By following a few rules of the road, you can easily avoid a fender-bender or a major accident. When on the road, focus on driving and the surroundings. By getting distracted, or driving under any influence, you’re risking your own life, the lives of any passengers, and the lives of individuals within your surroundings.
You’re not only endangering lives, but you’re incurring costs that can be avoided. The cost of car repair, medical expenses, repairing damaged property, and any legal costs could have been avoided. According to Driving Tests, speed-related crashes cost Americans $40.4 billion each year. Be mindful of the finance involved and drive safely.
Avoid Driving Under the Influence
This is one of the most disastrous things you could do. Driving under the influence will undoubtedly hamper your judgment. Your reaction time will also be compromised. For drivers, the legal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit is 0.08%. If you’re having trouble focusing or seeing double, avoid getting behind the wheel at all costs. Hire an Uber or get a designated responsible driver beforehand. A few drinks aren’t worth risking life or limb, whether it’s yours or someone else’s.
Observe Rules
Always be sure to observe all traffic rules, no matter how ‘minor’ they seem. Follow the speed limit, always indicate before turning, and stop at red lights. Be mindful of pedestrians and cyclists, and slow down or stop at zebra crossings. Ignoring a simple traffic rule can result in an unwanted incident. Also, don’t assume the others on the road will also be following the rules. Keep your distance and be alert. If you do end up having an accident, regardless of who is at fault then it’s vital to have a Tampa motorcycle attorney (or one in the area you live) who will be there to help you gather the evidence, and make sure everything is documented properly.
Be Wary in Bad Weather
Some weather conditions such as heavy rain, fog, and even snow can be awful to drive in. Visibility is reduced, the roads are slippery, and most drivers would be frustrated. Keep a long distance between you and the vehicle in front, drive slowly, and switch on your fog lights. If you don’t need to be on the road, wait a while for the conditions to ease up.
Maintain your Vehicle
Ensure your car is roadworthy. The tires should be inflated to the correct level, the lights, especially the brake lights, should be working, and the brakes must be in optimal condition. Ignoring any dashboard lights could result in a mishap. Also, ensure there is plenty of windscreen wiper fluid. Don’t wait for the next car service to fix certain things. When you fuel your car, you can have the tire pressure and the engine oil level checked.
Avoid Distractions
The mobile phone is a major culprit when it comes to distractions while driving. The temptation to answer calls and reply to messages, and even munch on something, is too high for some. Even in places such as a car park, where it appears safe to talk or type, fender-benders can still occur. The NSC reported that 66% of drivers would make phone calls while driving through parking lots. Use the phone only when the car is at a standstill in a safe place.
Keep Calm
It’s easy to get annoyed when a reckless driver cuts you off, or a slow driver is in the fast lane. Keep your emotions under control, especially in these kinds of situations. Speeding past them and yelling will cause you to be reckless. On the other hand, if you encounter someone who has road rage, keep your distance, do not engage with them, and get yourself out of the way.
Follow the rules, and be attentive, observant, and focused when you’re on the road. Remain calm in adverse situations. Ensure your vehicle is roadworthy. Never make assumptions about what the driver in front or behind you will do. Strive to maintain a safe distance from the car in front. Don’t put yourself in a situation where individuals can get injured, or even worse, die.
