Did you know that car accidents cause over 38,000 deaths and 4.4 million severe injuries requiring medical treatment? Not all accidents can be prevented, but defensive driving can reduce your risk of colliding with someone else.
Check out these defensive driving tips and keep your family safer on the road.
Maintain Your Vehicle
Your vehicle drives more predictably and is easier to control when you keep it in good condition. Properly inflated tires give you better control in addition to providing a smoother ride and better gas mileage.
Handle regular maintenance, such as oil changes and fluid checks. This car care keeps your vehicle in good working condition and reduces the risk of you breaking down on the side of the road. Replacing your brakes also lets you be a defensive driver by stopping quickly.
If your check engine light comes on, have a mechanic look at the vehicle to diagnose and fix the issue. Learn what the different lights on your dashboard mean, so you know if you have a mechanical emergency that means you need to pull over to a safe area immediately.
Plan Ahead
Planning ahead and giving yourself plenty of time to get to your destination makes it easier to drive safely. When you’re running late, you’re likely to rush and might not pay attention to your surroundings.
Know how long the trip should take you and give yourself a little extra time. Check the weather conditions, especially on a longer drive, to know if you’ll need to adjust for poor driving conditions.
Having your route planned can also help you be a more defensive driver. You’ll feel more comfortable with where you’re going, and you’ll know which exits and roads you need to take. Instead of glancing at the GPS constantly or feeling stressed about not knowing where you’re going, you can relax and focus more on driving.
Control Your Speed
Safe driving is much easier when you’re driving the speed limit. Excessive speed gives you less time to stop, steer, or avoid obstructions in the road. Driving within the speed limit also makes it easier for you to see and observe traffic signs and lights.
If you’re speeding, you might have to slam on your brakes to avoid someone ahead of you who is going the speed limit. You might have to swerve to go around a slower vehicle. When you’re speeding, it’s tempting to weave in and out of traffic, which also decreases your safety.
Adjust for the Driving Conditions
Constantly assess the driving conditions to know when you need to make adjustments. Rain, snow, sleet, and other potentially slippery conditions mean you need to slow down more than normal and give yourself extra braking time.
It’s also best to turn off your cruise control in slippery or dangerous conditions. Using cruise control can increase your risk of hydroplaning, skidding, or spinning.
Avoid Distractions and Impairments
When you get behind the wheel, focus on driving safety. Adjust your air conditioning or heat, choose a radio station, and adjust your mirrors and seats before you start driving. Messing with those things while you drive takes your attention away from the road.
Keep your cell phone put away while you drive. If notifications tempt you to take a look, shut them off while you drive.
It’s also important to be in an alert, clear mental condition. Never drive after drinking, when you’re high, or when you’re excessively tired. It’s difficult to use defensive driver techniques when you’re impaired.
Watch Your Surroundings
Get in the habit of scanning your surroundings and being aware of what’s happening on all sides of your vehicle. Look down the road to see what’s happening ahead of you and what’s coming your direction in the other lane. Check your mirrors frequently to look for potential hazards behind you, such as a tailgater or an emergency vehicle.
Pay special attention when you’re approaching an intersection or making a turn. Even if you have the right of way, it’s important to check well before entering an intersection or a turn. If another driver fails to yield, you can stay safely out of harms way just by being alert and observant.
Slow Down Early
Don’t wait until the last minute to put on your brakes. Easing into your stop is gentler on your car and gives you more control. If you wait too long, you might need to brake hard or you might not have enough time to stop before hitting someone else.
Mind Your Space
Driving too close to another vehicle increases you’re chances of hitting the car. You might not have enough time to stop if the car ahead of you has to stop suddenly.
The common rule is the two-second rule, where you follow two seconds behind the car in front of you in good weather. This is only the minimum. Leaving more distance between yourself and other cars gives you additional time to slow down if traffic suddenly stops.
Control Your Emotions
You’re bound to have someone cut you off, tailgate you, or otherwise make you upset while you’re driving. Road rage makes you lose focus on defensive driver techniques. It can also escalate into a dangerous or deadly situation.
Learn to calm yourself when another driver upsets you on the road. Assume that it was just an innocent mistake on the part of the other driver and not something worth getting angry over.
Know How to Handle an Accident
Even as a defensive driver, you might find yourself in a car accident. Make sure everyone is safe and move your vehicle out of the roadway if possible. Call the police to report the accident and stay on the scene until the police arrive.
Seeking help from a lawyer such as a Chudleigh Law accident attorney can help you get a fair settlement when you’re in an accident. An attorney can negotiate with the insurance company and represent you in any legal proceedings.
Practice Defensive Driving
Using defensive driving techniques can keep you safer on the road. Being aware of your surroundings and taking it easy can help you stay in control.
Visit our archives for more content that helps you live a better life.
