6 General Safety Tips While Driving

Following these 6 safety tips while driving can keep you and your loved ones safe and keep you on good terms with your insurance provider! They may seem logical, but obviously they’re not followed day by day. You can’t control what the cars around you do, but you can be ready for whatever comes your way!

Buckle Up!

It is not only the law, but it can save your life! 65% of people who suffered serious injuries from car accidents were not wearing seat belts. Also make sure your children are using necessary car seats and booster seats as well as seat belts. If your kids are moving around it can be a big distraction to you as a driver.

Stay Alert!

You should constantly be aware of your surroundings. So many things around you can cause you to crash so you should always be on your toes. Whether it is a pedestrian, animal, or other car you should be free from distractions in order to notice these things and take necessary action before you harm yourself or others. Avoid talking on your cell phone, putting on make up, or eating food.

Obey the speed limit!

Many people think that speed limits are just suggestions and it only really matters if there is a cop around to pull you over. However, speed limits are put in place for a reason. Certain areas are prone to accidents and cause slower travel. It is much easier to make a sudden stop if you are going the directed speed limit than it would be if you were going say 15 over. Optotraffic has started putting into place speed detectors that use lasers to detect your speed and cameras to catch you in the act. They’ve been highly successful and have seriously reduced accidents in certain areas as well as speeders. Now you can get a ticket even if an officer isn’t in sight so slow down!

Make smart choices!

Many accidents happen because of dumb driving. Take necessary precautions like using your blinker when turning and changing lanes. Give yourself plenty of room between you and surrounding cars because you never know what could happen. When stopping at a stop sign spell out the word stop in your head. S-T-O-P gives you plenty of time to fully stop and prevent collisions. And very importantly, a yellow light means slow down and clear the intersection, not speed up and try to beat the red light!

Don’t drink and drive!

30% of accident related deaths happened when alcohol was involved. Even if you are not considered drunk, alcohol can cause you to be sleepy and less aware of your surroundings.

Have your car serviced regularly!

Have your oil changed every 3 months or 3000 miles. Check tire pressure regularly to avoid punctures. Have a safety car kit in your vehicle at all times in case of emergencies.

Janae is a road safety advocate who writes about driving tips, road safety, and dealing with dangers on the road. She enjoys reading the Optotraffic Blog to learn more about their speed cameras’ safety benefits.

Related articles

• New Child Seat Guidelines Announced March 2011 (allenandallen.com)
• Summer Heat Car Prep for the Procrastinator (supergreencar.com)
• Top 10 Most Dangerous Driving Habits (totallytop10.com)

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Posted by Cherrell Tarantino on August 11, 2011. Filed under Auto, Health, The List. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry