Road rules are established to enhance safety and order on our roads, and the easiest way to cause an accident is by disregarding them. Not only is ignoring traffic law risky, but it could also lead to life-changing consequences.
You may be tempted to ignore these regulations as they may inconvenience you in one way or another. Take, for instance, encountering a red light while you are late for work. The reality is that disregarding traffic rules has many consequences, as you may be forced to pay fines, serve jail time, or lose your driving privileges.
Below are some ramifications of violating traffic rules:
Road Accidents
This is the most devastating outcome of breaking traffic rules. An accident could lead to property damage, injuries, and death in the worst-case scenario. If you are at fault for the accident, you may be required to offer compensation for medical bills, damaged property, and any other losses.
Arrest and Punishment
You may break traffic rules without necessarily causing an accident. Still, you may face immediate arrest, and depending on the degree of your violation, you may get a traffic ticket, which you must pay.
Traffic violations can lead to a hearing where a judge may impose hefty fines, probation, or jail time.
Loss of Driving Privileges
Losing your driving privileges can be devastating, especially if you need to operate a car on a daily basis. That said, breaking traffic rules could result in license suspension, revocation, or cancellation.
Such consequences prohibit you from operating a vehicle within the specified period or permanently. Finally, you may be required to pay a fee to restore your license.
Traffic Snarl-Ups
Accidents will almost always disrupt traffic flow at the scene. This could be frustrating, especially since most roads are already congested due to overpopulation and poor road networks. An accident could cause traffic hold-ups stretching for several miles.
The Distracted Driving Case
This is another major cause of road accidents. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has reported thousands of deaths from distracted driving. Another 424,000 are injured from these yearly.
Potential distractions include phones, loud music, or other passengers. Follow these simple tips to avoid distracted driving.
• Settle everything that needs your attention before heading out. This will prevent you from picking up calls while driving. If you must pick up a call, pull over
• Adjust your mirrors, seats, radio, and GPS before the drive to prevent multitasking while driving
• Always keep your hands on the wheel and your eyes on the road.
• Ask for help from other passengers in the vehicle
With that in mind, below are some road safety rules you should observe
• Do not drink and drive
• Observe the speed limit
• Always wear your seat belt
• Keep sufficient distance between your vehicle and the one in front of yours
Conclusion
Traffic rules and regulations are set in place to help control and manage traffic flow. While some of these rules might be tempting to break, they could lead to severe outcomes.
“You could cause accidents, get arrested, serve jail time, or even lose your driving privileges. Therefore, always follow road signs to keep yourself and other road users safe at all times,” says attorney Jan Dils of Jan Dils Attorneys at Law.