7 Tips to Ensure Your Safety While Driving
Driving a car allows you to get to and from work and do daily errands. It also gives you the freedom to see our beautiful country and to enjoy the good things in life. However, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there were almost 41,000 deaths due to motor vehicle accidents in 2023 alone. Review these tips for safe driving to reduce your car accident risk.
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1. Wear a Seat Belt
Wearing a seatbelt should be a reflex action for any driver. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, over 50% of deaths from traffic accidents occur with people who weren’t using their seat belts. That statistic becomes even scarier for younger victims; 70% of those who died in a motor vehicle crash weren’t wearing a seat belt.
2. Don’t Drive Under the Influence
The CDC states that more than 18 million drivers admitted to having driven while using drugs or alcohol in 2020, with close to 1,300,000 of those drivers being underage. Commit yourself and your passengers to never getting behind the wheel of a car when you have had too much to drink. According to Nationwide, alcohol makes your reflexes slower and dulls your mental sharpness enough to impair your ability to drive your vehicle safely; even “buzzed” driving can be as risky as drunk driving.
3. Stay Alert Behind the Wheel
Being tired can be dangerous to your ability to drive safely. For example, driver fatigue is the cause of about 30% of all commercial truck accidents. We Save Lives reports that drowsy driving can be as dangerous as drunk driving. If you recognize that you’re feeling sleepy, protect yourself and pull into a safe place.
4. Maintain a Safe Speed
Road Warrior states that increasing your crosstown speed by 10% will save you only a few minutes but raise your risk of a car accident by 50%. Plus, for each mile per hour you drive, your risk of an accident is 4-5% higher. A road’s speed limits take the terrain and its predicted traffic pattern into consideration. If you need to be someplace quickly, the safest thing to do is to leave early.
5. Keep a Safe Distance
There are many reasons you might need to stop your car unexpectedly. According to Road Warrior, you should keep a three-second distance between you and the vehicle in front of you; double that distance if you’re driving in bad weather. Driving too close is called tailgating, and it’s not worth the risk.
6. Be Cautious During Bad Weather
When the weather is terrible, follow all the regular drivers’ precautions and take them to their highest degree. Always use headlights when your wipers are in use. If you can’t see the road ahead of you, pull over to the side of the road. Your speed in a storm may need to be slower, but it’s better to arrive late than not to arrive at all.
7. Set Your Radio and GPS Before You Start
Statista reports that the market for navigational devices and services was worth $1.87 million in 2023. If you don’t have a GPS, treat yourself to one. Set your GPS before you leave so you don’t have to fiddle with it on the road. To avoid another preventable distraction, set your radio station or connected music from your phone before you pull away.
Once you get behind the wheel, your goal should always be to get yourself and your family to your next destination. Obey basic safety regulations, use your seat belt, and don’t drive if you can’t give it 100% of your attention. Here’s hoping all your rides will be safe ones!
