For many of us, hopping into the car and driving to work is so routine, we barely think about it.
It’s a daily habit we can probably do in our sleep (but please don’t!). It has become so mundane that many forget the tiny steps we need to take to keep us safe on the road.
In this post, let’s look into often overlooked ways we can keep safe on the road with defensive and smart driving techniques.
Remember, a mistake on the road can have devastating consequences so take these tips to heart.
Have a good idea of where you are going
With a lot of navigation apps and cars with built-in GPS, it’s easy to hop on a car without knowing where you are going.
After all the apps on our phone or dashboard computers in every car can navigate our every turn.
For extra safety, if you’re going to a place you’ve never driven to before, it’s important to take a few minutes to study your map before you hit the road.
Having a general idea of where you are headed can really boost your confidence when driving and help you make snappy decisions when needed.
Don’t be left hanging when your phone or on-board GPS goes haywire!
Obey speed limits
Speed limits are carefully set to prevent accidents and keep everyone on the road safe. While it can be tempting to just floor the accelerator on an empty street, the risk to life and limb IS NOT WORTH IT.
Speed limits are determined not by guesswork but by a lot of analysis and statistics. When authorities set speed limits, they are actually decreasing the number of accident-prone areas.
To make it easy to obey speed limits and traffic rules in general, you can make it a habit to leave early.
Leaving early means your driving doesn’t have to feel like a race against time and you won’t feel like speed limits are working against you.
Stop drowsy driving
Sleepy? Don’t drive.
Yawning, struggling to keep your eyes open, drifting from your lane, and having a hard time remembering things or making decisions are all signs that you’re too tired or to sleepy to still be behind the wheel.
The best fix is to find a place where you can nap for 30 minutes or so. This shouldn’t be a problem if you left early or don’t have anything coming up.
Being sleepy behind the wheel isn’t just about having a bad night’s sleep, driving before dawn, or being in the road late at night. If you’re coming from a day at the beach or the park, sitting in the car after a tiring day will definitely leave you sleepy.
If you have somewhere to be, remember your safety is more important than the occasional tardiness. Better be safe than not make it at all!
Review Your Basic Car Safety
Just quickly remember the following fundamental tips for care safety:
- Use turn signals
- Wear seatbelts
- Turn your lights on in heavy rain or low visibility conditions
- Don’t go out unnecessarily during inclement weather
- Learn to let go; road rage will help no one
Keep your car in road-worthy condition
Going to a car shop isn’t always easy. It takes up your precious time and there’s the actual cost of the work that needs to be done.
A properly maintained vehicle is road-worthy and safer versus one that has missed several mechanic check-ups already.
In a dive into 2005-2007 data by the U.S. Department of Transportation, they discovered that 44,000 vehicular accidents were caused by faulty vehicles. Issues with tires, wheels, and brakes accounted for over 25,000 of the incidents.
With tools like EverDrive from AI Parts, drivers will soon have a more data-driven look into their vehicle’s condition.
Using advanced predictive models for wear and tear, the platform from AI Parts can make it easier for you to be more intuitive in maintaining your car. With EverDrive, you will know what and when parts will need to be replaced.
We hope you had a long good look at the items on the list. Every good driver knows that above all, his or her safety, along with the passengers, and everyone sharing the road is the most important thing of all.
On your next long trip and as you return to your “normal” routines as lockdowns start to ease up, be sure to keep these tips in mind.
