Whenever you’re driving, there’s one rule you should always remember: you are the only person on the road who you can rely on to keep you safe. Every day, millions of car accidents occur throughout the world, with far too many of them resulting in fatalities. In addition to protecting yourself from injury, driving carefully on the road will also help prevent you from injuring someone else. You can lower your risk of an accident on the road by following these simple driving recommendations.

CHECK FOR CONGESTION BEFORE DRIVING

Large numbers of vehicles attempting to cram into a small amount of space are the one of the most common causes of traffic accidents. People make lane changes in a matter of seconds, or take their attention away from the road for just a fraction of a second longer than necessary, and end up causing a collision. Avoiding congested roads will lower your risk of getting into a collision. Taking a look at traffic conditions before embarking on a journey will allow you to choose a more direct route if necessary.

Additionally, you should keep an eye out for any construction taking place along your route. It’s possible that you’ll be stuck in traffic as a result of this, but falling debris could also hurt you. You can check ahead of time or avoid the route if you notice it while on a journey.

STAY AWAY FROM LARGE VEHICLES

Drivers of 18-wheelers and other heavy trucks are taught how to do so. However, as you are probably aware, traveling lengthy distances can result in fatigue and even driving errors. What if I told you that a truck can weigh as much as 800,000 pounds? If the driver were to become distracted for a brief period of time, such weight would be enough to cause a deadly collision. Despite the fact that you may not be able to avoid them on every trip, avoiding a close proximity to one will lower your chances of getting involved in a collision.

DISTRACTED DRIVING

Neither drunken driving nor speeding nor failing to stop at a stop sign is the most common cause of car accidents. It’s called distracted driving or highway hypnosis. Anything that draws your attention away from the road is considered distracted driving. Texting, changing music, and chatting on the phone are just a few of the many ways we are continuously distracted by our cell phones. Other distractions include eating, caring for children in the backseat, and cleaning up dropped belongings.

SPEEDING

There’s a reason for those speed bumps and warnings you see on the road. They are there to tell you the safest speed to drive on that road. This could be because there is more traffic, sharp turns, uneven roads, and many other things. It will take longer for you to react to an accident if you drive too quickly.

DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE

It’s generally known that drinking impairs your capacity to focus and work correctly. When driving a vehicle, this is incredibly risky. Accidents caused by intoxicated drivers are preventable, yet that doesn’t stop them from happening on a daily basis. If you’re going out and intend to consume alcohol, always designate a driver or use a taxi.

DANGEROUS DRIVING

If you do not drive attentively, you may be involved in an unnecessary vehicle accident. That’s what occurs all too often when reckless drivers speed, change lanes too abruptly, fail to use rear turning indicators, or tailgate. Reckless drivers are quite often impatient in traffic, so exercise extra caution around aggressive drivers.

RAIN

Weather conditions can have a significant role in the cause of car accidents. Even if you live somewhere that doesn’t get a lot of rain, rain is one of the most common causes, so you should pay extra attention and be careful. As a result of the rain, drivers are more likely to lose control of their vehicles or to skid while braking. When driving in the rain, take extra precautions to avoid an accident.

KEEP YOUR COOL ON THE ROAD

And last but not least, road rage is an issue that impacts almost every motorist at some point in their life. Getting angry and yelling at another driver who has either bothered you or broken the law can lead to actions that you will come to regret later. Things like tailgating a driver who has irritated you might result in a serious collision, so be careful not to get caught up in road rage yourself. Remind yourself that they are the ones putting themselves in danger, and keep your distance from them to avoid becoming a victim of the same situation.

Photo Credit: Toyota