In 2019, the 229 million Americans with drivers’ licenses drove over 3.2 trillion miles! This means that the average driver gets over 1,000 miles per month.
With so much time on the road, you’re bound to run into inclement weather and unsafe conditions. To stay safe, here are 5 road safety tips you should consider.
1. Check Your Car Before Leaving
It can be tedious, but it can save your skin to check your car before departing. Make sure all the lights and indicators are working, as well as the brakes, tires, and windshield wipers.
If you’re going on an extended trip, we’d recommend having your mechanic inspect it and give you the green light for long-distance travel. That way, if they find anything wrong, it can get fixed up before your vacation.
2. Stay Alert
This might sound obvious for on-road safety, but you’d be surprised at what counts as not being 100% focused.
For example, many people multitask while on the road. They’ll put on makeup, eat snacks, and even text and call their friends.
Even in beautiful weather, you shouldn’t be doing these things, much less during inclement weather. If you really need to do something else, pull over and take a few minutes before setting off again. Nothing’s more important than you keeping focus while driving.
3. Go Slow
When bad weather happens, you might get nervous and you’ll want to get out of it as quickly as possible. But it’s vital that you slow down and take it easy.
This will allow you to see road safety signs and road markings more easily. If you want to learn more about thermoplastic road markings, here’s more info.
Slower speeds will give you more time to react, and therefore, you can avoid road accidents.
4. Be Well-Rested
Whenever you need to do long-distance driving, make sure you get a good night’s rest the night before. Even if you start off fully awake and alert, you might feel tired after a few hours.
Listen to your body and take breaks every 2 hours or 120 miles. If the weather’s bad and you don’t feel safe, take a break sooner and wait it out. Get out of the car and stretch your legs if you can.
5. Drive Defensively
Just because you’re practicing good road safety doesn’t mean everyone else is. You need to drive defensively, which means several things.
Keep a good distance between you and other cars, especially if they’re driving erratically. Always be aware of what other cars are doing, and be prepared to react if they do something crazy.
Practice Good Road Safety
When you’re driving, you’re operating heavy machinery. It’s imperative that you practice good road safety, as it keeps not only you safe, but those around you too.
If you can, educate your friends and family on these tips. They just might save their lives!
If you found these road safety tips helpful, then make sure you read the rest of our blog page for more useful information!
