Caution is required when driving to protect yourself from accidents. Doing so will ensure that you don’t end up becoming a car accident statistic. To further ensure your safety, we’ve provided five tips that you need to follow.
These tips are put together to ensure you don’t end up with the common injuries sustained after a car accident. Let’s jump right into it.
Maintain Focus and Avoid Distractions
One of the major causes of accidents is distracted driving. Let’s give you a statistic to back this up. According to Forbes, at least nine people in the United States of America die daily as a result of distracted driving. To avoid being part of this statistic, always maintain focus and avoid distractions. Below are some things you can do to maintain focus while driving:
- Keep your Phone Away: Do not text, call, or use your phone for any reason while driving. If you must talk to someone, use a hands-free device.
- Do not Multitask: You shouldn’t combine any other activities, such as interacting with your passengers, eating, or tuning the radio while driving. Keep your eyes and mind on the road.
- Remain Alert: Do not drive if you are sleepy or tired, as this can impair your judgment and reaction time. If you feel sleepy, take a short nap by the side of the road, if allowed. Alternatively, allow someone else to drive.
Follow Speed Limits and Adjust According to Conditions
Another common cause of accidents is speeding. You can read this article to find out the number of people who died as a result of speeding in 2022. When you go beyond the speed limit, it becomes difficult for you to adjust to sudden traffic changes or road conditions. To avoid accidents, do the following:
- Follow Speed Limits: Do not drive above the official speed limit of every zone. These limits are put in place to protect every road user, including yourself.
- Adjust for Weather: Sometimes, the weather might make driving hazardous. Drive sensibly in such conditions by slowing down and creating a distance between the vehicles in front of you. Doing so will give you enough time to react to any changes in traffic.
- Think About the Flow of Traffic: What this entails is that when driving in heavy traffic, pay attention to your surroundings and always give room between your car and other cars.
Maintain a Safe Following Distance
Following the car too closely often leads to rear-end collisions. You can avoid this collision by doing the following:
- Follow the Three-Second Rule: The three-second rule demands that you keep a distance of about three seconds behind the vehicle ahead of you. If the weather is poor or the traffic is heavy, increase the distance some more.
- Be Predictable: You can do this by always giving signals to other commuters when you are changing lanes or turning.
- Don’t drive aggressively: Let other drivers pass you if they look to be in a hurry.
Regular Vehicle Maintenance
When your vehicle is functioning optimally, it’s less likely to have a breakdown that can cause accidents. So, you need to maintain your vehicle regularly by checking the brakes, tyres, signals, lights, etc.
Drive Defensively
One more thing you need to do is drive defensively. What this means is that you are keeping tabs on the potential hazards around you and how to react accordingly. Therefore, you need to stay aware of your surroundings. Pay attention to the vehicles, potential obstacles, and pedestrians around you.
You should also anticipate the actions of others. Following traffic laws and avoiding risky behaviour are additional actions you can take to drive defensively.