Most people think road safety is basically about driving skill, but a lot of it actually comes down to preparation and awareness, and the more confident you feel behind the wheel, before you even start the engine, the safer you’ll be once you’re out on the road. With that in mind, keep reading for a handy practical guide to feeling safer on the road.
Photo by Samuele Errico Piccarini on Unsplash
Know Your Car Better
A surprising number of drivers don’t really understand their own car, but it’s going to help if you can know it better – but don’t worry, you don’t have to be a mechanic or an expert, you just need to know the basics. So how do your brakes usually feel? What do the warning lights mean? How do the tyres look when they’re properly inflated? Where are the main controls? Knowing this stuff means that when something’s not quite right, you’ll notice it sooner, and that can prevent much bigger problems, including accidents.
The best thing to do is take a weekly walk around of the car to help you spot things like low tyres, dim headlights, or anything else that’s a bit unusual. It’s only going to take a couple of minutes, but it could make a massive difference.
Give Yourself More Space
The truth is that most close calls on the road happen because someone felt rushed, which is never good. But when you give yourself a bit more distance between cars, or more time between appointments, and more room to react, you’re going to drive in a much safer way, and what might have been accidents turn into nothing at all.
When you’ve got a bit more space in your head and on the road, you’re going to feel more relaxed, and a relaxed driver is safer than a stressed one. So even if it means leaving five minutes earlier than you think you have to, it’s better to be safe than sorry.
Plan For The Unexpected
You don’t have to expect disaster when you’re driving, but it’s wise to know what to do if something goes wrong. For example, if you got a flat tyre, had a breakdown, ran out of fuel, or missed a turn, would you know what your next steps are? If you know what to do, that’s going to stop you panicking and start you acting, which is precisely that you need to do.
It’s a good idea to keep a basic kit in the car that includes a torch, water, a phone charger, warm layers, and your insurance and breakdown service details. And if you ever find yourself pulled over with a problem that means you can’t drive or it would be unsafe to try, it’s good to know a towing company you can call on for help.
What’s more, if you do not have everything your car needs to keep you safe you could cause injuries to yourself or others. There are so many accident attorneys out there helping people pursue compensation for their injuries because of car accidents we should all be more hypervigilant when we’re on the road anyway. This means good driving habits and remembering that the rate of accidents on the road tend to increase year on year, and because of more distracted drivers the one thing we can really do is make sure we are in the best possible position, which also means having a fine-tuned car.
Take Regular Breaks
Whether you’ve got a long drive ahead of you or a tiring day behind you, your energy and focus fade much faster than you might think, so pulling over for a few minutes to stretch, take some deer breaths, or to get a snack and a drink can help a lot. It’s a simple thing to do, but if it keeps you alert, it’s worth it. You and everyone else on the road will be safer that way.