When you get behind the wheel of your car, you take on the huge responsibility of helping to protect the safety of everyone on the road. The best way to stay safe out there is to practice defensive driving. In fact, defensive driving just may save your life. Before you take to the open road, take the time to go over these all-important defensive driving techniques.
Stay Alert to Your Surroundings
You don’t drive in a vacuum, so don’t fool yourself into believing that you do. Always take note of your surroundings as you drive, and carefully consider the traffic in front of you, the traffic that’s behind you, and the traffic in general. By continually scanning the driving conditions all around you, you’ll better prepare to adjust your driving to whatever the open road throws your way.
Follow at a Safe Distance
The golden rule of safe driving: Give yourself plenty of room. The more room you put between your vehicle and the one in front of you, the more time you’ll have to make important decisions related to safety, and the more distance you’ll have to stop your vehicle if the need arises. The faster your speed, the more distance you’ll need to allow. SmartMotorist.com promotes the three second rule (allow three seconds’ worth of time between you and the car ahead of you), and more for bad driving conditions.
Stick to the Speed Limit
Speeding is dangerous, but when you lallygag on the road, you get in the way of other drivers who stick with the flow of traffic. Part of being aware of your surroundings is keeping up, but don’t turn that into an excuse to speed. Speed limits exist for a reason—the safety of everyone on the road. Don’t forget that speed limits only apply to good driving conditions, and adjust your speed accordingly if you encounter bad situations, such as damaged roadways or inclement weather.
Don’t Drive Distracted
Driving while distracted has become a significant danger on our highways and byways. In fact, the U.S. government has devoted a website to this important safety topic. It defines distracted driving as driving when your attention focuses on anything other than the important task at hand—driving safely. As smartphones continue to integrate themselves ever further into our lives, distracted driving is on the rise. Don’t let distraction get the better of you—put down your phone and concentrate on arriving alive.
Be Seen out There
One thing you can do to stay out of the way of a reckless—and therefore dangerous—driver is to make yourself visible. Regularly check your car’s lights, including your headlights, taillights, brake lights, and blinkers. And use your blinkers correctly every single time.
If a Car Accident Injured You, Consult with Brauns Law Accident Injury Lawyers, PC Today
If another driver’s negligence injured you in a car accident, the experienced car accident attorneys at Brauns Law Accident Injury Lawyers, PC, in Duluth, Georgia, are here to help. We have the skill, knowledge, and dedication to help guide your claim toward just compensation. Please contact or call us at 404-418-8244 for a free consultation today.
