How Safe Are You On The Road?
Posted by Admin at 11 January 2012, at 08 : 24 AM
If you were to ask most people, they would generally say that they were pretty good drivers. However, the truth is that most people tend to overestimate their driving ability by quite a significant amount. In fact, around 80% of drivers consider them to be “above average” in terms off driving ability. Let that sink in for a minute! However, the problem with a lot of people assuming that they’re better drivers than they are is that it actually presents a pretty large degree of risk when they’re out in the road. To make sure that you don’t fall into that camp, here are just a few things that you can do in order to be sure that you’re always safe out on the road.
Distractions
Distractions have always been an issue for many drivers but the truth is that there are more distractions around now than ever before. With the rise of modern tech like smartphones, the temptation to look away from the road is greater than ever before. You’ve got to remember that, no matter how secure you might be in your driving skills, looking away for even a moment can spell disaster. Often the best thing you can do is shut your phone away in the glovebox until you reach your destination. That way you can’t even be tempted to glance at it while you’re driving.
Speeding
It’s pretty common for a lot of us to have that thought that just a couple of miles over the speed limit isn’t going to be that bad. It helps you get to your destination a little faster and it can’t affect your driving that much, right? Wrong. The truth is that speeding is one of the most dangerous things you can do and even a couple of miles over the limit is enough to increase your braking distance and reduce your ability to control your car the way you need to. Sure, it can be frustrating when you’re running late for something but trying to make up that time by speeding is not only incredibly dangerous but it’s also kind of pointless. Most people find that increasing their journey time doesn’t go down by that much when they drive over the speed limit.
Tiredness
Tiredness is one of those things that far too few people pay close attention to when it comes to their driving skill. After all, we’ve all had those days where you feel dead to the world driving to or from work. However, if you’re behind the wheel of the car and you’re feeling tired then you’re putting yourself and everyone else at serious risk. Even if you’re not falling asleep at the wheel, tiredness can lessen your spatial awareness and greatly impact your reaction time.
The weather
Even if you’re an incredibly safe driver most of the time, if you don’t change up your driving style based on the conditions of the road, you’re taking a lot of unnecessary risks. The kind of weather that you’re driving in can massively impact how safe you are on the road. If the road is wet then not only is your braking distance massively increased but the chance of skidding on corners goes up significantly. Obviously the same applies to things like snow and ice. However, a lot of people don’t realise how much of a difference even the slightest amount of moisture can make to how safe they are on the road.
Be aware of other drivers
Of course, the issue on the road might not be you but might be other drivers. If you want to be sure that you’re as safe as possible then driving defensively and being aware of what other drivers are doing at all times can help you avoid accidents that might otherwise take you by surprise. Of course, you can’t always predict what other drivers are going to do so making sure that you’ve got the numbers of top accident lawyers for serious injury is always a good idea. Driving with other people in mind is one of the best ways to make sure that you’re prepared for anything that can happen on the road.
The reality is that driving is something that far too many of us just take for granted. Sure, driving is a big part of our lives and something that a lot of us do without really thinking too much about it. However, it’s essential that you never forget just how dangerous it can be out on the road and how much of a responsibility you have to yourself, your passengers, and every other driver out there.