1 – Don’t overestimate your abilities. Nearly everyone on the road considers themselves to be a good driver and yet there are still many accidents and traffic tickets handed out every day.
2 – Perform necessary safety checks before you get in your car. Being sure that your tires are inflated properly and that all of your lights work could save you a lot of money and possibly your life.
3 – Be aware of your surroundings. Being in control of your car is only half the battle, you also need to be conscious of the drivers around you.
4 – Eliminate as many distractions as possible. Loud music, cell phone banter (voice or text) and even just too many gauges can be very distracting when you’re driving and could cause you to lose focus of the road.
5 – Secure your load. This goes for every type of vehicle. In a crash, the rapid deceleration causes loose objects to fly at the same speed until contacting something; that laptop in the backseat is going to hurt.
6 – Slow down when you’re driving. Don’t drive too slowly for traffic, but don’t just stomp the gas pedal when you see a green light.
7 – Adjust your driving. Many people drive multiple vehicles; however, they don’t generally change their driving style. This could lead that SUV to roll because of a maneuver that worked out just fine in a sports car the day before.
8 – Drive in a calm but not tired state. Anger and anxiousness both affect the way we drive, but so will exhaustion. It’s important to drive in a calm and alert state at all times.
9 – Know the limitations of your car. Just because you have the newest, most advanced Mercedes on the market, it doesn’t mean that you will be safe from everything the world has to throw at you. All of the tools in the car are just there to help aid the driver in their normal driving.
10 – Always prepare for everything. This means that you’ve gone over your car and that you know it’s safe, as well as watching as far ahead as possible when driving. By watching ahead you can be sure you see what’s coming at you. Also, keep your eyes on the road because your hands will follow your eyes.