Safe Driving Tips Everyone Should Know

Nearly 1.35 million people die globally from road accidents each year. An additional 20 to 50 million suffer from long-term disabilities resulting from injuries from accidents on the road.

Driving is a privilege that might be taken away from you if you’re unable to maintain safety on the road. Whether you’re driving alone or you have passengers, safety should be your main priority.

It doesn’t matter whether you’ve been driving for less than a year or so many years now, accidents can happen to anyone. Here are some safe driving tips that every rider should know:

Eyes on the Road

We have more distractions now than ever before. We've got our smartphones constantly sending notifications, and too often, our minds are filled with racing thoughts of our various responsibilities.

In 2019, it was reported that distracted driving was a factor in 8.5% of fatal car crashes in the United States. Now, that number may appear a small percentage but translate that into an actual number, and you've got thousands of lives killed.

Focus on the task at hand. Don't let your phone, radio, or kids in the backseat distract you from driving. Actively pay attention to your driving as well as the vehicles around you.

Take Good Care of Your Car

Ensuring that your car is in good condition is essential to staying safe on the road.

Find a car that has a high safety rating and routinely check your car, particularly the wheels, engine, fluids, and brakes.

If you’re always traveling and tackling off-road courses, consider installing a bigger set of wheels and tires. Custom wheels offer improved handling and stopping power, making it safer and more secure when you're cruising the highways.

Don't forget to maintain your lights. Routinely inspect your taillights, headlights, and turn signals. Remember to care for your wiper blades, too. Visibility is essential for driving safely. Regularly inspect for cracks, stiffness, tears, and other signs of wearing. Replace as necessary.

Don’t Rush

Did you know that going beyond the average speed of 1 km/h increases a vehicle's crash rate by three percent?

Speed is identified by the WHO as a major risk factor for road traffic injuries. The higher the speed of a vehicle, the shorter the time a driver has to stop to avoid a crash.

Here are ways you can manage and control your vehicle speed, according to the WHO:

Be mindful of your speed.
Decrease your traveling speed by 1km/h. This leads to a 2-3% reduction in road crashes.
Consider the weather conditions, traffic volume, course of the road, and warning signs. In these cases, driving at or near the 40mph speed limit may not be appropriate.

Forget About Your Phone

Here are some heart-wrenching statistics:

People who text while driving are six times more likely to cause an accident than driving drunk
A quarter of car accidents in the U.S. are caused by text messaging while driving
Texting while driving causes 390,000 injuries per year

When driving, forget that you have a phone, and keep your eyes on the road. If possible, set up an auto-responder on your phone to let people know that you’re driving and will get back to them when you can.

Put your phone on silent so you won’t be distracted by phone notifications.

Be Cautious of Other Motorists

A comprehensive study of road safety identifies human error as the major cause of 57% of all road accidents, and a contributing factor to 90% of accidents.

Therefore, never assume that the drivers around you are doing what they’re supposed to do. As humans, we have limited information processing abilities. Not everyone knows how to respond properly when a speedy car suddenly appears in front of him or how to properly or what to do when their car brake fails.

This is why experts always advise motorists to drive defensively. Pay close attention to the vehicles within your driving range. Assume that others will do something wrong and be prepared to respond appropriately.

You also want to make sure you have adequate insurance coverage, because unfortunately, not everyone has insurance. Although there is required car insurance in nearly every state, some people still choose to be uninsured drivers, and that can cause big trouble for you in an accident.

Practice Basic Safety Measures

What’s the first thing you do when you get inside your car?

Buckle your seatbelt. Because if you don’t, you are 30 times more likely to be ejected from your car during a car crash. Seat belts are simple tools that save thousands of lives each year, so make sure you are wearing one.

If you have passengers, remind them to buckle up before you go. Children below 8 years should be seated in their respective car seats. Note that a car seat can save a child from dying from a car accident by 71%.

Newer car models have more safety features such as the brake assist, forward-collision warning (FCW), pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking (AEB), etc.

Be a Good Citizen

As a driver, you carry such a big responsibility to your passengers and to other people who are also using the road. Make sure you follow traffic rules all the time.

Some of the basic traffic rules drivers should follow are:

Drive at a safe speed and within the speed limit
Maintain a safe distance from the vehicle in front of you
Do not cut off other vehicles. Don't change lanes unless needed
Do not stop or park on the expressway
Leave passing lanes open
Don’t drive when you’re drunk or intoxicated
Don’t run a red light

Get Enough Sleep and Rest before You Drive

Driver fatigue is another major cause of road accidents.

It's important to think about how tired you are before driving. If you're going for a long ride, make sure you get enough sleep the night before. Where possible, avoid driving between midnight and early morning when your body naturally wants to sleep.

While driving, take regular breaks. If you start to feel tired or experience extreme exhaustion, pull over somewhere safe and take a 15-20 minute nap.

Lastly, make sure you are not hungry, mad, or extremely stressed when driving. It can be hard to focus when you are feeling all these unwanted emotions.

You only have one life. Make sure you observe these safe driving measures to get to your destination safe and sound every single time.

_________________________________________________

Author’s BIO

Nathan Barnes is a managing editor at BlaqueDiamond. He became a car enthusiast at the age of four, when his father taught him the difference between Chevy and Ford. In 2012 Nathan put his knowledge in practice and started reporting on cars, races, and the auto industry on different social media platforms. Currently, he’s a happy owner of a 1967 Alfa Romeo and a Lancer GSR and a person who still has lots of topics to cover.