We are entering the last part of the year. With it comes shorter days and the holiday season. Many of us have to commute to get to work. With less daylight, we are forced to drive in the dark. Or even worse, with the sun coming down in our field of vision. These two aspects, alongside heavy traffic, make for treacherous driving conditions. Add to that the festive mode that surrounds the holiday season, when some drivers are more prone to be relaxed or in some cases; drinking might have taken place. It is a good idea to take a defensive driving stance to attempt to avoid being involved in an auto collision accident.

Tips for road safety

  • Leave on time – Always give your self a 10 to 15 minute lead time before having to get to your destination. This extra time allows for unforeseen circumstances that may occur, that would otherwise make us arrive late. It also allows us to drive more securely without the anxiety related being late. It is never good to drive fast because you are running late.
  • Keep your distance – This is the cardinal rule of defensive driving. Always try to keep your distance from the vehicle driving in front of you. The faster you are traveling, the more distance you should maintain. This distance allows you to react accordingly if something happens with traffic ahead of you. It also allows you to slow down with enough distance and time in case the person behind you is driving to close to you. This tip related to our first one, leaving on time.
  • Leave your self some space to maneuver – Never drive at the same speed as the vehicles next to you. Ether slow down or pass them, but it is never a good idea to have a car next to you. If you need to change lane for whatever reason, you will not have space to do so if a vehicle is right next to you.
  • Always pay attention – We all think we are capable of multitasking, but nothing can be further from the truth. No matter how experienced a driver you might think you are, your attention is required 100% of the time. Too many things can change very rapidly while driving. So we can’t stress enough to avoid using your smartphone while driving. It is particularly a bad idea to text while driving, no matter your texting ability.
  • Always wear your seatbelts – It is not against the law to drive without your buckling up, but statistics have strongly proven vehicle seatbelts save lives.
  • Don’t drink and drive – As we mentioned at the beginning of this post, the holiday season is upon us. We all know that drinking alcoholic beverages impairs our ability to drive. Shortens our reaction times and can cause us to drive erratically. Even though it is illegal and it carries a hefty fine, not to mention terrible legal repercussions, people will still drink and drive. So don’t add to the problem and instead be part of a solution.