With tech taking over and pickups having a mind of their own, we can have adaptive cruise control, lane sensors, rear-view cameras and more. While these can help improve your driving, they aren’t foolproof. And not being alert can end in needing collision repair.

Especially important as the Southern State continues to get this cold weather and snow; ice and black ice on the road is more and more of an issue. Many don’t know this but breaking on ice can cause tire traction loss and – you guessed it – a potential crash. So, instead of breaking, slowly let-off the gas.

In Texas, when you’re on an access road, the law is to yield to traffic entering and exiting the freeway or expressway. This is especially important given Texas is home to the highest speed limits. That said, y’all should always match the speed of the freeway traffic before merging and never assume someone will slow-up for you.

Your turn signal is your best friend in the event of a collision with both vehicles needing quality auto repair. When you effectively check and use your turn signal before merging into traffic or taking a turn, you’ve got the right-of-way in a legal or insurance situation.

Everything really is bigger in Texas including the speed limits. But not knowing the limit can be fateful when speeding down a road in a rural area. Know that residential roads are usually 25-30mph, undivided rural roads are 55-75mph, divided rural roads are 75mph, inner-city freeways are 55-75mph and outside city freeways are 75-85mph.

Texas is pretty relaxed on boomerang turns so long as there’s no signs posted at the intersection to indicate otherwise. That said, there’s only one law about these U-turns you need to know; if you can’t see oncoming traffic for at least 500ft, you can’t safely or legally make the turn.

Having a beer before getting behind the wheel of your pickup decreases the speed you can react to anything on the road such as a crossing armadillo. In fact, a DUI was the cause of nearly 25,000 crashes last year. Plus, testing at over an 0.8 blood alcohol level gets you fined, jailed or a license suspended.

When snow hits the tarmac, the legal speed limits change to enhance safety. It’s important to know these speeds as they affect your ability to break and avoid the need for collision repair. In light snow, freeway and express speeds are reduced 1-13%. In heavy snow, on the other hand, speeds are reduced by 5-40%.

As the most common form of distracted driving, the cell phone is – according to The National Safety Council – the cause of 1.6 million crashes across the US each year. So, it’s vital to switch your cell off. Other distracted driving that could land you in a sticky autobody situation include eating, smoking and changing the radio station. 

Even if you do experience a crash and are in need of some quality auto repair, you can save yourself and your passengers from fatal injuries just by making sure your seat belts work and are securely strapped. Even when driving slow or for short distances, a seat belt has the ability to save lives.

Y’all, unfortunately, no matter how safe you are as a driver, there will always be other things that can put a dint in your day. Whether it’s ice on the roads or some looney turning left at an intersection without looking first. 

That’s why the Dealership Autoplex Collision Center is fixin’ to repair. 

Call us today on (972) 242-0092 to schedule your service, check-out the website or simply visit the autobody shop in Carrollton, TX.