Did you know that 1.3 million people die in car accidents every year?
When you get behind the wheel of a car, it’s impossible to predict what’s going to happen. This is especially vital when your family is in the car with you.
While you can’t control other drivers, you can control yourself. Staying vigilant and making better driving decisions can prevent car accidents and more. And these rules extend to everyone — no matter how long you’ve been driving.
Do you need safe driving advice? Here are 8 driving safe tips that everyone should know.
1. Don’t Speed
Do you enjoy the occasional joy ride every now and then? Not speeding is one of the most important pieces of responsible driving advice for a reason. While this may seem harmless, speeding has been a problem for more than two decades. In fact, speeding has been involved in one-third of all vehicle fatalities.
No matter where you’re driving, pay attention to the speed limit signs posted. If you can’t find them, keep up with the flow of traffic. Don’t drive too fast but you also shouldn’t drive too slowly, since this will also increase the risk of a car accident. On the interstate, you shouldn’t drive faster than 70 MPH and avoid driving in the left lane (fast lane) as much as possible.
2. Don’t Drink and Drive
Sure, it may seem like common sense, but more people break this rule than you think. And because of this, drunk driving is still a massive problem. On average, drunk driving kills 28 people a day in the U.S.
Why is drunk driving so fatal? When you drink, alcohol impairs many of your basic motor functions which can cause you to lose control of your vehicle.
What if you’re attending an event or going anywhere where you expect to drink? Try and make good decisions. Don’t drive; take an Uber, Lyft, or a taxi instead. If you don’t want to spend the money, see if you can get a ride from someone who isn’t drinking that night.
If you’re out with your family, don’t drink. Drinking and driving with kids in your vehicle can result in dire consequences.
3. Avoid Driving in Bad Weather
We may not think a little rain can cause that much damage, but it can when you’re driving. Your visibility decreases when you’re driving in bad weather conditions, such as snow, fog, bad winds, and strong rain.
Try to avoid driving in these conditions. Reschedule your plans. If you’re already on the road, pull over until the weather clears up.
There are times when you and your family will have to drive under these conditions. If this is the case, make sure to drive slowly. Use caution when driving around curves in the road and always stay a good distance away from the car in front of you, no matter what.
4. Wear Your Seatbelt
Do you want to know how to drive safely? If there’s one thing you should take from this article it’s this one golden rule: always wear your seatbelt.
You and your family should always wear your seatbelts, no excuses. Studies show that seatbelts do save lives.
When driving, immediately put on your seatbelt. Make sure everyone in the car is wearing their seatbelt, no matter how slow you’re driving or if you’re only driving down the street. Modern cars now have alarms when someone isn’t wearing their seatbelt, so you’ll always know if a passenger isn’t buckled in.
5. Maintain Your Vehicle
When we talk about how to drive responsibly, vehicle maintenance is something that usually gets overlooked.
Accidents don’t always occur as a result of bad driving decisions. Your vehicle could also be to blame. Whether you get a flat tire or your engine fails on the road, your vehicle could suffer some serious consequences at the worst time.
What’s the best way to prevent a disaster on the road? Maintain your vehicle. Change the oil regularly and keep your tires filled with air. Take your car in for maintenance with a professional, especially if your car is old. Keep your car filled with gas and know when to call gas or diesel delivery when your tank is empty.
6. Be a Defensive Driver
There will always be aggressive drivers on the road. Unfortunately, no one can do anything about them.
The best way to keep you and your family safe is by being a defensive driver. Always stay a safe distance away from other drivers. Don’t speed or move in and out of lanes. If there is an aggressive driver on the road, always yield to them.
Try to stay calm and patient while driving. It can be difficult when there’s heavy traffic and you’re running late. Doing so will keep you and your family safe, preventing an accident.
7. Don’t Drive When Tired
Did you know drowsy driving is just as dangerous as drunk driving? But drowsy driving is extremely common, especially when going on road trips or any other long-distance drive.
Drowsy driving is defined as driving while sleepy or fatigued. This typically happens when the driver didn’t get enough sleep, is driving long distances, worked long hours, or is on medications that cause drowsiness.
The last thing you want is to fall asleep behind the wheel of your car. Don’t drive unless you got plenty of sleep. If you’re on any medication that causes drowsiness, make it a point to not drive.
8. Limit Distractions
Distractions are all too common when you drive. You want to change the song you’re listening to, will likely get phone calls, you’re trying to eat quickly, are putting on makeup, or maybe there’s an interesting billboard you want to read. Driving with kids is distracting enough as it is; they may try to talk to you and will try to get your attention in other ways.
Make sure you stay focused on your driving, no matter what is trying to take your attention away. If your kids are distracting, put on calming music and tell them to behave. Try to not let your emotions get the best of you, even when your kids are getting on your nerves.
Use These Driving Safe Tips to Be a Better Driver
These driving safe tips could save lives. Hopefully, our safe driving guide helped you. Continue reading our blog for more car information, facts, and more.