Car Safety While Driving

For many people, driving is as much a part of their daily life as brushing their teeth or eating dinner. Whether they drive to school, commute to work, or drive for a living, it isn't unusual for people to spend minutes to hours behind the wheel. Unfortunately, driving can be a dangerous activity leading to injury or death. According to recent statistics by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), over 42,000 people died in crashes in the last year.

Although it's impossible to control the actions of other drivers, people who drive safely and defensively can reduce their chances of being in an accident. Following safe driving techniques may also reduce a driver's chances of being severely injured should they get into one.

Stay Focused and Alert at All Times Behind the Wheel

There are a lot of ways that drivers can lose their focus on the road. But driving isn't the time to apply lipstick, text a friend, or argue over the latest football game. When on the road, car safety is the most important thing. The only things that drivers need to focus on are their vehicle, the road, and what's going on around them. When a person's attention is on something else, they may not see hazardous situations, such as cars recklessly coming into their lane, careless pedestrians, or distracted bicyclists.

Even a person whose eyes are on the road can get into an accident if their attention is divided. A person who is in an intense conversation on their phone, for example, might not process and react to a sudden change in driving conditions or an unexpected obstacle on the road. Because of the distraction, their response will be slower than it would be if the driver were only paying attention to driving.

Some common driver distractions include:

Texting while driving
Talking on the phone while driving
Eating
Makeup application
Reaching for objects in the car
Interacting with passengers in both the front and back seats.
Rubbernecking
Fiddling with their GPS system

If these or any other distraction is urgent, the driver should pull over safely and do what needs to be done while the car is not in motion.

Drowsiness is another reason some drivers have difficulty focusing on the road. When a person is sleepy, they have can have a hard time focusing on what they are doing. Their eyelids droop and as they yawn it becomes hard to stay alert to what's happening around them. Because they didn't get adequate sleep, which is typically 8 hours or more, the risk of a sleep-related car crash increases.

Ideally, a person should pull off the road to take a nap or allow someone else to drive. If the driver is alone or cannot pull over for a nap, they should stop for coffee, get out of the vehicle, and move around before driving again. The best way to avoid driving while drowsy is to get at least a full 8 hours of sleep at night.

Be Aware of Your Surroundings

Roads are unpredictable, which means people who drive need to be aware of their surroundings at all times. Even roads in quiet neighborhoods can produce an unexpected obstacle in a driver's path. There are two steps that can help people be aware of what's happening, and what may happen, around them. The first step is to prepare in advance. Drivers who know what to expect on the road can prepare for things that may happen around them as they drive. A person can prepare by:

Using GPS to plan a driving route
Check weather and traffic reports for any weather, accidents, or construction that may affect roads
Mapping out exits and alternate routes
Setting the phone to driving mode and ensuring all passengers are comfortable and entertained.

The second part of being aware of one's surroundings is to be alert and look out for potential hazards. To do that, frequently check what's happening on either side of the vehicle by looking into the side mirrors every 2 to 5 seconds. Checking the rearview mirror is also important so that the driver can know if speeding cars or otherwise reckless drivers are behind or approaching them.

When looking ahead, drivers should try to scan about two blocks or a quarter of a mile out, depending on where they are driving. It is also important to take in the entire scene and not just what's directly in front of them.

There are many hazards to look out for, such as

Speeding or reckless drivers
Children darting onto the road
Animals
Bicyclists

Keep 3-Seconds Worth of Room Between You and Other Drivers

Keeping enough distance between cars is an important car safety rule. When a driver follows too closely to another vehicle, it is called tailgating. This practice is dangerous because it reduces the car's stopping distance and the driver's ability to see and react to road and traffic hazards. As a result, people who tailgate are at a higher risk of being involved in a rear-end collision. To avoid this, there should be three seconds between a car and the car in front of it. To determine the 3-second distance, drivers should note when the car in front of them passes a sign or some other landmark, and then count to three. If they pass the landmark before the count of three, then they are driving too close and should slow down. When driving in poor weather, when roads are slick, or visibility is low, a distance greater than three seconds is best.

Schedule Regular Oil Changes & Car Maintenance

Safety depends not only on how one drives but on the condition of one's vehicle. Vehicle maintenance reduces the risk of crashes caused by performance issues or failure of tires, the engine, or other critical parts. These parts include lights, belts and hoses, brakes, and oil. A vehicle's manual will outline the car's specific maintenance needs and how often they are needed.

Drivers should also do a quick inspection of their car to ensure there's no obvious damage before they travel. This includes checking for issues such as headlights that aren't working or cracks in the windshield. One should also inspect tires for leaks or low tread.

Once a month, it's important to look at the engine dipstick to check the vehicle's oil level and ensure that it isn't too low. In the past, the general recommendation for oil changes was every 3,000 miles or 3 months. Newer oils and vehicles have changed that and some car owners can change their oil as infrequently as 6 or even 12 months. Because different makes and models differ, it is best to check the owner's manual for the manufacturer's recommendations regarding oil changes.

Learn How to be a Defensive Driver

Being aware of one's surroundings, maintaining a safe speed, and keeping a distance between cars are all defensive driving tactics. Defensive driving is a method that helps drivers identify and react to potential hazards. When driving defensively, one should always think of what other drivers might do and how to best respond to those actions. Defensive driving also requires a driver to:

Avoid engaging in aggressive driving behavior
Plan for potential hazards
Never assume what other drivers intend
Drive in a position that allows them to avoid or escape a dangerous situation
Stay out of the blind spot of other vehicles
Wear their seatbelt
Never engage road-raging drivers

Avoid Speeding

Speeding is a major safety concern. It puts the driver, passenger, and others on the road at risk by increasing the likelihood of getting into an accident. Speed can cause a driver to lose control of their vehicle, it gives them less time to react, and it increases the vehicle's stopping distance. Sometimes, a speeding driver may not have the time to react at all, making a crash inevitable. In the event of an accident, it can worsen the impact of the crash and the severity of injuries. Speed can also cause the occupant protection equipment to be less effective.

To avoid speed-related incidents, one should follow the posted speed limit. It's important to keep in mind that speed limits are the maximum speed that one can drive. It is not, however, always the safest speed depending on conditions such as wet roads and decreased visibility. Drivers must take road conditions into account and adjust their speed accordingly.

Always Wear Your Seat Belt

All U.S. states, except for New Hampshire, have seat belt laws to reduce car injuries. Drivers will need to understand the specific seat belt laws for their state before getting behind the wheel. Regardless of the laws, every passenger in a vehicle should buckle up whenever they are in a moving car. When accidents happen, restraints can stop the driver or passengers from being ejected from the vehicle. Car accidents may also toss unrestrained passengers within the interior of the car, striking and injuring other occupants.

Use Extreme Caution While Switching Lanes

Lane changes are a necessary part of driving. Although it may seem like a basic move, it can be a dangerous one if not done properly or legally. Accidents can happen when drivers change lanes and fail to check for cars that may be next to them or in their blind spots. Failing to use turn signals before switching lanes is another preventable cause of crashes.

Safely changing car lanes requires the use of turn signals, checking the side mirror, and looking over one's shoulder to check the blind spot for vehicles. Cars should never change over more than one line at a time, speed up to make the change or cut someone off, or change lanes in an intersection.