Remember that police officers often stay hidden from view while looking for speeders. If you’re caught driving too fast, they won’t hesitate to give you a ticket. While this isn’t an accident, it’s certainly another thing you want to avoid.
In general, avoid the left lane except to pass other cars. It’s where most accidents happen. [3] X Research source You also have more “escape routes” in the right lane should a problem suddenly arise that requires you to quickly change lanes or pull onto the shoulder.
Keep your hands in the 10 o’clock and 2 o’clock positions. While this isn’t necessarily the most comfortable, this position does allow you the most flexibility should you suddenly need to adjust your course. [4] X Research source
This is especially important during high traffic times. You may think the car ahead of you is speeding up significantly, when really they’re moving forward only to stop again. If you don’t tailgate, you’ll put less wear on your brakes and save gas, too. All that stopping and starting isn’t good for your vehicle.
Ever notice how most of the skid marks along the highway are just before an exit ramp? This is where you have to be the most careful.
This can help you predict what traffic is going to do. Looking at the cars a few ahead of you will let you know whether you’ll have to soon hit the brakes or not. This will help you monitor your blind spot as well, which makes it much easier to know if the lane changes you want to make are safe.
Children should always be in a booster seat or car seat until they are tall enough and heavy enough to sit by themselves. This generally includes children age eight and under. [6] X Research source Never put a child in a car or booster seat in the front passenger seat or another seat with airbags. Children should generally be 12 and older when sitting in the front passenger seat.
This is important to keep yourself accountable, but it’s also important to keep away from others that aren’t so careful. Giving driving 100% of your concentration will help you avoid the drivers that are texting, eating, or not really paying active attention.
It is more difficult to see, regardless of the weather. You and other drivers are more tired. Your reaction times are slower, making driving overall more dangerous. You will have the greatest chance of meeting up with a drunk driver at night.
Approximately one-quarter of all traffic accidents are related to cell phone use in America. That’s 25% – or 1. 3 million crashes.
Always keep your windshield wipers going in the rain or snow Defrost your windshield to keep it from fogging up[8] X Expert Source Simon MiyerovDriving Instructor Expert Interview. 4 December 2019. Turn on your headlights to help others to see you If possible, try to avoid driving in the snow at all, especially if your car is rear wheel drive. If you must go out in the snow, drive extra slow, use the brakes and gas pedal gently, and maintain an increased stopping distance.
Never drive after you have had alcoholic beverages either. Even one beer can alter your ability to drive safely. After all, buzzed driving is drunk driving, especially to the cops.
Be aware that some medications can cause drowsiness and make operating a vehicle very dangerous. [9] X Research source If you’ve started a new medication, ask your doctor if it is still safe to drive.
Both the emergency vehicle and the traffic signal must be equipped with the appropriate devices, and only some cities and certain intersections have such devices installed. One of the most common is the “Opticom” system, basically recognized as a very fast flashing white strobe light mounted at or near the top of the emergency vehicle (not the “wig-wag” flashing high-beam headlights). A small receiving unit mounted on the traffic signal pole receives the “strobe code” and turns traffic lights green for the approaching emergency vehicle and red in all other directions. Such systems have been shown to reduce traffic accidents and injuries/fatalities involving emergency vehicles while improving response times to life-threatening emergencies. Emergency vehicles can only take control of intersection traffic lights if they are traveling in an emergency response mode – with all emergency lights activated and siren sounding. Once the emergency vehicle travels through the intersection, the traffic signal returns to its normal pattern.
What’s more, tires underinflated up to 25 percent run the risk of overheating, leading to failure, and at the very least adversely affecting handling and tread life.
Get your brakes checked. A surefire way to get into an accident is to have your brakes go out on you. Get your brake lining checked by your mechanic the next time you’re in for a tune-up.
Keep the mirrors positioned well, too. If you can’t see what’s behind you, next to you, or in your blind spot, you’re much, much more likely to get into a car accident.
You can do this yourself quite easily. Read wikiHow’s How to Change the Wiper Blades on Your Car for more information.
