Five Steps to Becoming a Better (and Safer) Driver

Driving isn’t only a great privilege in life, it’s also a significant responsibility. As a driver, you are in charge of your own safety, the safety of your passengers, and the safety of the drivers and pedestrians around you. 

Every year, around the world, more than a million people die as a result of vehicle collisions, making it one of the leading causes of death across many countries. Nobody wants to be known as a terrible driver, so if you feel like you could brush up on your skills, keep reading, this is the article for you!  

Never Drink and Drive

The number one rule when it comes to driving is to never drink and drive. Depending on where you live, you may be allowed a certain amount of blood alcohol concentration in your system, but the recommended amount is always 0. Each year, thousands of people lose their lives as a result of drink driving, don’t let yourself become part of this terrible statistic. 

Brush Up on Your Theory

Part of being a safe driver involves being up to date on all of your theory. Depending on how long it has been since you first got your license, you many need to brush up on certain topics, such as road sign meanings. Furthermore, there may be some new adjustments to road safety theory that you will need to catch up on. 

Put the Phone Down

Using your phone to call, text, or even change the song in your car, has the potential to cause a fatal accident. Like drink driving, thousands of people die in motor vehicle crashes as a result of distracted drivers. It only takes a second with your eyes off of the road, for your vehicle to collide and crash. If you really need to take a phone call, invest in a hands-free device. 

Stay Under Speed Limits

Not only will staying under the speed limit make you a better driver, but it will also save you the risk of getting fined. Speed limits are there for a reason, they have been carefully calculated to ensure the safety of those who are on and off of the roads. 

Create a Safety Margin

To be a great driver you have to be alert of your surroundings. Even if you are abiding by all of the correct road safety rules, there may be a hazardous driver in your peripheral. Make sure to always leave a substantial safety margin between yourself and the car in front of you. This way, if the car in front stops for whatever reason, you will have enough time to react and begin braking.  

With enough knowledge about the dangers of driving and a lot of practice, anyone can become a fantastically safe driver. Dangerous driving is nothing to be proud of. The risk that reckless driving could pose on your own safety or on the safety of others around you is incalculable, so please take our tips on board and stay safe!  

Tom Brown
Tom Brown is an automotive market enthusiast living in the United States. He holds a diverse background in automotive marketing and enjoys utilizing that to produce insights into the inner workings of the industry.