While every accident isn’t avoidable, you can curb your risk as a driver by maintaining a vigilant eye on the road. Look through these tips for being a more responsible driver to learn how to improve your habits both on and off the road for a safer driving experience.
Maintain Your Vehicle
Just like you, your car needs routine check-ups to keep working in optimal condition. It would help if you never waited past the due date for an oil change or tire rotation. Also, if you notice any new and unusual sounds or vibrations, don’t hesitate to get them looked at by a mechanic. With routine attention, you can catch minor issues before they grow into a problem bad enough to cause a breakdown. Not to mention, the better care you take of your car, the longer it will last, and you won’t need to waste your money getting a new vehicle every few years.
Remove Distractions
Between your cell phone, radio, passengers, and the new touch screen tablets in vehicles, there are more distractions than ever to drivers. As a driver, you must learn to manage these distractions because every second you have your eyes off the road is a second when you won’t be able to react to the vehicles around you. On rainy days or during heavy traffic, even turning down your radio will help you focus on the difficult task at hand.
Don’t Drink and Drive
The most significant distraction you can create for yourself as a driver is trying to operate a vehicle when impaired. Your vision and depth perception will be warped, but more importantly, your decision-making skills won’t be at the level necessary to operate a multi-ton vehicle safely. Calling a cab or relying on a sober friend might be slightly inconvenient, but it can save lives. When you drink and drive, you don’t just risk the lives of those in your vehicle; everyone on the road at the same time as you is in danger of being hurt by your recklessness.
Prepare for Emergencies
You never know when an accident, breakdown, or tire puncture will happen, so you should always be prepared. This is why you should keep a spare tire, jumper cables, and the necessary repair tools in your vehicle at all times.
Also, when road conditions are especially hazardous in January and February, you’ll want to keep a winter road trip safety kit in your vehicle to help you survive the cold weather. On cold nights when you have a breakdown, you don’t just have to worry about repairing your car—you must have the tools at your disposal to keep warm in freezing weather.
With these tips for being a more responsible driver, you can take a look at your habits and make the necessary adjustments to ensure your safety.
