) suggests that the increase in the rate-of-death will be at its highest estimated year-on-year jump that the council has calculated since 1924**. NSC and more than 1,500 other organizations and individuals are now urging President Joe Biden and the Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg to commit to zero roadway deaths by 2050.

To commit to such a cause, NSC and the Road to Zero Coalition have put together a strong plan, outlining their proposed first steps. Some of the key steps include:

• Equitable implementation of roadway safety laws, policies, and procedures
• Improvements to infrastructure within communities that are disproportionally impacted by crashes, roadway polices, lack of access to public transportation etc.
• Mandatory ignition interlocks for convicted drunk drivers
• Lowering – not raising- speed limits
• Installation and use of automated enforcement to support safe speeds
• Laws banning all cell phone use

2. Improve your own defensive driving with an online course

Whether you’re an experienced driver or new to the roads, there’s no denying that Dallas is a city whereby more than adequate driving skills are required. If you’re genuinely concerned about the statistics coming out of the NSC, then taking an online defensive driving course is a great way to improve your knowledge and keep you safe.

Designed to be accessible to all, this course from IMPROV is approved by the State of Texas, is 100% online and available on any device, and provides you with a certificate of completion in just 30 minutes of conclusion. Over 4 million students picked IMPROV as their #1 choice for their defensive driving course.

Additional benefits of the course are that, should you have been issued a traffic ticket, the certificate can help you to dismiss such tickets and even eliminate the points from your driving record with no court appearances or insurance rate increases, such is it’s stamp of approval.

You can view the Texas Defensive Driving Course here:

https://www.myimprov.com/defensive-driving/texas/tx-online-course/

3. Follow the guidelines, and keep yourself safe

Driving safety is paramount, no matter where you live. Yet in Dallas where accidents are more likely to happen, it’s perhaps even more important to follow basic guidelines than anywhere else in the US. As years pass, it’s easy to forget the basics or ignore them, but don’t pay the ultimate price. Keep yourself safe by following these rules:

• Keep to the speed limit
• Do not use your cell phone while driving
• Always wear a seat belt
• Always wear a helmet [if using a motorcycle]
• Never drive a care while intoxicated or under the influence
• Ensure your vehicle has regular safety checks and is road-worthy

Texas roads are dangerous, so keep yourself safe

While Dallas narrowly avoids being on the Allstate’s risky roads list, reserved for the 15 cities where drivers must be most careful to avoid accidents, there’s no doubting that Dallas is prone to traffic collisions. Together, we can change this.

More information:

Improv Traffic School is an interactive education concept, boasting some of the best and most-used online driving courses in the US. Based on the notion that driver education doesn’t have to be dry and boring, they’ve won many accolades for ‘Best Traffic School’. To learn more about their courses, visit their website: https://www.myimprov.com/.

Source: https://thenewsfront.com/dallas-texas-considering-options-as-year-on-year-jump-in-us-motor-traffic-deaths-highest-since-1924-despite-less-drivers-on-roads/