If you suffer from a lack of confidence behind the wheel, driving on the road can make you feel nervous and scared. You may be constantly worrying that you’re going to run a red light or have a nasty accident.
It’s perfectly rational to be concerned about your safety while driving. There are more than 12 million vehicles involved in road traffic accidents every year in the United States, leading to around 38,000 deaths and 4.4 million injuries. It’s clear that there are risks, but the vast majority of these incidents are due to driver error, rather than unavoidable acts of God.
So what can you do to make yourself safer on the road? Perhaps you have just recently passed your test and want to give yourself a confidence boost before setting out on your own. Maybe you have young kids in tow and want to protect them at all costs. The last thing you want is to end up with a written-off vehicle, frantically Googling “vehicle accident attorney near me.”
Although you can’t do much about the large number of poor drivers on the road, you can increase your security by adopting a few techniques that will make you a better driver.
The following tips and tricks will help you to improve your awareness of the road around you, while making your car a lot safer for you and your passengers.
How To Handle A Road Accident The Right Way
No one ever wants to be in a road accident. But if you are, it’s essential to know how to handle the situation correctly. First and foremost, do not panic. Instead, remain calm and assess the situation. If anyone is injured, call for medical assistance immediately. If the accident is minor and there are no injuries, exchange insurance information with the other driver and file a police report. And, of course, always consult with an accident attorney to ensure you are taking care of everything properly and aren’t being taken advantage of.
Be aware of other road users
You could be the best driver in the world, but if another car suddenly pulls in front of you without signaling, you could still end up in a fender bender. It always pays to be vigilant about what other road users are doing, as it takes two bad drivers to cause an accident.
Look at the cars in front of and behind you and try to predict their behavior. Don’t expect that other drivers will always use their indicators, as many road users seem to see them as an optional function rather than an essential safety feature. If you see a car ahead stopped at a side junction, don’t assume they will wait for you to pass. Keep a watchful eye on them with your foot over the brake and be prepared in case they unexpectedly pull out. By always expecting the worst of other people, you will be much less likely to end up in a collision.
Avoid distractions
If you are unconfident while driving on a busy road, the last thing you need is distractions. If you have music blaring in your ears or you’re engrossed in an audiobook, you won’t be able to hear as well and you may not notice important events happening around you. Keep the radio to a low level if at all, and above all, avoid using phones at any cost. If you have to check directions or answer a crucial phone call, pull over in a safe space to do so.
Keep your distance
There is nothing more frustrating than when the car behind you is driving way too close. Not only is this an intrusion into your personal space, but it is also incredibly dangerous. If you had to stop suddenly, there’s a good chance you will be rear ended by the aforementioned vehicle. It goes without saying that you should keep a sufficient amount of distance between you and the car in front. Enough time that you can safely avoid them if they slam on the brakes. And if you are being tailgated by another vehicle, the best advice is not to speed up to get away from them, but actually to gradually slow down and let them pass when you can.
Watch out for vulnerable road users
As a car driver, you are less at risk than other more vulnerable road users like cyclists, horse riders, and motorbikes. These people are far more likely to be injured in an accident than you, so you should be especially careful when they are around. They are often harder to spot than a car, so keep checking your mirrors at regular intervals. When passing a bicycle or a horse, make sure you slow down and give plenty of space.
A common cause of injury to cyclists is car doors opening unexpectedly. If you’re parked on the road and need to open the street-facing door, it is recommended that you use a technique called The Dutch Reach. This involves opening the door with your left hand rather than the right, as it forces you to turn towards the door, and you’ll be more likely to spot an oncoming bike in your side mirror.
By following these tips, you will become a much better driver and ensure that you and other road users around you will be safe from harm.
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