5 Tips For Staying Safe on the Road

in Automobiles

With over 1.35 million deaths per year, driving is one of the most dangerous forms of transportation. But that doesn’t mean you can’t be safe. Most car accidents occur as a result of careless driving or lack of concentration, and as long as you pay attention to the road and follow the rules, you can keep yourself safe behind the wheel.

If you’re a nervous driver and want a little more confidence in your car, here are five tips to avoid accidents and stay as safe as possible.

Avoid distractions

It’s very easy in this day and age to get distracted while driving. Most people use their phones for navigation and for playing music in the car, but it’s essential you don’t let these draw your attention from the road. Make sure you input your destination into your GPS and set up your music playlist before you set off. If you need to adjust anything mid-journey, find a safe space to pull over.

Keep your distance

One of the most common causes of accidents is tailgating, where one car drives too close to the vehicle in front, leaving little reaction time if they suddenly slam on the brakes. Make sure you keep your distance, allowing yourself plenty of time to stop. If you notice a car driving too close behind you, the best course of action is not to speed up and get away from them, but to ease up and let them fall back or overtake.

Check your eyesight

If you wear glasses or contact lenses, you need to be wearing them when driving. Even if you think your vision is fine without them, it’s still possible you misread a road sign or fail to see a car about to pull out. You don’t want to end up crashing into some armco barriers because you don’t like to wear your specs in public. Get your eyesight checked regularly to ensure you can always see well enough to drive.

Look ahead

When driving, you should not just look at what is currently happening, but should also try to anticipate what is about to happen. Be aware of the vehicles around you and what they might do. Is the car behind you about to overtake? Is the motorbike in front planning to turn left at the junction? Always look ahead but never assume a driver will act in a certain way. If a car is waiting to pull out of the junction ahead, don’t assume they will wait for you to go past. Being prepared for anything is the best way to look after yourself.

Follow the rules

The speed limits are there for a reason, and driving too fast is never acceptable. It doesn’t matter if you’re running late for work or want to beat the rush hour traffic, speeding puts your life and the lives of other drivers at risk. Always stick to the speed limit, signal when turning, and obey any road sign you see.

Following these five tips will help to protect you and your fellow road users when driving. Stay safe out there!


Image Credits: Ingo Joseph

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