Driving habits for our New Year’s Resolutions.
Suzanne Kane from iSeeCars came up with 10 driving habits that we should all try to drop as part of our New Year’s Resolutions. We can all stand to be better drivers in the New Year so take a look at these tips:
Don’t be fooling with the electronic devices
This is a no brainer. Almost a quarter of all car crashes these days are blamed on cell phone use. If you can embrace only one resolution this year, it should be this one.
Use the turn signal
Simple, but so often overlooked. People are not mind readers so stop assuming they are and start signaling. You will be amazed at how quickly it becomes a habit.
Get some distance between you and the car in front of you
Tailgating is a very bad and dangerous habit and should be on your “Not to do” list. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration tells us that rear end collisions account for about 23% of all wrecks which result in about 2,000 deaths a year. So put patience on your “To do” list and back off.
Distractions – who needs them?
There are so many things that can distract you while you drive. Most are pretty obvious – eating, talking on the phone, looking up directions, trying to find something in your purse, dealing with children in the back seat, etc etc etc. You know when something you are doing is a distraction and needs to stop. So listen to yourself and be a safer driver.
Give your tires the attention they need
Such a simple thing but most drivers rarely do this – check the tire pressure. If done regularly this can prevent a blowout and possibly a terrible accident. Tire gauges are cheap and you can go to your local DMV site and get instructions on how to do it properly.
Buckle up or get out!
Be definite with anyone riding in your car that seatbelts are a requirement and not an option. Seatbelts save lives yet there are still a lot of folks out there who just don’t like them. This is one to stick to and a rule to pass along to your children.
No matter what you do in the New Year, make a resolution to be safe. And if a traffic ticket comes your way be sure to log in to WirelessDefensiveDriving.com.
