Most people would consider themselves safe drivers but as we get older and more comfortable with driving we tend to forget some of the more basic rules of the road. Here are 10 tips to remember when driving to help keep yourself and others safe.
- Don’t drink and drive: Even if you have had only a couple of drinks and are still within the legal blood alcohol limit, your reaction time and coordination may be reduced. If you plan on drinking, have a designated driver or call a cab if you are too inebriated to drive home.
- Don’t speed: Follow the posted speed limits. The time you save by speeding on the average trip around town will only be a couple of minutes but the risk of getting into an accident can increase by as much as 50%.
- Avoid distractions: Distractions include using cell phones, texting, eating, or applying makeup while driving. Those things are best done before or after driving. Always keep your eyes on the road and your hands on the wheel.
- Don’t drive while tired: If you’re feeling tired, ask a friend to drive or pull off at the next exit to catch a few hours of sleep. Continue driving only when you feel more refreshed and alert.
- Buckle up: Even in low speed crashes, people can still receive head injuries and broken bones by hitting the side or dash. In high speed accidents, unbuckled people have been known to go through windshields and sustain serious injuries or death as the result.
- Be cautious in bad weather: When visibility becomes low from rain, snow, or fog, you should turn on your lights and slow down to put more space between yourself and the car ahead. If the weather worsens, just pull off to the side of the road and wait it out.
- Don’t follow too closely: Following too closely will reduce your reaction time if the car in front of you makes a sudden turn or stop. Follow the 3 second rule. When the car in front passes by a stationary object, count out the seconds until you pass by the same object. If the number is less than three, you are too close and should back off. Increase the number of seconds in bad weather.
- Be aware of other drivers: You may be a very safe driver but others might not, so always check your mirrors and sides to see how other people are driving. Don’t just focus on what’s in front of you but look ahead 50-100 yards down the road.
- Be a defensive driver: Defensive driving includes things that have already been listed, like not speeding and keeping a safe distance. Staying calm in frustrating situations is important as becoming emotional will cause you to drive more aggressively and increase your risk of an accident.
- Maintain your vehicle: Regularly checking things like your car’s tire pressure and brakes can greatly reduce your chances of getting into an accident.
Follow these 10 tips and you will do your part to keep the roads safe.