3 Safe Driving Habits To Decrease Risk Of Accidents
Whether for business or pleasure, driving a car is inherently dangerous. In the U.S., all drivers have a one in four chance of being involved in a traffic accident within the next five years. Most of these accidents can be attributed to a lack of common sense and a lack of safe driving habits. Accordingly, these grim statistics are used by insurance companies to generate auto insurance quotes for new premiums, which as a result, can be quite high. But there are ways to reduce these risks and ultimately reduce insurance costs.
Eliminating a drivers' distraction is the easiest way to reduce the risk of being involved in an accident. Driving distractions can come in the shape of many forms, including eating and drinking, smoking, changing the radio station, or perhaps one of the most common one these days, talking or texting on a cell phone. Cell phone usage has emerged as one of the leading causes of simple "fender benders." It has become such a problem, that many states have taken it upon themselves to restrict cell phone usage in many areas or have banned their use all together. Therefore, many accidents may be avoided if drivers limit the amount of in-car distractions while driving.
Another driving habit to avoid is that of the angry or impatient driver. Also referred to as aggressive driving, there is perhaps nothing more dangerous on the road than somebody on the verge of "road rage." This type of driving includes excessive speeding, not signaling lane changes, and tailgating. All of these behaviors significantly increase the chances of an automobile accident. Drivers should learn to relax behind the wheel, be patient in slowed or stalled traffic, and practice overall good defensive driving techniques in order to reduce their risks of being involved in an accident.
An additional safe driving habit to consider is the adjustment to dangerous situations. This includes driving in construction zones or bad weather conditions. Sometimes people assume that they can drive at the same speed, take turns, or change lanes and pass other cars just like they would under normal conditions. But extra caution, reduced speed, and stopping distances should always be considered when the road conditions change to reduce the chances of an accident.
There are always ways to improve your safe driving habits. If everyone were to take some of these tips and apply them, we would all face a safer journey the next time out on the road. This would result in the dual benefits of improving safety and reducing the costs projected by auto insurance quotes.
