Whether you’re a driver with 10 years of experience, or just started driving recently, we can all stand to improve our driving abilities. These 4 tips will help increase your awareness, safety, and overall driving proficiency.
1: Be aware of your surroundings
Okay, we’ve all heard this one before - this generally the first tip that’s given to new drivers. But there’s a reason: the most important tip of being in control of your vehicle is knowing your surroundings and being aware of what the other cars around you are doing. A conscious way to apply this is using visual scanning, which is consciously moving your eyes left to right in order to keep track of stop signs, speed limits, and pedestrians.
2: Keep a safe distance
The idea behind this tip is that the more space you have, the more time you have to react to unexpected circumstances. When cruising on the highway, it’s recommended you keep at least 5 car lengths in front of you from the next traveller - this allows you to react to unexpected circumstances. When stopped at a red light, keep an eye on traffic behind you - if you think someone is going to rear end you, you can flash your brake lights to warn them.
#3: Always use your seat-belt
Wear your seatbelt in every circumstance, even on short trips. Short distances are even more important for wearing your seatbelt because accidents happen more frequently near our homes, where we think we are familiar.
It is also important to make sure your seatbelt is being used properly. No part of the belt should be twisted, and the belt should go over your shoulder. It should have no sag, and fit snugly against your chest.
#4: Don’t always expect competency.
75% of accidents are caused directly by driver error. This means that during an accident, generally at least one of the drivers makes a mistake that causes a collision. Remembering that other drivers can make mistakes is important for avoiding an accident. If you see yourself coming into a dangerous situation, remember that other drivers may not always make the best decision - they may be distracted and react late. Try to anticipate this, and always opt for the safest way out of a dangerous situation.
Hopefully these 4 tips helped you remember the basics and made you a safer driver. If you have gotten into an accident, Fiix offers repair services at your home or office, often cheaper than a shop by up to 30%. If you have any questions about your car in general, feel free to message us instantly with our live chat!
