The road can be a dangerous place if proper precautions are not taken while driving.
Every driver has a moral obligation to consider not only his safety but also the safety of others on the road.
Given below are the tips to prevent road accidents and drive safely.
1. Don’t Get Distracted
Your eyes should always be on the road when you drive. Engaging in any other activity even if it demands only little attention will compromise your safety.
Some of the common ways drivers get distracted are by talking on the phone, eating, texting, or even focusing too much on the navigation system.
Eliminate all distractions and give your full attention to the road.
2. Stick To The Speed Limit
Speed limits are not merely a suggestion to the driver, they must be strictly followed. Speeding is one of the leading causes of road accidents and it kills thousands of people every year.
Your vehicle is harder to control at a higher speed and the impact of the crash is more severe.
Different roads have different speed limits depending upon the traffic density and road conditions.
3. Don’t Drive Rashly
Rash driving affects both you and other drivers on the road. Even if you see other drivers break the speed limit or overtake you suddenly, make sure you stay in control and don’t take out your anger by driving rashly.
It can result in severe consequences like property damage, death, and long legal battles with the injured party. Huge vehicles like buses and trucks should be extra careful when dealing with rash drivers.
If your truck has been involved in any kind of accident, truck crash lawyers can help you recover property and financial losses.
4. Avoid Driving In Bad Weather Conditions
Unless it is an absolute emergency, driving should be avoided in bad weather conditions like heavy rain, fog and snow. Wet roads are very dangerous and can reduce the friction between the ground and the vehicle’s tyres causing it to skid and lose control.
A foggy windshield can significantly reduce your field of vision. If you have to drive, take important precautions.
Drive slower than usual and keep a good distance behind the vehicle in front of you.
5. Don’t Drink And Drive
Even small amounts of alcohol can rob you of complete focus and control while driving.
A drunken state will lower your coordination skills and you will take more time to react to unexpected obstacles.
Drinking and driving has long term consequences like high fines, suspension of your driver’s license and you might even end up in jail.
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6. Avoid Driving If You Are Unqualified
Passing your learner’s test doesn’t qualify you for driving on the road unsupervised. Don’t drive on highways and other busy roads immediately after you get your driver’s license.
Get a proper driving education from a qualified driving instructor instead of learning from your friend or any other unqualified person.
Practice on less busy roads first and then shift to busier ones under the supervision of an instructor.
7. Maintain Your Vehicle Regularly
Poor vehicle maintenance can cause your vehicle to break down unexpectedly or lead to other issues like failure of brakes.
Some maintenance issues which are commonly ignored include cracked windshields, worn out brake pads, faulty headlights and worn out tyres.
Make sure you follow a proper maintenance schedule for your vehicle and perform repairs and replacements when necessary.
8. Avoid Driving At Night
It is best to keep off the road at night due to compromised vision and extra fatigue.
However if you do drive, make sure to be extra careful and take appropriate breaks between drives. Test all your vehicle’s lights before you start and make sure they work properly.
9. Stop Tailgating
Tailgating puts your vehicle at a great risk for crashing. If the driver in front of you stops suddenly because of an unexpected obstacle, you will have very less time to react.
This can lead to a rear end collision and you will be held responsible for it. Maintain a good 3 second gap between your vehicle and the one in front of you.
10. Wear Your Seatbelt
This is a very simple but important thing you should never neglect.
Seatbelts significantly reduce the severity of injuries if you do get involved in an accident. They will also prevent you from being thrown out of the vehicle in severe impacts.
More than a million people lose their lives every year due to road accidents and unsafe driving is a major cause. By keeping the above points in mind you can significantly decrease your chances of getting involved in an accident. These 10 tips on how to prevent road accidents will help you to drive safely on roads.