Apart from physical injuries, car accidents can also affect the victim’s mental state and lead to financial problems. Following driving rules can prevent a lot of accidents.
Whether you have been driving for years or if you are a new driver, forming particular behaviors will significantly lower your chance of an accident. These five tips will help you stay safe on the road and prevent car accidents.
1. Stay Focused and Avoid Distractions
Distracted driving is one of the primary causes of traffic accidents. Any activity—eating, checking your phone, changing the radio—that takes your attention away from the road is dangerous. It is rather important to keep both hands on the wheel and concentrate only on driving. This will help you react faster and enable you to see possible risks.
Remember that car accidents can occur even if you momentarily turn away from the road. You are more likely to see changes in traffic, road signs, and people walking while you are totally concentrated on driving. This awareness helps you to have more time to act, lowering your risk of mistakes.
2. Obey the Speed Limit
One of the main causes of car accidents is speeding, since it makes it more difficult to avoid things that come out of the blue. Furthermore, the severity of accidents increases when overspeeding is involved. Always abide by the speed limit, especially in places where things might change quickly, like residential areas, building zones, and educational districts.
Slow down in bad weather, say when it rains or snows. Slower driving enables you to maintain control of your car, whether the roads are wet or visibility is limited. Keeping a safe speed allows you time to react to other drivers and possible road hazards.
3. Keep a Safe Distance
A common cause of rear-end collisions is tailgating, that is, closely following another car. Maintaining a safe distance between your car and the one in front of it will help to prevent these types of collisions. Think of the “three-second rule.” You should leave a three-second distance between yourself and the car ahead of you.
Should the weather be bad, widen this distance to allow slower stopping times. Maintaining a safe distance lets you have time to respond should the car in front of you stop suddenly. This little habit not only lessens your chance of accidents but also facilitates more comfortable and smooth driving.
4. Use Your Mirrors and Check Blind Spots
While many people only use their rearview mirrors when merging or changing lanes, failing to check your blind spots can be rather dangerous. Blind spots are areas around your car not seen through your mirrors. One might easily ignore a motorcyclist or get into the blind spot of a truck. So, always check over your shoulder before changing lanes to avoid blind spot-related accidents.
Also, confirm that your mirrors are adjusted as they should. The side mirrors should let you view some of your car as well as the lanes adjacent to you. Frequent mirror and blind spot checks will help you stay aware of your surroundings and stop side collisions.
5. Be Extra Cautious at Intersections
Intersections are prone to car accidents, especially in cases when drivers misjudge the behavior of other drivers or ignore traffic signals. Even with the right of way, approach an intersection carefully and be ready to stop. Before proceeding, be sure you can see both sides. Look for drivers who might be failing to yield or running red lights.
Use your turn signals well ahead of time to let other drivers know your intended action at crossroads. This gives them time to change their speed and helps to avoid abrupt stopping. One can avoid collisions at intersections by being careful.