Safe driving is not only important for the safety of yourself and other passengers in your vehicle, but with ever-increasing insurance prices, an accident could result in a significant increase in your car insurance premium.
For many of us, bad driving habits quickly build after passing the driving test and become part of our daily driving routine. These bad behaviours may appear insignificant, but they are the cause of the majority of traffic accidents.
Essential but simple safe driving advice is explained below to improve your driving abilities, confidence, and awareness, resulting in a better, safer driver.
Driving Too Close to Other Vehicles
Driving too closely to another vehicle in front (tailgating) is dangerous and is one of the main causes of road accidents as it simply does provide a driver with enough reaction time to stop in the event of the vehicle braking or stopping suddenly. Tailgating is also illegal. In the event of sudden braking or stopping, it not only increases the chance of you hitting the vehicle in front but the vehicle behind you is at risk of hitting you also.
#Tip 1: Keeping a safe following distance increases your stopping and thinking distance. The 2 second rule is a simple way for such safety considerations if you are unsure of a safe following distance. Driving too close to a vehicle in front causes increased brake and disc wear due to repeated accelerating and slowing, as well as increased fuel consumption. A safe following distance allows the car to slow down more frequently without having to brake, using less acceleration.
#Tip 2: If a car is following you too closely, extending the gap between you and the vehicle ahead of you will allow you to slow down over a longer distance, allowing the driver behind you more time to react. Safe braking tactics such as progressive braking, in addition to maintaining a safe driving distance, make for safer driving and decrease wear on braking systems and tyres. Because it allows you to maintain better control of the vehicle.
Changing Lanes
Drivers failing to look properly account for 40% of all traffic accidents. A lack of sufficient observations before changing lanes is a common cause of these incidents. Before making a lane change, most of us check our mirrors, but we often neglect to check our blind spots. A car’s left or right blind spot, as well as smaller vehicles like motorbikes and cyclists in towns and villages, can readily hide it.
#Tip: Check the mirrors, then the corresponding blind spot side, before changing lanes in any situation, whether on motorways / dual carriageways, multi-lane carriageways in cities, or even at busy roundabouts. For further information, see the automobile blind spot.
Speeding
Around a fifth of all fatalities are caused by speeding accidents. Speeding is not only dangerous, but it also increases fuel consumption dramatically, and the time gained is typically far less than you might believe. For example, on motorways, driving at 80 mph instead of the legal limit of 70 mph can increase fuel usage by up to 25% and save only 6 minutes over a 60-mile trip.
#Tip: It’s much safer and less expensive to plan your trip ahead of time and leave plenty of time to finish it. If you’re running late, consider whether it’s truly a big deal. Is it truly worth the danger of speeding for what I’m late for?
Loss Of Car Control
A driver moving too quickly for the road or weather circumstances is a common cause of car control loss. This is responsible for one-third of all traffic accidents.
#Tip: We all know how dangerous the roads can be in the winter, but many people lose control throughout the summer. A road that has been dry for a long time will accumulate oil and grease, which is not a concern when it is dry. The oil and grease on the road surface will rise to the surface of the water as soon as it comes into touch with it, making the road dangerous until it is washed away. Reduce your speed, especially on curves, and increase the stopping distance between yourself and the car ahead of you in such situations.
AquaPlaning
Aquaplaning is another difficulty that comes with damp weather. Aquaplaning occurs when a film of water accumulates between the road surface and the tyres, which can result in a full loss of vehicle control depending on a number of conditions. Aquaplaning is one of the most terrifying things you can do if you’ve ever done it. Read this article to learn how to reduce the consequences of aquaplaning and restore control.
Below are tips to avoid aquaplaning
- Make sure all of your tyres are in good shape and have at least the legal tread depth.
- The proper tyre pressure keeps the car in place. Check your vehicle’s tyre pressures on the tyre pressure sticker.
- In wet weather, especially after a strong downpour, drive more slowly. The less grip your tyres have, the faster you drive.
- Look for standing water ahead of time.
- If you’re about to enter standing water, use engine braking rather than the brake pedal to slow down.