Tips on Becoming a Safer Driver

Thousands of car accidents take place on our roads every year, of which many prove fatal. Human factors are the biggest contributor to road crashes and fatalities.

Here are some pointers to making your driving safer:

Focus. Be aware of your surroundings and of other vehicles. Distractions make it harder for you to identify possibly threats and hazards. Criminals often target unsuspecting or distracted drivers at robots or intersections where smash-and-grab type crimes have become rife.

Maintain a safe following distance. A vehicle’s ability to stop is greatly reduced with speed. Keeping a safe following distance is by far one of the easiest, yet, most commonly broken rules of defensive driving. At a minimum, during dry conditions, three seconds is a safe following distance and in poor visibility four seconds or more.

Smooth operator. Drivers who drove in a smooth manner are often better drivers, from acceleration and braking to lane changes and turning. Being smooth and gentle will also reduce fuel consumption and vehicle wear-and-tear.

Drive for others. Anticipate what other drivers or road users might do and make appropriate adjustments to your driving. An accident might not always be your fault, but identifying the errors and compensating for them might save you.

Speed kills. Speeding makes it harder to avoid an accident, giving you less reaction time and space to escape or bring your vehicle to a stop. Fatalities are drastically increased where speeding motorists are involved.

Keep your cool. Road rage or aggressive driving is can be lethal – avoid it at all costs. It’s just not worth it.

Control Freak. When you are in the driver’s seat, you are in control.  Keep both hands on the steering wheel, ensure that your mirrors and seat are adjusted correctly and that you are able to reach all the pedals comfortably.

Vehicle Fitness. Always ensure that you have more than enough fuel for your journey. Detours, road works and traffic can sometimes affect the distance you planned to travel. Check your vehicle’s tyre thread depth, wear and pressure and always service your vehicle regularly, as per your motor manufacturer’s recommendations.

Buckle up. As the driver, it is your responsibility to buckle up and make sure all your passengers do too. Wearing a seat belt or using a child seat can prevent serious injury or fatality.