Whether you’re driving your car to work or to get to the grocery store, it’s important to keep yourself safe on the road. That means using your eyes, ears and smell to monitor the traffic around you.
The level of automation in a vehicle is classified by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE). Automated vehicles range from no automation at all to fully automated.
Keep your eyes on the road.
The ability to focus on what’s ahead of a vehicle is crucial to driving safely. When your attention is on the road, you will be more likely to notice hazards and avoid them.
Many drivers rely on their mirrors when driving, but you should also use your eyes to scan the road for obstacles. This includes watching other drivers on the road and avoiding tailgating when possible.
Another good idea is to look at the speedometer regularly, especially when you’re unfamiliar with a particular route. This way, you can see whether or not you’re going too fast and adjust your speed accordingly.
Drivers with advanced technology can also be monitored by systems in their vehicles that watch for distractions and alert them if they look away from the road for too long. Subaru, for example, has a system called DriverFocus that will sound an alarm if it detects you looking away from the wheel for more than three seconds.
To keep your eyes on the road, try to avoid distractions such as eating or drinking while driving. Eating and drinking can cause your concentration to slow down or even stop completely, which is a major danger.
In addition, other things can distract you while you’re driving, including traffic, weather and other external events. If something grabs your attention, take a break from driving and do other activities to calm yourself down.
The three-second rule is a helpful tip for reducing the likelihood of you being in a crash. It’s recommended that you allow at least three seconds between you and the car in front of you when passing a traffic sign, so that you can give yourself time to react to the situation.
It’s also important to be aware of your blind spots when changing lanes or merging into traffic. The blind spot is the area on your side or rear that you can’t see in your mirrors. This can be dangerous if you are trying to change lanes or merge into traffic, so you should always make sure that you are clear of them before making any changes.
Beware of blind spots.
When you are driving, it is essential to be aware of the areas around your car that cannot be seen by your rear and side mirrors. These are known as blind spots and are a common cause of head-on collisions, especially in busy traffic.
To check your blind spots, glance quickly at your mirrors and then over your shoulder to see what is in the area that you can’t see through the mirrors. This should be a quick and easy way to ensure that no dangerous vehicles are near your car.
In addition to being a potential hazard, blind spots can also interfere with your ability to change lanes and turn safely. For this reason, you should always wait for at least two seconds before changing lanes. This will give you enough time to see any cars that may have been in your blind spot, enabling you to safely move into the new lane.
Every vehicle has blind spots that can make it difficult to see behind it or in front of it. They can be large, such as those found on semi-trucks, or small, like door frames and other parts of the body of a car.
To learn where your blind spots are located, watch a vehicle that is passing you in the next lane and notice when it disappears into your rear view mirror. When it disappears, count the number of seconds in your mind until you can see it in the side mirrors again.
After a few times, you should be able to determine the maximum amount of time that a vehicle will typically be in your blind spot before it becomes visible again. This will help you avoid an accident because you will be able to determine how long it takes for a vehicle to enter your blind spot before it becomes obvious in your mirrors.
In addition to checking your mirrors and looking over your shoulder, you should also consider installing a blind spot warning system in your car. These systems use sensors to alert you when a vehicle is in your blind spot. They are not foolproof, but they can significantly reduce your risk of a blind-spot crash.
Drive with both hands on the wheel.
Driving with both hands on the wheel is the best way to safely control your vehicle. This is because it allows you to avoid collisions and minimizes the risk of injuries in the event that your airbag deploys.
While there are a number of different hand positions, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recommends that drivers place their hands at the “9 o’clock and 3 o’clock” position on the steering wheel. This position gives you better balance with your vehicle, increases your turning radius, and reduces the likelihood of swerving when an obstacle surprises you unexpectedly.
Many people, however, choose to hold the wheel in other ways, such as keeping both hands on top or at the bottom of the steering wheel or using only one hand. This can be unsafe, since it may decrease your ability to react in the event of an emergency.
A driver should not take their hands off the steering wheel when making a turn or operating other controls. This is because it decreases your reaction time and could lead to a collision with another car or person.
According to a new study, though, many drivers aren’t following these recommendations. A field study conducted by psychological scientist James Hartley of Keele University found that over 40% of drivers were driving with just one hand on the wheel.
The results of the study also showed that gender was a factor in how people hold the steering wheel. Female drivers were significantly more likely to use both hands on the top half of the steering wheel than males.
If you’re not sure about the proper steering wheel hand placement, check your owner’s manual. This will give you the best hand position for your particular model of vehicle.
In addition to putting your hands at the “9 o’clock” and “3 o’clock” position, NHTSA recommends using the “push and pull” turning method for steering your vehicle. This method involves pushing your steering wheel up, and then pulling it down as you turn.
While this may sound like a simple process, it can be incredibly difficult to do properly without both hands on the steering wheel. This can be especially true when you’re trying to change gears or operate other controls on the dashboard.
Drive defensively.
Defensive driving is the practice of reducing the risk of a crash by anticipating hazards and making informed decisions. It is based on strategies that can be learned in defensive driving classes and includes techniques for coping with road conditions, traffic laws and environmental factors that may affect driving.
Defensive drivers are aware of their surroundings and know how to react when driving, and they have a good understanding of what other drivers can do to cause accidents. They are also alert to potential hazards, such as a pedestrian crossing the street or a car tailgating them in front of their vehicle.
A defensive driver should be constantly scanning the road and noticing how other people are behaving around them. This can include a pedestrian who is about to cross the road, a car changing lanes, or other vehicles that are not paying attention to their red light.
In addition to being alert and aware of your environment, you should always keep a safe following distance between yourself and other vehicles. This will prevent you from being hit if a car behind you suddenly brakes or changes lanes unexpectedly.
You should also take the time to regularly check your mirrors and thoroughly scan intersections before passing through them. This will help you avoid being T-boned by careless drivers who may not be paying attention to their red light.
Another important aspect of defensive driving is avoiding road rage. Road rage can occur when one driver is angry with another driver and this anger spreads to the other drivers around them. It is a very dangerous situation that can lead to a large number of accidents and injuries.
Many states offer defensive driving courses that can teach you the best ways to avoid accidents and improve your overall skills as a driver. These courses can be taken in person or online, and they may give you discounts on insurance premiums or other benefits. It is worth the investment to be a better driver and reduce your risk of being involved in a car accident.