Safety is imperative when learning to drive — for ourselves, passengers, occupants in other vehicles and pedestrians. It’s also an appropriate time to develop proper driving habits, not unsafe or illegal habits like driving too fast.
Here are some basic guidelines to follow, whether you’re learning to drive or have many years of driving experience.
Fasten Your Seatbelt
It might seem obvious, but many car drivers and passengers don’t wear their seat belts.
Without wearing a seatbelt or if it’s not properly attached, a car occupant can be tossed around the cabin, thrown into a windshield or launched from a vehicle.
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Learning To Drive: Seatbelts A Must
Correctly worn, seatbelts save lives. If not worn or attached improperly, accidents are often serious or fatal.
Wearing a seatbelt doesn’t ensure the safety of vehicle occupants in an accident. But the injuries will likely be far less severe, particularly if an accident occurs at lower speeds.
Head injuries suffered in a car accident at a slow rate of speed and while the vehicle occupants are wearing seatbelts will likely be far less serious than at a high-speed accident with vehicle occupants not wearing seatbelts.
Learning To Drive: Take Your Time
The posted speed limit is not a goal. Whether you are learning to drive or already an experience driver, don’t feel compelled to drive more quickly than you are comfortable. Drivers who are too close to your rear bumper and urge you to go quicker should be ignored. It’s not your problem. Additionally, always allow for more travel time than you anticipate needing. Schedule your trip in advance and add extra time to the drive.
Suitable Footwear
Dressing appropriately can contribute to safe driving. Avoid wearing shoes that don’t fit well because they can impair your ability to control the pedals. It’s also not advised to drive when wearing heels or while barefoot because it can make it difficult to properly use the accelerator, brake and clutch. Keeping an extra pair of casual shoes in your car is a good idea in case of an emergency.
Maintain Regular Auto Maintenance
Regularly check your vehicle’s tire pressure and engine fluid levels, particularly if you regularly drive long distances. Never rely solely on annual vehicle safety tests.
Learning To Drive Motto: Never Drive Under The Influence
Alcohol and drug tolerance can change depending upon the time of day and food consumption and greatly affect reflexes and the ability to make proper decisions. If you plan to consume alcohol and take drugs, the best motto is don’t drink and drive.
Got In An Accident?
A dash cam is recommended in your vehicle in case you get in an accident and even if it wasn’t your fault. The footage from an accident retrieved from a dash cam can not only help determine the cause of an accident, but it can also help with related areas, from missing work to loss of income and from health to potential compensation with the assistance of a car accident lawyer.
Content provided by The Weekly Driver News Service and other news sources.
Article Last Updated: October 3, 2022.
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