Statistics show that there are over 900 road accidents per day, and this number is increasing year over a 10-year period, as noted by Gov. UK. But while the number of incidents is indeed increasing, the number of fatalities is falling. And while fewer deaths on the road is always a good thing, an increasing number of accidents isn’t.
This is where driver safety and responsibility come into effect. Being a safe driver is about more than passing your test. It’s about your ability to read the road, anticipate other drivers, adapt your driving to meet the road conditions, and so much more.
Let’s take a look at some of the ways you can be a safer driver in more detail so you can reduce your risk of being in an accident due to your driving habits.
Don’t Rush
Rushing leads to mistakes and poor decision alignment and can result in an accident, putting your passengers and the road users at risk. The reality is a significant number of road incidents are caused by people being in a rush or running late and wanting to have a few precious seconds or minutes from their journey time. However, this leads to poor habits and reduced reaction times, which can lead to increased risk. So take your time, don’t rush and be aware of other road users who might not be heeding this advice.
Don’t Speed
Speed limits are in place for a reason, and they are not targets to hit the guidelines for the maximum speed you can go. Don’t feel pressured into going faster than you feel comfortable with or safe driving at. Allow other road users to pass you where it is safe to do so, and don’t exceed the speed limit, as this can result in many consequences, from accidents to fines and even death on the roads.
Safe Distances
Tailgating is illegal, and it’s driving too close to the vehicle in front of you without leaving enough stopping distance. Many drivers use this technique to force other road users to do what they want or to get out of their way to let them pass, which can be extremely dangerous for multiple reasons.
If the car in front of you brakes suddenly or encounters an issue, the person too close behind won’t have enough time to react and change their driving, causing a massive incident.
Always leave a 2 second gap between you and the car in front, longer in poor weather or reduced visibility. When you stop traffic, always leave enough space so you can see the rear wheels. If they break down or have any issues and can’t move off, you have a safe space to do so without causing issues for traffic behind you.
Defensive Driving
Defensive driving is when you actively prevent accidents by adjusting your driving to others’ behaviour. Not everyone drives safely, and many drivers disregard other road users, putting everyone at risk. While you can’t control others’ poor driving, defensive driving allows you to reduce the risk from other road users.
Being aware of other road users, knowing your surroundings, and anticipating hazards are all examples of defensive driving and can help you react faster when encountering any issue on the road. While this won’t eliminate the risk of an accident, if you’re practising defensive driving, you can reduce the risk of causing damage to others. And if you are involved in an accident, you can claim for a car crash against the offending driver.
Remove Distractions
Distracted driving is driving while doing other activities that can increase your risk of an accident, including things like using a mobile phone when driving, using other divides such tals or laptops, applying makeup, eating, drinking, etc., anything that doesn’t allow you to give the road 100% of your attention is distracted driving, and the opens for causing an accident due to this can be severe especially if it results in death or significant harm to others. There are reasons why using your phone when driving is illegal, so heed the warnings and be a safer driver by removing distractions.
Dutch Reach
The “Dutch Reach” is a tactic that can help you prevent yourself from becoming a hazard to other road users. When exiting your vehicle, always use your hand further away from the door to reach your body and open it. This causes you to swivel to look out of the window and can be instrumental in helping you avoid swinging your door open to impact cyclists or motorcycles on the road or even pinging another passing car.
Safety isn’t just when you’re driving; it is when you are in the car at all. Entering and exiting the vehicle can be a major hazard if you’re not paying attention.
Services and Maintenance
Driving a car that isn’t in good condition significantly increases your chances of causing an accident. If your car breaks down on the road, it can cause a major disruption, and other road users might not be able to react in time, leading to a potentially catastrophic situation.
While you legally need to get an MOT every year, it doesn’t cover all aspects of your vehicle, and cars can pass, but still have major or concerning faults. So take your car in for its annual service (or every 10,000 miles of heavy drivers) and ensure you’re keeping on top of repairs and maintenance to help you ensure your vehicle is always roadworthy.
Being a safer driver is the culmination of many different actions that can help reduce your impact on the road. Every driver should drive safely and responsibly each time they head out. But sadly, this isn’t always the case. The reality is you can never know what other road users are going to do or what you might come up against on the roads. So, being as safe a driver as possible and practising these tips can reduce the risk of accidents being your fault.
