All petrol heads reach a stage in life where you need to slow down and be more responsible. More often than not, this comes when you have a child on the way. Your days of speeding around and having fun are over; it’s time to be a safe driver.
While the following tips are aimed at people who are looking to drive safer for their family, you can apply them to any situation. Basically, if you want to be a better and more responsible driver, these are the tips you need:
Limit your distractions
Distracted driving is extremely dangerous and causes hundreds of accidents every single year. In a car, many distractions can present themselves. Typically, this includes your phone, food, and so on. Never text and drive, never call someone while you’re driving, and don’t even think about eating. All of these things take your eyes off the road, and that’s all it takes to cause an accident. The best advice is to keep your phone on the backseat and maybe connect it via Bluetooth. If someone tries to contact you, they will only call if it is desperate. A Bluetooth system is hands-free, so you can use it while still keeping your focus on the roads. Still, talking on the phone isn’t ideal, so hang up unless it’s an emergency. Or, pull over and take the call.
Never drive if you’ve been drinking
It’s not something you’ll willingly admit to, but I’d wager most of you have driven after drinking alcohol. You weren’t drunk, but you still drove home after a few drinks in the bar. This is obviously not a very safe thing to do at all. Never ever do this. You become a danger to yourself and everyone else on the roads. If you get caught, you’ll need a really good DUI attorney to avoid a massive fine, points on your license, and possibly even a spell in prison. It’s not worth the risk – call a cab or take the train home instead.
Keep up with regular maintenance
Maintaining your car can make you a safer driver. How? Well, let’s look at your tires. If you have worn down tires, you end up with less control over your car. You don’t grip the road as effectively, which means you can easily end up in an accident. The same goes for not checking your brakes or keeping your engine oiled – you put your car at risk of problems. To be a safe driver, you must maintain your car and keep it in perfect condition. This makes it easier to drive and minimizes risks on the road.
Follow the rules of the road
Of course, you must follow the rules of the road to be a safe driver. Avoid excessive speeding, don’t try and overtake people all the time, and follow the highway code. It’s not rocket science, but how many of you can honestly say you obey all the rules?!
Being a safe driver isn’t that difficult. But, it can be hard to make this transition if you’re used to being a bit reckless and free. Hopefully, these tips set you on the right path.
