Are You Safe On The Road?
It’s easy to forget, but driving can be a pretty dangerous activity. However safe you may feel, if you’re not careful when you’re out there on the road, then there’s a chance that you’re putting yourself and other people in danger. The problem is that so many of us drive on such a regular basis that it has essentially become a habit for a lot of people. The moment you start running on autopilot when you get behind the wheel, you start to make mistakes and become a danger to yourself and other drivers. The important thing is to have respect for the road and your vehicle and never get complacent, no matter what. With that in mind, here are some simple ways to stay safe out on the road.
Stay sober
This is probably the most obvious point on this list, and yes it’s also one that far too many people ignore. You should, under no circumstances, ever drive while under the influence of alcohol. It can result in arrest and even prison time. Of course, that’s not even the worst thing that can come from driving under the influence. If you’ve had too much to drink and you get behind the wheel of a car, then you’re going to be a genuine liability to those around you. You won’t be able to judge your speed or stopping distance, and the chance of you getting into an accident goes up significantly.
Turn down the music
Who doesn’t love a good car jam? Many of us couldn’t possibly imagine driving down the road without our favorite songs to keep us company. But did you know that the music you listen to can actually have an impact on the speed that you drive? Studies have shown that listening to fast music actually causes people to drive faster than they otherwise would listening to slower music or no music at all. So rather than cranking the stereo up and blasting your perfect road trip music, maybe go for something a little slower and more gentle.
Don’t sleepwalk
This might sound like an odd phrase, but it’s definitely something that the vast majority of us do far too often. Do you ever have those moments where you drive on a very familiar route, perhaps from work to home, and then when you get there you realize you can’t remember a single moment of the journey? Almost as though you drifted off and then when you woke up you were home? This is something that commonly happens when you know your route so well that you no longer have to focus on where you’re going. You end up running on autopilot, and your mind wanders off to think about other things. The problem with this is that if your mind is elsewhere, then you’re never going to be paying enough attention to potential hazards on the road. There are certain people on the road who are particularly vulnerable and that you need to be constantly on the lookout for. 4,586 motorcyclists died in 2014 alone and many of those deaths could have been prevented by drivers paying more attention. Make sure that, no matter how familiar your journey is, you’re always giving the road your full, undivided attention.
The most important thing is to never allow yourself to become complacent with your driving skills. The reality is that, no matter how good a driver you might be, if you’re overconfident, that’s going to lead to problems.