Have you thought about safe driving lately?
According to the National Safety Council, someone is killed in a car accident every 15 minutes, and many more are injured each day. Car accidents remain a leading cause of death in the U.S. year after year, and yet, reducing our risk on the road isn't something most of us think about once we've passed the exam and joined the ranks of everyday drivers. Here are some basics to review to make sure that you're doing your part to be a responsible driver, and to protect yourself and your community.
8 Safe Driving Tips:
- Use your seatbelt: It can be tempting to skip the seatbelt when you're just running down the street for eggs, but don't do it. If you're in a crash, wearing a seatbelt sharply reduces your chance of death or injury, by about 50 percent. So always use your seatbelt, especially if you're driving a familiar route; which may cause you to pay less attention.
- Obey speed limits: Speeding makes it more likely you will be in an accident, and can increase your risk of serious injury. Speeding includes both driving over the speed limit and driving too fast in higher-risk conditions, such as bad weather, fog, icy roads or construction areas.
- Stay back: Maintaining a healthy distance from the cars around you can save your life if something happens and you need to stop or react quickly. It's also a good idea to stay away from drivers that are behaving erratically or driving aggressively.
- Pass responsibly: We all know the extremely frustrating experience of being stuck behind a slow driver. But don't let that frustration lead you to make a decision to pass when conditions are not truly safe. Instead, try to relax, back off, take in the view and arrive alive.
- Drive sober: According to the CDC, about 28 percent of all traffic related deaths involve an impaired driver. And yet, every year millions of Americans report getting behind the wheel while intoxicated. Alcohol, prescription drugs and marijuana can all cause impaired driving. If you're not sober, ask someone else to drive.
- Stay awake: Driving while tired can be fatal, and just as dangerous as driving while intoxicated. It may be tempting to just grab a cup of coffee and power through, but if you're too tired to drive it's better to pull over and rest, or switch drivers.
- Check your settings: Before getting on the road, you should always check your mirrors, make sure your front and back windshields are clear, adjust your seat, and generally make sure that you can see and access everything you need to operate your vehicle safely.
- Stay visible: Especially when driving on the freeway, avoid other vehicles' blind spots, and don't loiter in the passing lane. Remember: if you can't see their mirrors, then they can't see you.
Follow these tips and commit to safe driving for yourself and your loved ones.
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