With global car sales expected to grow to over 71 million vehicles in 2021, up from 63 million units in 2020, the fact remains that due to heavy traffic conjunction, it’s now more difficult than ever to drive peacefully on the roads, particularly in city roads.
Unless you’re fortunate enough to live right on a subway stop, you’re probably one of the millions of Americans who drive to work, school, or errands regularly.
As a matter of fact, do you know that the average American spends over 100 minutes behind the wheel each day?
The thing with driving is that when you’re first learning how to drive, you get all kinds of instructions and tips about the safest position for your hands on the driving wheel or how to adequately adjust your speed when driving in rainy weather.
But once we get used to driving, people tend to forget some of that helpful advice and develop their own driving habits.
So unless you stick with the primary driving methods, you may run into uncomfortable driving situations that you were never prepared for.
With car crashes being a significant cause of stress, injury, and expenses, it’s always crucial to ensure that you’re driving as safely as possible. So here’s our list of three safety tips you should live by to keep yourself out of trouble on the road.
Don’t Use Your Smartphone While You’re Driving
When you’re the one who’s behind the wheel, your primary concern must be the road. With that in mind, don’t use your smartphone while driving or put yourself in a position where you need to take a look at the screen. Instead, turn on your phone’s Bluetooth so that you can take any critical calls while driving through your hearing device.
Or, if you’re using your smartphone for directions, turn on the audio navigation. This will save you from continuously looking at a tiny map and figuring out where you’re at and where you need to go from there.
Keeping your eyes on the road means avoiding potential car accidents caused by you or someone else on the road.
Nevertheless, regardless of how carefully and peacefully you drive, car accidents that result in injuries and property damage are a somewhat frequent occurrence in today’s world. For that reason, if you ever find yourself in such a situation, remember to stay calm and check yourself and other passengers for injuries.
Afterward, call the police to get your police crash report and contact a local attorney to protect your rights and help you claim your insurance compensation.
For instance, if the accident happened in Riverside County, CA, you’ll need to speak to a Riverside personal injury attorney to uncover whether you’re entitled to a cash settlement or else.
Always Keep A Safe Distance
Keeping a safe distance from other vehicles on the road is crucial for staying out of trouble. By keeping this safe space, you make it less likely that you will rear-end the car in front of you or that you’d get rear-ended by the driver behind you.
When you’re behind the wheel, you want to keep enough space so that you’ll have time to respond if the driver in front of you unexpectedly slams on the brakes.
When you’re waiting at a red light, leave enough space in front of you in case someone behind you doesn’t notice that you’ve stopped and plowed into you. The space in front of you could mean that you can avoid hitting a vehicle after you get hit.
Check The Weather Before Long Drives
The small step of constantly checking the weather conditions before lengthy drives can go a long way regarding your safety on the road. Not only will it help you avoid road delays, but it can also help you get your car and yourself ready for the trip.
Just like you need climbing boots when you go for a hike, you’ll need sunglasses for driving into the sunset or different things for your car under other weather conditions.
A snowy winter in the Midwest? You’ll definitely need to put snow tires on your car. Summertime in Florida? You’ll need to get one of those windshield protectors to keep your vehicle from turning into an oven while it sits in the parking.
And, of course, if it’s stormy outside, make sure to always drive slowly and keep alert.
Final Words
Never forget that the choices you make when you’re driving can have significant consequences. So always be prepared, whether that’s for a fender bender or a rainstorm, avoid using your phone while driving, and keep a safe distance from other vehicles. In the end, a calm, prepared, focused driver is the best driver.
