Top 5 Safe Driving Techniques
When getting into a vehicle a person must understand that, under certain conditions, he or she may be putting themselves or others at risk. In order to eliminate or reduce these risks one must be a safe driver. To be a safe driver one must follow certain methods.
The first thing to do when attempting to be a safe driver is to avoid distractions. Distracted drivers are one of the main causes of car accidents. Do not engage is rubbernecking. Rubbernecking, or slowing down to see another accident, is one of the main causes of accidents in the category of “avoiding distractions”. Others include, paying attention to scenery, distractions from other passengers or children, adjusting the car stereo, and reading any kind of material. When you are driving, focus only on the road. Do not distract yourself by operating the stereo. Do not let other occupants distract you. Never read while driving. This includes text messages. Driver fatigue is another cause for concern as it accounts for 100,000 accidents every year in America. The greatest risk is between the hours of 11 PM and 8 AM. If you have to drive under these conditions it is good to take a break every two hours. Good ways to avoid fatigue also include getting a good night’s rest before driving on the road and sharing the responsibility of driving with other drivers in the car. It would go a long way to also check whether certain medications you are taking can cause drowsiness. Driving while intoxicated greatly increases the chance of an accident as well. Accidents caused from drunk driving are highly preventable. Avoid driving while intoxicated. Where available, use public transit or call a cab if you are too drunk to drive. Otherwise, have a designated driver you take you home if you are drunk. The speed at which you drive plays a major role in being a safe driver as well. The difference between driving 40 mph and 60 mph is an energy release that, in the event of an accident at the latter speed, is double that of the former speed. Speeding reduces the amount of time that you have in order to avoid a crash. It also may cause you to follow too closely to the vehicle in front of you which can also cause accidents.
It must be noted that one of the most important element of safe driving is one that will ensure your own life is protected. It is the seat belt. Studies have proven that wearing a seat belt greatly reduces mortality rates among people who are involved in an accident. Along with the tips mentioned above, a seatbelt can save your life.
