6 Simple Things Car Drivers Should Be Doing Before Taking the Wheel

Driving is one of those activities that sometimes seem too simple to be true. This is especially true for car drivers who want to improve driving skills or safety. There are even some things they should be doing before taking the wheel.

                                                        Safe Driving Practices

If you don't know what it takes to become a better driver, you need to review these six essential steps.

Drivers should follow these guidelines to ensure safe driving practices. Start now and get better at driving today!

The guidelines to ensure safe driving practices

1. Put On Your Seat Belt

You might think this goes without saying, but seat belts save lives. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), nearly 40 percent of car crashes involve drivers not wearing seat belts. Seat belts help keep you safe if something should happen while driving. If you're injured in a crash, fastening your seat belt could be the difference between surviving and dying. So buckling up should always be automatic, no matter what else you do before getting behind the wheel. There's nothing worse than being trapped inside a vehicle after an accident.

                                                         Put On Your Seat Belt

2. Don't Drink And Drive

The NHTSA reports that about 25 percent of fatal alcohol-related accidents occur at night. In fact, nearly 45 percent of drunk driver fatalities occur on Friday or Saturday nights—the weekend days that people have been known to drink the most. So don't risk losing control of your vehicle due to intoxication. Instead, call a taxi cab or friend who doesn't drive to take you home.

3. Avoid Using Cellphones While Driving

According to the NHTSA, distracted driving is the leading cause of teen traffic deaths. Distracted driving includes talking on your cellphone, eating food/drinking beverages, reading maps, adjusting the stereo, etc. It would be best to have eyes on the road, not one eye on a phone screen. Even hands-free devices may be distracting. And never text and drive.

4. Slow Down When Passing Cars

Driving too fast is dangerous, especially when passing automobiles. On the other hand, slowing down gives you time to react if someone makes a sudden move out of nowhere. Also, slow speeders tend to get much less attention from police officers.

5. Take Careful Notice Of Road Signs.

Road signs are there for a good reason. If you don't pay close attention to them, you'll end up running off the road or slamming into stop signs and intersections. So make sure you know where you're going!

6. Wear Sunglasses At All Times.

Sunglasses protect your eyes from harmful rays that can cause severe damage to your vision. Studies show that wearing sunglasses reduces your chances of becoming legally blind by 50 percent.

3 Ways to Improve Your Driving Skill Level in 2022

Ways to Improve Your Driving Skill Level

Driving has been one of the most challenging things to master in life. We can spend hours learning to drive yet still struggle to maintain our driving skill level.

That's why we think it's vital to practice every aspect of the driving to ensure that you continue to improve your ability to drive safely on the roads.

So, what steps can you take to improve your driving skills? Below, we'll explain 3 ways to improve your driving skill level in 2022.

1. Practice Every Day

Driving Practice

As a driver, you have two types of days – good and bad. Sometimes you'll wake up, and everything goes smoothly without any issues. However, other times, you may struggle to navigate traffic when trying to leave the house. If you don't plan for these situations, you'll find yourself stuck in traffic, feeling frustrated. To avoid this problem, prepare yourself for each journey by practicing your skills daily.

Start by leaving early to minimize traffic and focus on the road. You can also use apps such as Google Maps to help you plot out the safest route. This way, you won't waste precious time trying to negotiate traffic jams before reaching your destination.

After arriving at your final destination, ensure you allow plenty of time to reach your next appointment. By doing this, you'll not only save valuable time, but you'll also learn to manage your time effectively.

Practicing every day will let you identify areas of weakness and become better prepared for the unexpected. Plus, you'll learn how to deal with difficult situations as they arise, so you don't feel overwhelmed.

2. Learn About Traffic Laws

You should always learn about traffic laws to avoid problems when travelling. For example, if you're heading down an interstate highway, you shouldn't speed, especially if you're driving alone.

Learn About Traffic Laws

Always slow down for turns and stop signs since accidents tend to happen much quicker than normal. Also, pay attention to the road rules since speeding tickets are very common.

Learning about traffic laws is essential if you're going to travel safely. Besides avoiding fines, knowing the right thing to do can help you avoid dangerous scenarios.

For instance, if you see a police officer, pull over immediately and wait until they leave before continuing on your journey. Never attempt to flee from police officers. Doing so puts you at risk for injury or worse.

This simple tip can go a long way towards helping you stay safe while on the road. So, head to the nearest library and learn about the traffic laws.

3. Make Sure You're Ready Before Going on Road Trips

Road trips aren't always fun, but they can be exciting. However, ensuring you're prepared before you embark on your trip is important.

Before taking off, ensure you have a full gas tank, spare tire, and mobile phone charger. Of course, you should also pack some snacks, water, and a first aid kit.

Next, consider whether you'd like to bring children along. If possible, ask permission beforehand to make sure you're allowed to bring kids with you. It will give you peace of mind when you encounter unexpected challenges.

Finally, set aside some time to relax, enjoy nature, and unwind after you arrive at your destination. Don't forget to pack the essentials for your trips, such as sunscreen, sunglasses, and comfortable clothing.