8 Safe Driving Tips That Will Keep You Accident-Free
As a driver, you must learn safe driving habits to avoid accidents on the roads. As you operate behind the wheels, remember that the safety of many road users depends on you. The safety of your passengers and pedestrians depends on you.
However, as a new driver, you might be struggling to drive safely. Here are some safe driving tips you should always consider.
1. Stay Away from Your Cell Phone
Using your mobile phone is dangerous when driving. It has been one of the major causes of accidents in the United States, and that’s why you need to put it away from you when driving.
There is no doubt that we’re in the mobile world and advanced technology. You might get tempted to use your phone to see what is happening.
However, every time you text or call while driving, you’re highly distracted. Distracted driving is a major contributor to road accidents. It is not worth the risk, which means you need to put your phone away.
2. Change Your Drive Time
Most accidents happen during peak hours. There is no doubt that every driver on the road is very alert. However, the number of cars on the road makes accidents inevitable.
There is a feeling that everyone is in a rush to get somewhere. This buildup of many vehicles on a rash can easily lead to accidents. It has been established that a huge number of accidents happen in the evening rush.
Therefore, it would be important to avoid driving during peak hours. However, you might not have the luxury of choosing when to drive. In such scenarios, you need to be super alert.
3. Avoid Over-Speeding
The first lesson you will learn in any driving school has everything to do with speed. You’re not supposed to drive your car at very high speeds. However, this is a commonly ignored lesson by many drivers.
A large number of accidents are directed related to over-speeding. When you’re moving at high speed, you don’t have sufficient control of the car. A slight error can lead to a fatal accident.
You should always drive your car at a moderate speed. This is the only way you will be able to control the vehicle in case anything happens. It is always essential to adhere to assigned speed limits.
4. Avoid Being Aggressive
There will always be aggressive drivers on the road. There is no doubt that they will annoy you as you drive. However, the prevalence of aggressive drivers is not a justification for you to be aggressive.
You should make sure that you adhere to the necessary safety rules on the road to avoid some possible accidents. An aggressive driver is an emotional person.
To be a safe driver, you should make sure that your emotions don’t control your reactions. You should avoid darting between lanes. Carelessly changing lanes can easily confuse other drivers leading to an accident. Moreover, one can learn defensive driving in Austin which can save lives, time and money despite road conditions and the actions of others.
5. Follow Road Signs
Every driver is expected to follow all the road signs to the letter. However, not every driver is focused on following such road signs.
Some drivers do not even know the meaning of various road signs. As a licensed driver, you should understand every road sign you come across. Reading and understanding all the road signs is considered defensive driving.
Some drivers have a comprehensive understanding of all the road signs. Unfortunately, others want to ignore these instructions. Avoid rushing on the intersection to beat the lights.
6. Don’t Tailgate
Tailgating is another leading cause of accidents. Driving too closely to the guy in front is a potential hazard. You need to keep some distance.
As a rule of thumb, you should keep a distance of at least 4 seconds from the car ahead. This will help you to respond in case something happens. Tailgating causes road accidents due to instant braking.
Some drivers are likely to be too close behind you. You should let them pass and keep some safe distance.
7. Get Enough Sleep
As a driver, you should never underestimate the benefits of a good night’s sleep. Good drivers should sleep for at least eight hours. Unfortunately, less than 40% of drivers sleep less than six hours.
These drivers are likely to start dozing behind the wheel, which is a serious offense on the road. If the police get you dozing, there is no doubt you will be serving time.
However, police may not get you in most cases. This does not mean that you will be getting away with a criminal offense. You might end up in a serious road accident that changes your life or kills other road users.
That is why you need to get enough sleep at night. If you’re driving for long distances, you need to get another driver to take charge as you sleep.
8. Don’t Drink and Drive
Drunk driving is a leading cause of road fatalities. It has remained a major cause for death in the country for more than five decades. Data show that drink driving makes up 40% of the 40,000 fatalities each year.
If you know you will be getting behind the wheel, you need to stay away from alcohol. Some people have a myth that taking coffee or getting fresh air will bring alcohol levels down. These practices will not make any difference to your alcohol levels, and the best thing is to avoid drinking driving.
If you’re involved in an auto accident resulting from these causes, you’ll need legal help. Visit kemprugegreen.com/ for more information.
Maximize on the Safe Driving Tips
To have an accident-free driving career, you need to make use of these safe driving tips. However, if you’re involved in an accident caused by another car, you need to contact a car accident lawyer. An experienced accident attorney will help you handle ensuing lawsuits.
