The Aged Male

Did you know that according to the National Safety Council, more than three quarters of all automobile accidents are due to driver error?  If you learn to drive defensively, you’ll be safer on the road, and you may help other people to avoid having a car accident as well.

If you’re interested in learning more about these practices, there are several commercial defensive driving courses available.  If you’re ticketed you might find yourself required to attend one.  However, you don’t have to wait until you’re ticketed to attend such a course, and doing so might actually lower your auto insurance rates.

But if attending a course isn’t appropriate for you right now, take some time to think about the following common driving practices and make a conscious effort to improve your driving.

About 40% of all accidents involve rear-end collisions.  Make sure you’re leaving a safe amount of distance between your car and the car in front of you.  The faster you’re going, the larger that gap should be.  The best way to judge is to choose a physical landmark on the side of the road – when the car in front of you passes it, begin counting.  You should be able to count at least two seconds before you reach that landmark.  Three seconds is better, and you should shoot for four or more seconds when it’s raining or visibility is poor.

Make it a habit to stay alert in the car, and always scan the road ahead for possible hazards.  Watch for vehicles approaching from the side, and be especially wary near pedestrian traffic or in areas where children or animals are present.  If a driver in front of you is behaving erratically, back off.

You should also make it a habit to always look for an escape route.  Check your side and rear mirrors.  Know where the other cars are, and know your options for maneuvering around a car, should it stop suddenly or another hazard develops.  If you see no good options, increase the distance between you and the other cars to give yourself more time to stop.

And perhaps most importantly, never drive distracted.  This means no cell phones while driving, no iPod headphones, and certainly no text messaging.  Keep the music level inside the car down so that you can hear warning sirens.  Don’t become overly involved in conversation with the occupants of the car and allow yourself to become distracted.  Avoid eating and drinking, and certainly never change clothes, shave, or apply makeup while driving.

When changing lanes, look over your shoulder to check your car’s blind spot.  Don’t rely just on your mirrors, as there are certain areas that can’t be seen by mirrors alone.  And always use your turn signals when turning or changing lanes.

Be considerate of other drivers, but be wary.  Don’t assume that another driver will behave as you expect.  Never take the right of way, but yield it when necessary – it’s far better to be safe than right.

And finally, always, always, always wear your seat belt.  Wear your seat belt properly across your chest and down low across your pelvis.  If your seat belt doesn’t fit, see if the manufacturer makes an extension.  Always see that any children in your vehicle are properly fastened into a secure, approved car seat.  Doing so will help you – and the other drivers around you – to get safely to your destination.

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