Safe Driving Tips that Could Save Your Life

Driving is one of the most dangerous things most people do in their day-to-day life. And according to the National Safety Council (NSC), motor-vehicle deaths in 2021 were up 9% from 2020 and 18% for 2019. It’s no exaggeration to say that following these safe driving tips could save your life.

Assume Everyone Else is a Bad Driver

While it’s generally good to give people the benefit of the doubt, when it comes to driving, you’ll be safer if you drive like everyone around you is a bad driver. That means you’re always on the lookout for unpredictable lane changes, swerving, un-signaled turns, unexpected braking, etc.

Follow the Three Second Rule of Driving

What is the three second rule in driving? It states that you should keep three seconds between you and the car in front of you. In other words, find a stationary object on the side of the road and start counting when the car ahead of you passes it. You should make sure there’s at least three seconds between when their car passes the object and when your car passes the object. This will give you the reaction time you need if they person in front of you makes a sudden stop. That said, this is the minimum distance you should keep between cars. At night or during bad weather conditions, it’s best to allow for even more space.

Leave Early

When you’re in a rush, it’s easy to speed. And speed is a contributing factor in a significant amount of accidents. That’s why one of our favorite safe driving tips is to leave early and give yourself plenty of time to get to your destination. That way, you won’t be tempted to speed or drive recklessly. Not only will you end up being very late if you get in an accident or get a ticket but speeding while driving locally is unlikely to save you more than a few minutes, if it saves you any time at all.

Ditch the Distractions

There’s a reason so many states have passed distracted driving laws that ban cell phones while driving. Texting while driving can lead to dangerous accidents. But it’s not just texting that cause distractions. You should also avoid eating, applying makeup, changing songs, entering info into your navigation system, and anything else that takes your eyes—or your attention—off the road.

Following these safe driving tips isn’t all you can do protect yourself and your car. Contact an independent agent today to learn more about our top-of-the-line Auto insurance. In the meantime, check out our insurance blog where we cover everything from what to do if you get in a car accident to how to winterize your car before cold weather hits.

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