Using safe driving practices are the responsibility of every driver on the road. Maintaining them involves a dedication that is more than just following the rules, it’s about cultivating good habits that will ensure your safety and the safety of all the others you are sharing the road with. The following are a number of simple practices and procedures that will help make the road a safe place for all to use!
Keep A Cool Car – The Australian sun is brutal, and temperatures inside a car parked outdoors can rise quickly to dangerous levels. The heat and UV radiation can cook your onboard electronics as well as damage the upholstery and dashboard. Moreover, you can suffer a nasty burn when you sit on a hot seat and grab a steering wheel that’s been baking under the sun for hours! The best answer for this problem is to snap on some windscreen sun shades that will protect the interior from the sun’s harmful rays. You must also make sure your air conditioning system is well maintained and fully functional or risk being stuck in traffic in sweltering heat which can lead to serious health issues like heat stroke!
Always Wear Your Seatbelt – This may sound grisly, but it’s meant to- ask any highway patrol officer and they will tell you that they hardly ever have to cut a dead person out of a seatbelt, they are the critical lifeline that holds you safely in place in the event of a crash. The seatbelt is the most important vehicle safety mechanism you have, so wear it at all times! It’s also the driver’s responsibility to make sure that all of your passengers are wearing their seatbelts as well. Wearing seatbelts is critical to everyone’s safety and it is legally required to do so in Australia.
Always Run Your Lights – Your car’s headlights and running lights aren’t just for nighttime, you should always have them turned on for safety. Using lights in daytime is a great way to enhance the visibility of your vehicle, especially during the early morning or late afternoon when light conditions are at their trickiest. Driving at night presents a set of unique challenges and requires additional safety considerations thanks to the reduced visibility. Nighttime driving requires increased awareness and that you be extra vigilant. It’s important to check your headlights frequently to make sure they are functioning and properly adjusted. It’s more difficult to perceive hazards in the darkness, so you must remain mindful of cyclists, pedestrians, and animals, especially when driving out on rural roads where such hazards are more commonplace.
Pay Attention And Avoid Distractions – It’s fairly normal for the mind to wander, but paying attention to the road and the surrounding conditions, while also minimising any distractions, is vital for safe driving. Distractions come in many forms and they can significantly impair your ability to react to developing situations out on the road, particularly when driving in unpredictable environments like foul weather. Driving a car always requires your full attention, even just a split second of distraction can lead to accidents happening.
The following are some common driving distractions that you should avoid:
Mobile Phones – The use of mobile phones are one of the most egregious sources of distraction to drivers, so much so that in Australia using a mobile phone while driving is not only dangerous but also illegal! Remember to set your phone to “Do Not Disturb” mode or make use of a hands-free system while you are driving.
In-Car Disturbances – These can range from loud music to conversations with passengers, so try to keep these disturbances to a minimum. Don’t fuss with stereo controls while driving!
Driving can be fun, but only if you do it safely!
