Regardless of the years of experience, you have had on the road it’s no doubt that you are likely to forget some important road safety tips.
Some drivers ignore the safety tips, which cost them a lot.
It doesn’t hurt to follow the road’s traffic rules and safety tips. After all, they are meant to make your stay on the road safer and more accessible.
Let’s see some safety tips and rules that even experienced drivers forget.
1. Buckling Up
Even the most experienced drivers forget to have their seat belts on.
As a driver, you should build a habit of buckling up immediately when you get on your car seat, even when you are covering the shortest distance.
Gradually the habit will build up, and you will always find yourself buckling up when in the car.
According to NHTSA, 47% of people who have died in accidents did not have their seatbelts.
Remember that having an airbag is not enough to protect you from an accident. A seat belt will help reduce the force that comes with the airbag.
When you are not buckled up, you are violating the seat belt law, and you will earn a traffic ticket that will lead you to a court fine.
2. Observing Speed Limits
If you are an experienced driver, you may feel the speed limits are too restricting and be tempted to use your speed.
When over speeding, you put your life in danger and the lives of others. Avoid the last-minute rush to your destination by starting your journey some minutes earlier.
Some road conditions such as poorly lit areas, bad weather, and a road under repair are reasons why you shouldn’t speed.
Speeding also reduces the ability to see what is happening around you and your stop time to avoid clashing with other cars.
Additionally, you get to save your gas when you slow down, which means you will save your money.
3. Going for Car Inspection
Some people assume that there is no need for inspection because their car is functioning well.
You need to give your car a visual inspection by going around your car and checking whether its parts are in shape.
At this point, you will notice any scratched or rusting part and plan on a repaint. You will get to know the state of your wheels, their air pressure, or the wearing-out treads.
Run your car engine and check underneath to see if there is any leaking fluid and if there is a problem, call your mechanic to help.
Remember to adhere to the New York Vehicle Inspection Program rules to avoid landing in trouble with the authorities.
If the problems in your car are fixed early enough, they will cost you less.
4. Tailgating
You can always notice when a driver is trying to tailgate you by stealing a glance at your rearview mirrors. It’s one of the causes of rear-end collisions.
People with aggressive driving behavior are likely to tailgate others. They want to change lanes every moment, honking at others for no reason and speeding.
Young people are the primary culprits of tailgating.
Another group of people feels they are too important and don’t want to stay on the road and wait. They take every chance to rush, which is risky and can cause accidents.
You may not be able to change the behavior of tailgaters, and trying to teach them a lesson is dangerous too.
If you see someone trying to tailgate, avoid keeping eye contact with them; if the next lane is clear, move, and leave the lane for them.
Drive in the correct speed limit and avoid too low speed, which may trigger the drivers behind you to tailgate.
5. Avoiding Distractions
Distracted driving leads to several accidents every year. The minute you get your eyes off the road, there is the likelihood of a collision to occur.
The mobile phone has topped the list of distractions that drivers fall for.
Many people are caught between trying to reply to a text message, answering a call, or checking what’s up to date on the internet.
If the call is urgent or you must reply to the message, consider getting off the road and attending to it before getting back to your journey.
Other distractions include eating, too much music, and having a passenger who is so chatty.
Keep focus while you are on the wheel for safer driving.
6. Road Signs Adherence
As drivers get used to the roads, they will tend to ignore the signs in the neighborhood, especially if the road is not busy or there is nobody at the intersection.
Even when you are alone on the road, you never know if another car or motorist can show up at this time.
The stop sign is commonly ignored where a person chooses to slow down or not almost stop instead of making a complete stop.
A reminder: failing to make a complete stop is against the traffic rules, and you will earn a traffic ticket if you dare violate the rule.
The red lights are also there to ensure that you stop whenever required; I am sure you are not ready to be arraigned in court for something you can avoid.
People who run when the red lights are on have caused many deaths.
According to the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety, in 2019 alone, 846 people died due to accidents caused by red-light runners leaving another 143000 people injured.
Take a Defensive Driving Course
You never know who is on the road, and the road is full of aggressive drivers with different behaviors.
It’s safer to enroll in a defensive driving course that will equip you with more important road safety tips, especially when driving on a highway.
Here, you will learn how to look for a way out if someone is tailgating and act if you can tell there is a risk of collision approaching.
If you feel you are not ready to get back on the road, consider a refresher course at our driving school, and you will be more than ready again.
Final Word
When it comes to driving and the roads, nobody is perfect. We are all doing our best and trying as much as we can to avoid anything that can lead to an accident. Let’s take care and check our driving environment. Don’t feel superior to others if you have more years of experience.
It’s time you get ready for a defensive driving course for a better experience on the road.