How to Be a Safe Driver

Many people have heard how important it is to “be a safe driver”. We all know how quickly a car ride can turn into a life changing event in a matter of seconds. All it takes is one swerve into another lane or shooting the gap and cutting it just a little too close, and you could be putting someone’s life in danger. The part that is often left out of the “importance of safe driving” talk, is how you are supposed to be a safe driver. One of the most common causes for accidents is distracted driving. When you are behind the wheel, it is crucial that you are solely focused on the road. Looking down at your phone, or at your friend in the passenger seat, can cause you to miss what is happening in front of you. If a car decides to pull out in front of you, or a person runs across the street, and you are not looking, you will likely be part of an accident. These situations could potentially be avoided if you look at what is ahead and are prepared to brake at any given time. Additionally, when driving somewhere you have never been to or are unfamiliar with, look at a map before getting in the car. Trying to understand where Google Maps is telling you to go, while you are driving, can be very hazardous. It is better to know ahead of time which lanes you will need to be in and where you will need to turn. This way, you will not need to suddenly change lanes and potentially cause an accident. Another key principle to safe driving is patience. Being in a rush while driving rarely ends well. You typically end up shooting through gaps in traffic that are too close for comfort. When you are impatient and try to quickly move through traffic, you make fast decisions without carefully observing your surroundings to ensure that your actions are safe. As with anything, practice makes perfect. Especially when you are a new driver, it is important to practice safe driving on roads that you are familiar with and slowly work up out of that comfort zone. Start on roads with low speed limits so that you have plenty of time to check your surroundings when changing lanes or turning. Then, once you feel confident in your ability, drive on roads with higher speed limits while maintaining alertness. The last principle that makes a safe driver is a clear mind. Do not drive when you have a million thoughts on your mind and mixed emotions in your body. This will cause you not to focus on your driving, but rather on your thoughts. You will not be alert and aware of what is going on around you if you are focused on what is going on in your head. If you think you are too emotional to drive, stay where you are until your mind is clear and you can focus on the road. Or, you can call a friend to pick you up and drive to where you need to go. It is better to deal with a little inconvenience than to risk someone’s safety while operating a vehicle.