I am a pretty good driver. However, being able to drive doesn’t protect you from accidents.
Last weekend, I was involved in a three-car collision. I was rear-ended and pushed into the car in front of me. Due to the unexpected impact, my first response was to close my eyes and press hard on the breaks. Throughout this experience, I’ve learned that a car accident should not be your wake-up call.
Avoid Using Cellular Devices When Driving
The first step to practicing safe driving is to avoid distractions; in other words, don’t use your cell phone. I get it; it’s tempting not to check your messages or scroll on Instagram. With today’s technological advancements, vehicles have many features that make avoiding cell phones difficult. A great tip would be to place your phone in silent mode or turn off your notifications.
If you need to use your phone as a GPS, try placing it on a mount. This can assist you in keeping your eyes on the road. If there is anything urgent that you need to take care of, try pulling over to the side of the road instead of trying to multitask.
Avoid Speeding
This is the trickiest rule, not because it’s tempting but because it’s easy to do. Remember, speeding puts you at risk and endangers other drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists on the road. By driving at a safe and appropriate speed, you can help keep everyone around you safe. Here are tips to slow down your speed:
- Plan ahead: Make sure you leave enough time to get to your destination to feel free of rush or temptation to speed.
- Leave early: If you know that you tend to speed when running late, try to leave a little earlier to give yourself plenty of time to get to your destination without feeling rushed.
- Be mindful of your surroundings: Pay attention to the traffic flow and adjust your speed accordingly. If you’re in a congested area, slow down to avoid collisions.
Always Wear Your Seatbelt
Wearing your seatbelt is one of the essential safety measures when driving. In a crash, a seatbelt can prevent you from being ejected from the vehicle, which is among the leading cause of death. Seatbelts distribute the impact force and reduce the risk of injury or death.
A seatbelt can also help to distribute the force of the impact across your body, reducing the risk of injury or death. This is because the seatbelt spreads the force of the impact across your chest and hips, which are some of the most vital parts of your body.
In addition, wearing a seatbelt can prevent you from colliding with the steering wheel, dashboard, or windshield, which can cause severe injuries to your head, face, and neck. It prevents you from being thrown out of the car in the event of a collision, one of the leading causes of fatalities in accidents.
Practice Makes Perfect
Practicing safe and defensive driving is essential for the safety of yourself, your passengers, and other road users. It only takes a split second of distraction, speeding, or not wearing a seatbelt to cause a serious accident. Safe driving should always be a top priority, and by practicing safe driving measures consistently, we can make our roads safer for everyone.
Remember, arriving at your destination safely is always more important than getting there quickly.
