6 Safe Driving Tips: How To Stay Safe On The Road

 

Each year, there are over 30,000 fatal car crashes. To reduce your risks, learn these top six safe driving tips to keep yourself safe on the road. 

 

More than ever, you need to stay safe while on the road. U.S. traffic deaths reached a 16-year high last year - a whopping 10.5% increase from the previous year. That increase occurred in the majority of states and Washington D.C., so it’s far from an isolated incident.

 

Scary, isn’t it? Fortunately, there is something you can do to keep yourself from becoming a statistic. By following the safe driving tips below, you can minimize risk and prevent deadly accidents.

 

Whether you’re an experienced driver or new to the road, here’s what you need to know to keep you and your loved ones safe.

 

1. Stay Sober

 

It should go without saying, but always, always drive sober. Every day, 32 people in the U.S. die from a crash involving a drunk driver. That’s approximately one death every 45 minutes. 

 

Alcohol impairs reaction time and reduces coordination. It also lowers your inhibitions, which means drivers can make poor choices. That’s just at lower levels. At higher levels of intoxication, alcohol can blur vision and lead to a loss of consciousness. 

 

Driving under the influence is more than just alcohol. It includes opioids, marijuana, or other drugs that can impair you.

Don’t put yourself and others at risk. If you’re impaired or think you’re impaired, stay home and stay off the road.

 

2. Take Caution When Using Medication

 

Even prescription medication can be dangerous. If you take medicine, understand what the side effects are. Many medications can cause fatigue or drowsiness, increasing your risk of falling asleep at the wheel.

 

Even if your medication doesn’t cause drowsiness or impair your driving, if combined with another medication, there may be side effects. And when one of your medications is used in conjunction with alcohol, the results can also be deadly.

 

3. Keep Your Vehicle Maintained

 

Vehicle maintenance is about more than prolonging your vehicle’s life; it’s also essential to keep you safe. With proper maintenance, even a pre-owned vehicle can keep you safe for years.

 

Many states have required safety inspections that are essential to keep your vehicle legal. However, in Georgia, that’s not the case. 

 

While it’s not required, having your car inspected every year or every other year is essential for safety. Even something as simple as incorrect tire pressure - either too high or too low - can lead to a blowout and a potential accident.

 

Keeping your vehicle in top shape doesn’t have to be expensive. At Taylor Hyundai, we have a variety of service specials to make maintaining your vehicle easy and affordable.

 

4. Avoid Assumptions

 

Never assume what other drivers will do. You may know what you would do in a specific situation, but other drivers may not do the same. 

 

For example, even if a driver is using their turn signal, they may not turn, so exercise caution when pulling out of a driveway. Or you may be approaching an intersection, but the other driver may ignore a stop sign. 

 

While it’s nice to assume that others will follow tips for safe driving, it’s impossible to know what other drivers will do. Stay alert and pay attention to other drivers around you.

 

5. Drive Defensively

 

Finally, you need to drive defensively. Aggressive driving increases the risk of accidents. An aggressive driver may initiate conflict, tailgate other vehicles, or flash their high beams to annoy others. 

 

By contrast, a defensive driver knows how to drive safely. Defensive driving involves proactively using techniques that mitigate risk.

 

A defensive driver is:

 

• Aware that other motorists are unpredictable
• Is aware of what other drivers around them are doing
• Keeps at least a 2-second cushion between their car and a car in front

If you’re not sure how to drive defensively, you can enroll in a defensive driving course. As a bonus, some insurance companies even offer discounts to drivers who complete defensive driving courses.

 

6. Adjust for Weather

 

Finally, in the event of inclement weather, make full use of every one of these safety tips. Fog, heavy rain, snow, ice - any one of these can significantly impact your safety. 

 

Always take extra caution in bad weather. In addition, consider:

 

• Delegating driving to more experienced drivers
• Adjusting your speed accordingly
• Maintaining extra space between cars
• Exercising patience due to increased travel time

Finally, if all else fails, find a safe place to wait out the storm. 

 

In the event of a flood, under no circumstances should you attempt to drive through the floodwaters. Moving water has incredible power, and the depth of water is not always obvious. 

 

Even as little as six inches of water can knock a human off of their feet, and only a foot of water can sweep a vehicle away - even an SUV. Safe driving in a flood means knowing when to stop and turn around.

 

Follow These Safe Driving Tips

 

These safe driving tips aren’t just for you - they’re for your passengers and others on the road. Following these driving tips will help keep you safe, but even the best driver is only as safe as the vehicle they’re driving. 

 

That’s why you need a Hyundai from Taylor Hyundai. Hyundai has some of the top safety picks for vehicles, such as the Elantra, Tucson, and Santa Fe. 

 

Taylor Hyundai has all of these options and more. Check out our full list of crossovers and SUVs, sedans, and electric vehicles. We’re sure we have a Hyundai model for you.