Whenever you are getting behind the wheel of a car alone or with friends or family members, your top priority must always be to drive safely. In this modern age, we are more distracted than ever. It has become so important for us to know the basic rules of safety and how to follow them on the road the right way to avoid accidents. More than six million road accidents happen every in the United States, and around six percent of these accidents result in a person’s death. This is a very high number, and it indicates that around ninety people die in road accidents every day in America. You know you have to be careful whenever you hit the road when more than 16,000 accidents are bound to happen every day in the country.
A lot of road accidents happen when a person is being careless and is not following the right safety tips while driving. This is something one can control, and by following the right tips and precautionary measures, one can avoid getting into such accidents. However, sometimes even when you are extremely careful and follow all the rules, you can still end up in an accident because of someone else’s fault. That is why one must always be aware of their surroundings while driving and keep an eye on other drivers. Focusing on your own driving skills will keep you safe, but it will keep you safer if you can also study other vehicles around you. Driving on the motorway and big roads can be tricky, but by following the right safety tips and all the rules, you can minimize your chances of an accident to the lowest. In this article, I have given you a complete guide that will help you drive safely on motorways and traffic. Let’s take a look:
Never Get Behind the Wheel When Drunk
Let’s begin with one of the most well-known and important rules of driving. You must never ever drive if you are under the influence of alcohol or any other substance. If you are getting behind the wheel drunk, you are bound to make mistakes on the road. Even when you are a little drunk and are still feeling in control, things might not be as clear as it may seem to you. Most people make no big deal of driving when they are only a little drunk, but it can be quite dangerous. So, it is recommended even if you are a bit drunk; you should prefer Uber over driving. It might cost you a little bit of fare but save you a lot of money that you might have to spend if you end up in a road accident. You should also keep in mind that you will be charged with a DUI offense if you get caught driving drunk. You could be taken into police custody as well, and you will have to pay a hefty fine to get out. You will also need to hire a lawyer who does not have great experience in DUI law but is also practicing in your area. For example, if you are from Los Angeles, you must hire a Los Angeles DUI Lawyer. So it is recommended that if you do not want to get caught in court proceedings, you must avoid drunk driving at all costs.
Never Cross the Speed Limit
One mistake a lot of drivers make is that they do not look for the speed limit signs and drive as they drive within a speed that they enjoy. This is something that a driver should not take lightly. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the chances of an accident increase dramatically with every mile you cross above the speed limit. More than 30% of fatalities are speed-related crashes every year. This is a sad statistic because following the speed limit is not difficult at all, and if every driver was responsible with speed limits, a lot fewer road accidents would occur. That is why you must always look out for speed signs and understand the dangers of speeding. Also, try going a few miles below the speed limit to stay even safer.
Minimize Distractions
Back in the day, the only distraction you had in the car was either a talking friend or family member or an old radio. But today, with smart cars and smart technologies, we have so many distractions inside our cars that sometimes it can be hard to focus on the road. It is highly recommended that you take care of everything that distracts you before you start driving. For example, if you are addicted to your phone, you must put it on silent before driving, so it does not cause any distractions. Similarly, if you are driving with friends and they are causing a lot of noise that is distracting, you must confront them so that you can focus on the road. You should also never eat or put on makeup while driving. It is understandable that time is of the essence in the fast-paced world, but to put your life at risk for it is not worth it.
Always Buckle Up
Another simple and basic driving rule a lot of people do not follow is putting on the seat belt. It does not matter if wearing a seat belt makes you a tiny bit uncomfortable. It is for your safety and can save you from deadly injuries in case of an accident. It would be best if you made it a rule for yourself that you would not turn on the ignition until you have put your seatbelt on. That way, you will never be able to forget it and will stay safe. If you are traveling with a companion, you must ensure that they are putting their seat belt as well. Around 50% of fatalities in road accidents are the ones who were not wearing their seat belts.
Stay Cautious in Hazardous Driving Conditions
You should not just focus on your driving skills and the vehicles around you, but you must also focus on the conditions. Conditions like fog, snow, rain, frozen roads all of them can be very dangerous, and you will have to drive very carefully in these situations. You should always drive below the speed limit in such conditions and must keep a good distance from the vehicle in front and behind you. Also, you should turn very carefully and slowly in these conditions as the vehicle can slip easily. If there is a lot of fog, you must drive at the minimum speed because you and the other drivers would not be able to see much, and it is always better to go slow. You should also turn on the emergency lights so the vehicle behind you can easily spot you despite the fog and can keep their distance.
Say No to Tailgating
Keeping your distance from the car in front of you can help you avoid a lot of accidents. When you have extra space between you and the other vehicle, it gives you time to react, and you can push your brakes in time to avoid a collision. If you are barely leaving any distance between the cars, you would not be able to react quickly if the driver in front makes a mistake. You should follow the three seconds rule and practice it with a stationary object. Once you get a hold of it, you will be able to avoid tailgating and will always stay away at a decent distance from the car ahead. This small practice can help you avoid plenty of minor and major accidents.
Pay Attention to Drivers around You
As mentioned earlier, one must be aware of their surroundings while driving and pay attention to how the drivers around them behave. You can easily judge someone who is not driving correctly and is breaking the rules. If that is the case, you do not have to school him with moral policing. All you have to do is keep your distance from them so that their mistake doesn’t cost you anything. If someone is driving rashly and changing lanes again and again, then you might want to put a good distance between you and them. You can also consider parking your car on the side of the road for a few minutes so that you would not have to deal with their rash driving.
Take Good Care of Your Vehicle
This may be the last tip on the list, but it is also an important one. If you want to say safe on the road, then you should keep your vehicle in good shape. You should keep it clean and service it regularly. Take it to the mechanic regularly so he can identify small problems that could save you a lot of hassle. A well-maintained vehicle is a lot less likely to break down in the middle of the road, and that can save you from some serious accidents. So, do not be lazy with the maintenance of your vehicle.
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