No one can predict road mishaps. Most of the time, drivers, especially those who have been driving for a long time, think that they could outmaneuver the road perils lurking around. Drivers become complacent with traffic rules and road signs because they believe that they are skilled enough to get away with these.
Because of this driver complacency, road accidents have become a trivial part of everyday road management. In the US alone, road fatalities account to 37,000 deaths in 2015 and early period of 2016. Needless to say, there are various ways to employ safer driving.
While they are taken for granted sometimes, it is advisable that all drivers must familiarize themselves with these ways regularly just to make sure that safety is achieved 100%. To start off, here are five ways to promote safer driving.
1. Don’t drive when intoxicated with alcohol.
Annually, 30% of all road fatalities are because of drunk driving. Alcohol causes reduced reaction time and coordination. Intoxication also blurs instinct and shadows sharp decision making. At a more intense level, alcohol also makes the driver experience double vision and even unconsciousness. Getting caught at 0.08 will give you jail experience. When you can’t get away with alcohol, you may ask a sober friend to drive you home or just take a cab.
2. Avoid unnecessary over speeding.
Time and time again, road signs teach us that speed kills. And it does when done unnecessarily. According to researchers, every mile driven at top speed increases accident chances by four to five percent. Always take your time and observe set speed limits. Make your average driving speed in highways at 20-40 mph only. Stop thinking that over speeding will allow you to beat the time. The correct way to save minutes and be early on your routine and activities is proper time management and not over speeding.
3. Keep your eyes off distractions.
One of the most prevalent driving distractions would be the use of cellphones. As such, almost all US states have enacted laws which ban the use of mobile phones while driving. Studies illustrate that taking a call or texting while driving also reduces reaction time by 20%. But it isn’t just cellphones that should be considered as distractions. Also take into account eating while driving, fiddling with other electronic gadgets, applying making up and all others.
4. Wear your seatbelt.
Seatbelts promote safer driving in a basic yet greatly beneficial manner. You must make it a habit to wear your seatbelt after turning the ignition on. Seatbelts save lives by preventing your from being flushed off the car or window after a road collision. Driving-wise, seatbelts also help you maneuver better by keeping you grounded on the pressure of the clutch, brakes and the steering wheel. Regardless if you are driving at 40, 60 or 80 and above, do not forget to buckle up.
5. Do not follow too close.
Always keep a safe distance with the car ahead you. You must always remember that it takes enough time to respond if the car before you suddenly turns or stops. This will not be possible if you follow too close. Follow the three-second rule. You just have to simply wait for three seconds after the car ahead of you accelerates. You may even extend it to six seconds if you want to.
For safer driving, it is best to follow simple road signs and rules. As the cliché goes, an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure. You can always delay the inevitable by putting up with these five ways to promote safer driving.