Safety tip refreshers valuable to drivers of all ages

You may enjoy driving and likely consider it second nature. However, it is important to remember that driving is not an activity that you can do without paying full attention and thinking about each action you take. After all, a number of other drivers may not take safety precautions, and you can only control your behaviors and not theirs.

Whether you have concerns for young drivers in your family or you simply want to remain a safe driver even with your years of experience, certain actions could help you keep safety a top priority while behind the wheel.

Safety tips

As mentioned, staying focused on driving is of the utmost importance when behind the wheel. Any type of distraction, even one that lasts only a few seconds, could cause a serious accident. Therefore, it is wise to keep your cellphone put away and to avoid multitasking. If you hope to keep your teen driver safe, practicing this and the following safety tips yourself could help them stay more firmly in your child’s mind:

• Avoid speeding.
• Stay prepared for the possibility of other people driving dangerously.
• Make a driving plan that includes time for rest breaks.
• Pull over to eat, make phone calls or attend to any other actions that are not driving.
• Make sure to adjust your seat, radio and air conditioner before putting the vehicle in gear.
• Make sure to keep an adequate following distance between the front of your vehicle and the rear of the vehicle in front of you, and increase that distance in inclement weather.
• Always wear your seat belt.
• Never consume alcohol and get behind the wheel.

Along with these safety tips, you may also want to remember that other activity inside your car can cause major distractions. For instance, if you have young children, their bickering could easily cause you to focus more on them than on the road, so try to keep them as calm as possible. Also, always make sure your children are properly secured in car seats or by seat belts, and secure any animals that may be in the vehicle as well.

What can you do if an accident occurs?

As safe as you may try to be, it does not mean that you will avoid every accident. Other drivers may drive drunk, run red lights, speed or carry out other actions that put you and your loved ones at risk, and if a negligent or reckless driver hits your vehicle and causes serious injuries, you may have reason to pursue a personal injury claim against that person.