When you’re on the road, defensive driving is key. You never know what the other drivers around you might do, so it’s important to always be prepared. Here are six things you should know about defensive driving.
1. Get Familiar With Your Vehicle’s Safety Features
Since you never know when an accident might happen, it’s important to get familiar with your vehicle’s safety features and how to use them. Most new vehicles come equipped with airbags, which can help protect you from injuries caused by impact or whiplash. You need to be familiar with all the circumstances if you ever need to hire an Edmond truck accident attorney. In some cases, all of these circumstances can even reduce your risk of death in a severe collision.
If you have children, teach them about proper seat belt usage and correct seating positions. This will ensure they’re protected as well should an accident occur. Cars fitted with side-curtain airbags can provide further protection for passengers seated next to a window during a side-impact collision.
Seatbelts
Besides protecting you in case of an accident, seat belts can also help reduce your risk of injury during sudden stops by keeping you securely in place so you don’t go flying around your car’s interior. Just be sure to buckle up whether you’re driving on a short trip or a cross-country road trip. According to Safer America, drivers and passengers who fail to buckle up are 40 times more likely to be killed in a crash compared with their belt-wearing counterparts.
2. Always Pay Attention to the People Around You
You never know what other drivers might do, so you must always pay attention. Here are a few things you should be aware of. Tailgating is dangerous because it makes it difficult for the driver ahead to know if there’s something up ahead and also increases the risk of rear-end collisions. If another vehicle is following too closely behind you, slow down and let them pass as soon as possible. You can also flash your headlights or tap on your horn lightly to let them know they need to back off. Avoid braking suddenly or speeding up, which could cause a collision with the car behind you.
3. Be Aware of Your Surroundings
Driving requires your full attention, so you must be always aware of your surroundings. Make sure to slow down when turning corners, even if they don’t appear to be on the road. Also, make sure you look both ways before proceeding through an intersection since pedestrians can come out of nowhere at any time. Since motorcycles are smaller and more difficult to see than other vehicles on the road, you must stay alert for them as well. Never tailgate or pass another vehicle too closely because it could end up being a motorcycle instead. If you spot one up ahead, leave some extra room between you and it.
4. Keep Your Car in Good Condition
The better shape your car is in, the safer you’re likely to be on the road. Make sure your headlights, brake lights, turn signals, hazard lights and taillights are working properly at all times so you can get around safely no matter what time of day or night it might be. Also, ensure that your windshield wipers work properly during a sudden downpour since being able to see clearly can help prevent collisions. If one of your tires is low on air, fill it up as soon as possible because driving with underinflated tires takes a toll on both your fuel economy and traction control system – two things you don’t want bad on you when there’s inclement weather on the horizon.
5. Get Educated About Driving Laws
Driving laws are different depending on where you are, so make sure you know them before stepping behind the wheel. For instance, in some areas, it’s illegal to talk on a handheld phone or text while driving, but in most places, all this is allowed unless otherwise posted. If you’re unsure about what is and isn’t allowed where you live, check with your local department of motor vehicles for more information. Also, be mindful that state-specific rules might apply during inclement weather conditions – especially when traveling across state lines or into another country. This can include requirements that drivers have winter tires installed whenever temperatures drop below a certain point or if snowfall totals reach a certain threshold.
6. Be Conscious of the Environment You’re Driving In
Driving in a place where it’s easy to lose control can increase your risk of getting into an accident, which is why you need to watch out for things like rain and snow whenever possible. At night or during inclement weather, drivers sometimes have trouble seeing where they’re going, especially if roads aren’t properly lit, which means it takes longer to stop when needed. If you’re not sure whether it’s safe to drive in a given area at a particular time of day, consider finding an alternate route instead until conditions improve.
Driving is a dangerous activity that should be done carefully at all times. By keeping these six things in mind, you’ll be able to sleep better at night knowing you did everything you could for your safety.
