Roadway Safety: Preventing Impaired, Distracted, and Reckless Driving

Tony Mers • July 5, 2018

On average, there is a rear end collision every eight seconds on the U.S. roadways. The three most common causes for all auto accidents are distracted driving, drunk driving, and reckless driving.

As a vehicle owner, it's your responsibility to not only drive responsibly, but take care of all vehicles registered to you and your family at all times. Car repairs after an accident, for instance, are essential in order to get your vehicle back on the road and ensure that your vehicle is fully operational and secure.

Though these three causes of car accidents might seem simple enough to prevent, they still occur much too often across the country. So it can't hurt to refresh your knowledge on safe driving and refraining from driving impaired, distracted, or aggressively.

Preventing drunk driving -- First, it's important to know that you should never -- never -- get behind the wheel of a car if you're at all impaired. Unfortunately, mistakes do happen and drivers often make poor lapses in judgment, leading to impaired driving. You have to actively fight the urge to get behind the wheel when you're a danger to yourself and everyone else on the road. If you're planning on drinking at all, get a ride and do not drive yourself. Period.

Preventing distracted driving -- Even if you think you're a professional multitasker and can do all sorts of little tasks while you're driving, you need to focus 100% of your attention on the road -- and nothing else. Looking down at your phone for even a second can result in potentially fatal roadway accidents. When you're driving, rid yourself of every distraction until you safely arrive at your destination.

Preventing reckless driving -- This is actually one of the easiest driving habits to avoid. It's time to get rid of that lead foot and start driving like a responsible adult. No more speeding, no more blowing stop signs and red lights, and no more erratic lane changes. Drive carefully and avoid disastrous collisions.

Whether you've been driving responsibly or not, accidents still happen and car repairs after an accident are extremely important. If you are in need of skillful car repairs after an accident and want to work with skillful auto body repair services, give River North Collision Repair a visit right away!

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Why Ignoring Small Dents Can Lead to Bigger Problems

January 30, 2026

It is an awful feeling when you walk out to your car after a long day and see a small dent on your passenger door. While it may appear to be just a cosmetic issue, you should still get it fixed, because ignoring small dents can lead to bigger problems for your vehicle. Don’t let small dents on your car go untreated; let's talk about why you need to tackle these issues ASAP. Rust Loves Chicago Winters We all know the drill here in the Windy City. We have beautiful summers, sure, but we also pay the price with brutal winters. And what comes with winter? Salt. Tons of it. Your car’s paint job acts as a suit of armor protecting the metal body underneath. Even a minor dent often comes with microscopic cracks in the paint—sometimes too small to see with the naked eye. Once that seal is broken, moisture and road salt sneak in. They settle against the bare metal and start a chemical party you definitely don’t want to host. Oxidation begins immediately. By the time you notice bubbling paint or that tell-tale orange stain a few months later, the rust has already been eating away at your door panel from the inside out. Resale Value Takes a Nosedive For many people, maintaining their car is a valuable part of purchasing a new vehicle. When that day comes, curb appeal is everything. Used car buyers (and dealership appraisers) will judge your car by its exterior appearance. If they see a vehicle riddled with door dings, bumper scrapes, and ignored scratches, they see a car that wasn't cared for. They assume that if you didn't care enough to fix the outside, you probably didn't care about the rest of it either. It lowers the perceived value instantly. Maintaining your car’s body and its paint is an investment in your future trade-in value. Paint Damage Spreads Like a Virus When a dent or scrape compromises the integrity of the paint, the surrounding paint loses its grip. High-pressure car washes, wind, and temperature fluctuations cause the paint to flake away from the initial injury site. A scratch the size of a quarter can grow into a patch the size of a softball over a couple of seasons. It’s Easier (and Cheaper) Than You Think Here is the good news: fixing these things early is surprisingly affordable. Modern body shop technology is amazing. For many small dings where the paint isn't cracked, we can use techniques that massage the metal back into place without spraying a drop of paint. River North Collision Repair offers paintless dent repair in Chicago to fix minor dents. Regardless of what nicked your door, we can help remove the dents and maintain a seamless look for your vehicle. Don’t Wait for Problems Don't let minor dents turn into a big nightmare. Save your future self the headache (and the cash). Swing by River North Collision Repair for your quick and easy repairs. Because driving a car you’re proud of? That’s a feeling you can’t put a price on.