Did you know every year, over 3 million people are injured in car accidents?
Whether you’ve just passed your driving test, or you’re a professional on the road, there are times when we all need to brush up on the basic tips for road safety.
Sometimes it is hard for us to admit that we’re not perfect drivers. But the fact is that nobody is perfect. When it comes to driving, you also need to factor the behaviors and habits of other drivers.
Following driving tips is essential and all drivers should regularly brush up and review their habits.
With that in mind, we’ve compiled the top ten driving tips for maintaining on the road safety.
1. Wear Your Seat Belt
According to the CDC, more than half of the people who died in car crashes in 2016 were not buckled into their seats. This staggering fact should be enough to make anyone fasten their seat belts.
Seat belts are effective. They prevent drivers and passengers from being plunged forward through the windshield in the event of a sudden crash.
Seat belts work by distributing the force from the crash across your pelvis and chest. These two areas of your body are some of the strongest and are most likely to safely withstand any impact.
Wearing a seat belt will make a huge difference to the outcome of a crash. It could be the difference between getting a few bruises and going through the windshield.
2. Obey the Speed Limit
You may be in a hurry to get to your destination and you may find speed limits to be an unnecessary frustration. However, speed limits are there for a purpose and they are there to protect you.
Lower speed limits are places where there are specific dangers. These might be heavily built-up areas where there will be lots of people moving around or areas of poor visibility.
Obeying the speed limit not only keeps yourself and other road users safe, but it can also mean that you will be able to avoid getting speeding tickets.
3. Don’t Drink and Drive
Every day 30 people die in drink driving-related accidents. That should be a pretty sobering statistic.
If you are tempted to drink before you drive, don’t do it. Even a small amount of alcohol in your blood can affect your ability to drive.
Alcohol can make you misjudge things, and it can make you overconfident. These two things combined are a recipe for disaster
4. Don’t Use Your Phone While Driving
You may only look away from your phone for a split second.
You may feel comfortable reading or replying to a text while keeping one eye on the road, but unless you are giving the road your full attention you are putting the lives of your passengers, other road users, pedestrians, and yourself at risk.
Distracted driving kills. Make sure that your phone remains out of your hands at all times.
If you need to take calls while driving, pair your phone to a Bluetooth device and go hands-free. If you need to find something out or send a message, use the voice search and AI assistant feature on your smartphone.
5. Check Your Blind Spot
You probably already know that you should check your mirror before you make any manoeuver. But did you know that you should also always glance over your shoulder too?
This is because there is an area near the back of your own car that won’t be visible in any of your vehicles. If a bike or motorcycle is in that space when you move, you could knock them over.
If you’re a motorcyclist, check out these motorcycle-specific road safety tips from Reasonover Law Firm.
6. Keep Your Car Well Maintained
You could be the safest driver in the world, but if you don’t look after essential aspects of your vehicle such as your tires or your brakes, then you’ll be likely to cause an accident.
Make sure that your tires are within the legal tread limits and that your brakes work well. Both of these affect your ability to stop safely
7. Keep Your Distance
Do you get frustrated when the car in front drives really slowly? If you can’t get to where you need to be fast enough, do you tend to drive close to the vehicle in front?
You cannot anticipate the hazards that are on the road ahead of the vehicle in front, and if you tailgate, then you’re drastically limiting your own stopping space. You will go headlong into that vehicle in front if they drop speed rapidly or stop.
Give yourself as much distance as possible, especially if they seem like a slow or nervous driver.
8. Change Your Driving Style to Suit the Weather
Do you drive the same way come sun, rain, or snow?
It’s essential that you understand the restrictions of your vehicle in different weather types and that you plan your journeys accordingly.
- Allow additional time to take safer routes and to drive slower
- Test your brakes after driving through puddles
- Check your tire pressure before leaving in poor weather
By considering how the weather affects the road, you’ll be able to keep yourself and other road users safe.
9. Use Your Headlights
Even in the daylight, there may be times when it’s hard to see your vehicle. This can lead to accidents occurring.
Using your headlights will help other road users see your car. It is always good practice to use them when visibility is not 100%.
10. Be Prepared
Even if you follow all of the other driving tips in this guide already, there is still a chance that you could be in an accident. Many other drivers have poor driving habits.
Lots of drivers are distracted by phones, they tailgate, don’t check their blind spots, or they drive under the influence.
Be prepared for the mistakes that other drivers make. By being alert to all potential dangers, you will be able to avoid being in an accident.
What Are Your Top Driving Tips?
It’s essential every driver follows these important driving tips. But there are plenty of other things that you could be doing to keep safe on the road too.
What are your top tips for driving safely?
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