Signs You Are A Safe Driver

We all like to think that when we are out on the road, we aren’t going to be a danger to ourselves or to others. But the truth is, we all have our moments. If we are lucky, we won’t end up in an accident through our own fault. 

And having a clean license and record doesn’t mean that you’re a safe driver; it just means you haven’t either been caught or made too big of a mistake. 

Here are some signs that might help you confirm if you are a safe driver - or if there is room for improvement. 

Minimal Distractions

For those who drive with children in the car, you will know that having zero distractions can be impossible until they are sleeping. Aside from the children, it is important to look at the distractions that you put in your own way too. Music too loud, phone with notifications on, eating, and more. All of these are distractions and can take your mind off driving. 

How often do you minimize distractions before you hop in the car?

Turn Signals

Not signaling other drivers where you are going causes more crashes and calls to car accident lawyers, than distracted driving*. Other drivers can’t read your mind, and even those who tend to look for extra signals that a driver might be giving can miss them. 

Turning without signaling can cause crashes - so next time you’re driving, ask yourself if you are using them every single time you need to. 
 
* Study: Turn Signal Usage Rate Results: A Comprehensive Field Study of 12,000 Observed Turning Vehicles.

Merging 

Joining higher-speed traffic and not meeting the speed they are doing can be disastrous. You may have been behind another car that seems to slow down and try to find a spot or let other cars who are already traveling go first. As polite as that is, it is a hazard that can back up other traffic joining, and that can be felt much further back on the roads. 

Merging correctly is something that takes practice; defensive driving is important here, and instead of just hoping you’ll get a space when you hit the freeway, it is better to look for gaps and aim to accelerate into them. 

Merging tips: How To Merge Into Traffic - Defensive Driving. ​

Follow Distance

If you like to sit nose to tail, you are one of the most dangerous drivers on the road. A safe distance means that you have at least three seconds of time between you and the car in front. To measure that, the car in front should pass an object roughly three seconds before you get to it. It gives you enough time for an emergency break if you need to. 

This gap also means that if you are hit by a car behind you, you aren’t likely to get crushed into the car in front. 

For those who have teenagers learning to drive or soon to pass their driving tests, addressing your bad habits is important, but here are other things that can help: ​Raising Safe Drivers: 4 Approaches to Help Them (and You) Acclimatize - My Life is a Journey Not a Destination: Lifestyle Blog. ​