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4 Driving Tips On How To Improve Your Safety While On The Road

Looking to improve your safety while on the road? Check out these four helpful driving tips!

Today, there are more vehicles on the road than ever before but also a very high number of traffic accidents. Technological advancements have helped bring numbers down but statistics show that most car crashes are the result of human errors, which lead to great trauma, stress, expenses, and serious injuries.

For this reason, every motorist must understand their role in traffic, obey rules, and practice safe driving behaviors. Whether you are about to take your driver’s license or you have been behind the wheel for years, it’s always necessary to keep the basic safe driving rules in mind. Not to mention knowing what to do if anything should happen!

Many factors such as inappropriate maintenance of vehicles, poor infrastructure, and disregard for traffic rules contribute to car accidents.

Below we offer 4 driving tips on how to improve your safety while on the road and keep your passengers and other traffic participants unharmed.

Ensure Regular Vehicle Maintenance

Buying a quality car is one of the biggest investments you’ll make in your life but it’s just as important to keep it well-maintained. Keeping your car clean is not the only thing you should do. Before you hit the road, you should ensure it’s in a good road-worthy condition by taking it to a specialized mechanic workshop.

The more it’s being used, you contribute to its wear and tear and since a car is a depreciating asset, which means it loses its value over time, as a responsible car owner, you must make sure it gets all the care it deserves with an original part and proper equipment used.

If you’re a person who operates heavier vehicles such as trucks, besides regularly checking that your brakes and tires are functioning properly, you must also check all truck lights and see if they’re installed and working correctly at all times. Since you will likely drive in all kinds of challenging weather conditions, to make sure you are visible, place a remote control spotlight for trucks and get extra 360-degrees light that you can conveniently command through a controller.

Always keep in mind that as the truck driver, it’s your responsibility to have functioning truck lights and keep your vehicle visible on the road. This will definitely help you improve your safety while on the road.

Use the Three-Second Rule

The three-second rule is a way of judging that you have enough distance to the vehicle in front of you.

Select a point, such as a road sign or a road post. From the moment the vehicle in front of you has passed this mark, you start counting seconds. If you pass the mark before 3 seconds, you’re driving too close and should increase the distance.

You must keep enough distance from the car in front. You then have time to brake in time and can avoid a collision with the driver in the car in front of hits the brakes.

A recommendation is to increase the time to a minimum of ten seconds if heavy rain is present or the road is icy and too slippery.

Avoid Distractions

It’s very important to always stay alert on the road and try to avoid distractions like texting or talking on your phone. If you notice that you’re getting distracted, the smartest thing to do is have a break and pull over, stretch your legs and get some fresh air before setting off again.

Always pay attention to your surrounding and remember to be extra cautious while driving at night as it tends to be less visible and the time it takes for you to react might be slower than during the day. You might also want to ensure your headlights are aligned for maximum visibility and keep a safe distance from other vehicles on the road.

Always act responsibly and don’t consume any alcohol when driving a car. Even a little amount of alcohol can affect your driving, impair your judgment and reduce your attention span. Therefore, if you’re going out for drinks, plan ahead and arrange for someone to pick you up or call a cab.

Keep Your Cool

A car gives many people a sense of empowerment and invincibility which can get to their heads. This is how incidents of road rage and physical altercations happen.  

When another driver on the road makes you feel disrespected, you should do your best to stay calm and focus on driving. Keep your cool and avoid confrontation and if someone’s behavior on the road is aggressive and dangerous, you can report them to the appropriate authority.

Final Thoughts on How to Improve Your Safety While On the Road

Owning a car isn’t just about having the luxury to drive whenever and wherever you want to go. You must stay responsible, maintain the vehicle and make sure to practice the above-listed tips, and keep yourself, your passengers, and everyone else on the road safe.