Defensive and Preventative Driving safety tips!
Whether in the city or on highways, traffic is always risky. Therefore, all drivers should adopt defensive driving practices to reach their destination safely and without any unexpected incidents.
With this in mind, we’ve decided to share 9 tips for driving safely and preventing accidents. Want to know what they are? Keep reading and check them out!
Pay extra attention on rainy days:
Driving in overcast weather is extra challenging even for professional and experienced drivers, especially if the rain is heavy. In these circumstances, visibility is compromised and tire grip is reduced.
The best thing to do in this situation is to slow down, turn on the air conditioning to prevent fogging, or turn on hot air directed at the windshield. And pay extra attention, of course.
In fog, Use your headlights correctly:
Depending on the time of year and region of the country, you’re almost certain to encounter fog on your way. This means your visibility is compromised. The best way to deal with this problem is to use low beams—never high beams, as they can further obscure your vision.
They illuminate the underside and sides of the vehicle, ensuring better visibility of road signs. If you also have rear fog lights, turn them on to make your vehicle more visible to drivers behind you. And don’t forget to reduce your speed. Click Here for Defensive Driving Course
Keep an eye on your car’s handling:
You’ve probably noticed that car performance during acceleration, cornering, and braking varies greatly from model to model, right? Some have a sportier, firmer handling, while others are more relaxed, prioritizing comfort.
So, pay attention to the handling of the type of vehicle you’re driving. Pushing a tall pickup truck too hard around corners, for example, isn’t a good idea. Likewise, driving a sportier car quickly on roads with poor pavement isn’t a good idea either. Therefore, respect the limits of each model.
Maintain a safe distance from the vehicle in front:
The faster a car’s speed, the more difficult it is to brake if necessary. Consequently, the greater the distance required to come to a complete stop.
Therefore, it’s prudent to maintain a safe distance from the vehicle in front, as in an emergency, you’ll have more room to slow down, brake, and swerve around the other vehicle, thus avoiding a collision.
Respect the signs:
Signs are there to guide drivers, ensuring the safety of everyone on our roads and highways. Therefore, respect the road signs, such as the speed limit, continuous lane, no turning and no turning, among others.
When signs are obeyed, the risk of an accident is considerably reduced.
Be Careful When Overtaking:
Exercising caution when overtaking is one of the most basic aspects of safe driving, as the most serious accidents often occur due to head-on collisions resulting from this situation.
When passing a vehicle, signal with your turn signal in the direction you’re about to turn, briefly honk your horn, check your rearview mirror for a few seconds to make sure there’s no other vehicle passing you, and then accelerate to a higher gear.
When in doubt, don’t overtake!
Get regular checkups:
Prevention is the best defense. This tip isn’t directly related to defensive driving, but (believe me!) it’s essential to prevent accidents, as many of them occur due to failures caused by poor vehicle maintenance. Therefore, it’s best to always remember to take your car for regular maintenance.
At these times, it’s worth checking a few things, such as:
- Airbag integrity;
- Brake condition;
- Oil change due date;
- Dashboard lights working;
- Radiator water level;
- Flashlight, headlight, and turn signal bulb condition;
- Tire condition and pressure.
Behave Well in Traffic:
Many drivers believe they have already mastered their vehicle and driving skills, and end up becoming reckless and negligent. There are also people who have been driving for so long that they believe they no longer need to improve their driving skills.
However, when the goal is to practice safe driving, it is important to keep in mind that your driving behavior must be very cautious. Therefore, it is worth taking some precautions, such as:
- Do not drive while drowsy or very tired;
- Always wear a seatbelt;
- Do not use your cell phone while driving;
- Always pay attention to pedestrians and cyclists;
- Avoid sudden braking and starting;
- Avoid making sharp turns;
Stay up-to-date on traffic laws:
Compliance with traffic laws is also essential for those who want to drive safely. Therefore, strive to understand the rules and regulations, stay up-to-date on updates and developments, and periodically review forgotten knowledge. This not only helps prevent accidents, but also helps avoid problems (such as fines).
