Driving safely is about your own safety and the safety of those around you. Whether you’re a seasoned driver or just starting to head out behind the wheel, ensuring you have good, safe driving habits is crucial.
Here, we share our top five habits of safe drivers. We want you to ingrain these habits in your driving repertoire to help prevent accidents and promote a smoother and more enjoyable time with your feet on the pedals.
Habit 1: Staying focused on the road
Distracted driving is a leading cause of accidents, and it can easily be prevented. One of the most critical habits of safe driving is maintaining focus on the task at hand.
There are plenty of distractions around us, things like mobile phones, eating or adjusting the radio. But it’s important that we minimise these distractions. Things like connecting your phone through Bluetooth on your car can make a big difference, and generally avoid multitasking when you’re driving.
Staying alert when you’re driving is crucial, rather than going into robot mode. It guarantees that you’re aware of your surroundings and ready to react to any sudden changes, such as watching out for pedestrians, cyclists, and other vehicles. Allowing your mind to wander and losing attention to the task at hand could have disastrous consequences.
Techniques to maintain focus when driving
- Take regular breaks on long drives to reduce the chance of tiredness
- Keep your phone out of reach; no notification is that important to distract you from driving
- Limit the number of passengers and the noise levels in the vehicle
Habit 2: Obeying the Highway Code
Another fundamental for safe driving is following the Highway Code. These road laws are designed to ensure the safety of everyone.
Speed limits are important, they’re set for a reason. They take into account road conditions, traffic and pedestrian activity too. Safe drivers will always stick to these limits, knowing that speeding unnecessarily increases the chance of there being an accident.
Traffic signs can provide critical information about the rules and conditions of the road you’re using. By ignoring them, you put yourself into dangerous situations. Safe drivers will always observe and follow the traffic signs.
By violating the road laws, you risk putting yourself and others at risk. You’re also likely to receive a fine and points on your driving license, which can lead to an increase in your insurance premium.
Habit 3: Keeping a Safe Following Distance
As a driver, there’s nothing quite as annoying as the driver behind you following too closely. It’s a distraction, and it can lead to rear-end collisions.
By understanding the 3-second rule, you can ensure that you don’t drive too close to the car in front. Pick a fixed point on the road, and the car ahead passes it, count three full seconds. If you pass the fixed point before finishing the three seconds, you’re too close to the driver in front. This is not something you’ll have to do every time you drive; you’ll simply be able to eyeball it after a while.
When you leave a safe distance between yourself and the vehicle in front of you, you give yourself time to react if the car in front of you stops suddenly. Helping to reduce the chance of a shunt and give you more control over your car too.
When you’re driving in adverse weather conditions or heavy traffic, you will need to leave even more stopping distance.
Habit 4: Practice Defensive Driving
Defensive driving is simply being proactive to anticipate potential problems on the road and being prepared to avoid them.
Safe drivers will stay aware of other drivers around them and anticipate their moves. This means watching for their indicators, brake lights, and changes in speed or direction.
You simply can’t predict what’s going to happen on the road. Sudden stops and hazards appearing from nowhere can certainly have an effect. Being a defensive driver means that you’re always ready to react; you keep your hands on the wheel and your eyes on the road.
Techniques to enhance defensive driving skills
- Take a defensive driving course
- Practise patience and avoid aggressive driving
- Stay calm and focused, even when you’re placed under pressure
Habit 5: Regular Vehicle Maintenance
Ensuring your vehicle is well-maintained is essential for safe driving. By regularly checking them over you can help to prevent breakdowns and accidents.
Routine maintenance helps to ensure that your car is in good working order and extends its life. By keeping a check on things, you can improve your car’s fuel efficiency and prevent costly repairs as it ages.
Key Maintenance Areas
Certain parts of your car require special attention:
- Tyres: Check for proper inflation and tread depth.
- Brakes: Ensure they are responsive and not worn out.
- Lights: Make sure all lights are functioning correctly, including headlights, brake lights, and indicators.
Safe driving is more than just following the Highway Code rules, we need to proactively adopt habits that will protect ourselves and others on the road. By staying focused, obeying road laws, maintaining a safe distance, practising defensive driving and keeping your vehicle in working order, you can help to reduce the risk of an accident. Safety starts with you.