Road Safety Tips
You probably notice on a daily basis how many bad drivers are on the road. It seems like no matter where you go, people aren’t the best or most responsible drivers. That’s why it’s important for all motorists to follow these best practices and road safety tips throughout the year. The Haven Gear staff hopes that everyone follows these guidelines so that police officers and civilians can be safe wherever they go.
Watch Out for Police Officers
Even though police officers wear protective clothing at times, like Haven Gear’s Patrol Riot Suit that is ultra-lightweight and blunt force resistant, the last thing you want to happen is to hit one of them with your car. That’s why you must watch the roadways for police officers on the side of the road that have pulled someone over. Give them plenty of space to safely do their job. If possible, move to the opposite lane to stay safely away from the officer and additional vehicles.
Another instance where you want to be watchful of police officers is when they are in the street directing traffic. Pay attention to what they are telling you to do in these very active traffic situations. Being aware will not only aid in the flow of traffic, but you will also help prevent dangerous scenarios with your vehicle.
Don’t Text While Driving in Any Vehicle
Being a distracted driver could potentially lead to a deadly situation while on the road. Don’t text and drive, ever. If you can’t stop yourself from texting while driving, then you should put your phone in the trunk of the car before you even operate it. That way you won’t be tempted if a text comes through that you want to respond to. Practically nothing needs your immediate attention while driving. Get to your destination safely and without using your phone.
The National Safety Council estimates that 1 in 4 accidents are caused by texting and driving. You don’t want to be a part of that statistic and the nearly 390,000 injuries that happen each year from distracted driving.
Tailgating is Dangerous Especially in Traffic
Tailgating someone, and driving too close to other cars on the road can be very dangerous. When you travel without ample space between you and another car, you are running the risk of not being able to stop if they suddenly do. If you crash into them from behind, in most instances, you will be at fault. Plus, you could seriously injure them and yourself.
The rule of thumb to follow is to leave at least two seconds of space between you and the car in front of you. You can gauge this by watching the car in front of you pass a stationary marker, and then start counting (one thousand one, one thousand two) until you hit that same mark. Ideally, you’ll reach the marker after you have stopped counting, not before, or you’re too close.
Obey the Speed Limits to Stay Safe
The speed limits are there for a reason. Plus, the faster you are going in an unsafe way ups the chances of getting into a fatal car accident. The goal of having speed limits is to keep more people safe while they are driving. They also control the flow of traffic. You can easily mess up the equilibrium around you if you are going 15-20 miles over the speed limit. Speeding creates a more hazardous situation for yourself as well as other drivers around you.
Avoid Alcohol or Drugs While Driving
This should probably go without saying, but any substances that you have in your system that could impair the safe operation of your vehicle is just plain wrong. It’s easy to call an Uber or Lyft to get home safely after you’ve had a few drinks with friends or popped a muscle relaxer with a couple of beers at dinner. There are absolutely zero reasons to drive inebriated.
Always Wear a Seat Belt when Driving
A seat belt can easily save your life. As a responsible driver, always make sure that all passengers in your car put on their seat belts. Take into consideration, in 2017, more than 37,000 people perished in auto accidents and nearly 50 percent of them were not wearing a seat belt. It’s been proven time and time again that wearing a seat belt will prevent serious injuries during car crashes.