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If you’re a motorist, taking precautions on the road isn’t just about keeping you and your passengers safe—it’s also about avoiding the high cost and inconvenience of collision repair. And with nearly 6.3 million auto accidents reported by the police in 2015—according to 2015 data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration—it’s clear that there is a need for drivers to increase their awareness of how to protect themselves, others, and their vehicles.  As a leading auto body shop in Waynesboro, VA, Whitesell Collision highlights some of the most important steps you can take to avoid the damage they work with on a daily basis. 

As routine as driving can be, Whitesell Collision stresses the importance of staying aware of the road at all times when you’re behind the wheel. While several factors behind auto accidents may be out of your control, these specialists say you can reduce the risk of needing collision repair if you:

  • Avoid Reckless Driving: When it comes to avoiding reckless driving, motorists must make sure they abstain from operating a vehicle anytime they are under the influence of drugs or alcohol. However, there are many other bad habits contributing to reckless driving that may not seem as obvious as staying sober. If you want to avoid a dangerous and damaging car accident, make a strong effort to avoid distracted driving, and stay within the speed limit.
  • collision repairMaintain a Safe Following Distance: To avoid rear-ending a vehicle when you suddenly need to step on the brakes, maintain a safe following distance, which is equivalent to 20 feet for every 10 mph you travel. In most cases, this means keeping a three-second distance between your car and the car in front of you. If you’re driving faster than 60 miles per hour, have limited visibility, are on a curvy road, or are in wet weather conditions, you’ll want to increase that following distance to compensate for additional risks.
  • Practice Patience in the Parking Lot:  On-road collisions can do major damage to your auto body. However, a considerable amount of auto body damage occurs in parking lots when you may be traveling at a slow speed. Since parking lots are high-traffic areas with multiple obstacles, it’s essential to accelerate and reverse slowly. Also, check all of your blind spots to make sure no vehicle or pedestrian may run into you.

While these tips are excellent ways to prevent auto accidents, collisions can sometimes happen at no fault of your own. When this happens, it’s important to seek out collision repair from a trusted auto body shop to keep your car safe and looking its best. Specializing in everything from dent repair to paint jobs, the experts at Whitesell Collision can get you back on the road in confidence if you experience an accident in the Waynesboro, VA, area. To schedule service and find out how affordable their reliable work is, contact the shop by calling (540) 943-3361.

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