Following safe and efficient driving principles can prevent accidents and save you money. Each year, 6.3 million accidents occur in the U.S., according to Erie Insurance. Learning how to drive defensively and anticipate the actions of other drivers will help you avoid potentially dangerous situations that could lead to accidents.
Staying Alert
DrVoyageur.com recommends keeping your eyes constantly moving to detect any hazards or signs of trouble. While driving, concentrate on the road in front of you and the road to each side of you. Looking in the rearview mirror frequently will help ensure that you are aware of possible dangers behind you. Avoiding talking or texting on cell phones and driving only when you are fully rested are important factors in staying alert to road conditions and preventing accidents.
Anticipating Problems
Keeping a safe following distance between your car and the car ahead of you can give you enough time to avoid an accident if the other car suddenly slows down, stops or swerves. Roadtrip America.com recommends two seconds of following distance between vehicles. You can gauge the correct following distance by noticing when the car ahead of you passes a landmark, such as a speed limit sign, and then counting the seconds until your car reaches the same sign.
Reducing Speed
Speed is frequently a factor in crashes and is responsible for approximately one-third of fatal crashes, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. If an accident occurs when you are traveling at a high rate of speed, the vehicle may be unable to stay intact at impact, and airbags and seat belts may not be as effective in preventing injuries.
Considerations
In addition to being safer, traveling at the speed limit saves you money on gas. The U.S. Department of Energy reports that rapid acceleration, speeding and braking can lower gas mileage by 33 percent at highway speeds and by 5 percent in city driving. The department also points out that gas mileage usually decreases rapidly when you drive at speeds above 60 miles per hour.
Weather Effects
Allowing extra time for your trip if it is raining, sleeting, snowing or icy will prevent you from traveling faster than is safe in your haste to reach your destination. Traveling during the beginning of a rainstorm can actually be more dangerous than traveling during severe weather conditions, according to DrVoyageur.com. When dirt and oil on the surface of the road mix with rain water, road surfaces may become slippery.
Traveling Light
Emptying the cabin of your vehicle and the trunk of unnecessary items can reduce your gas mileage and prevent injury from flying objects should you be involved in an accident. An extra 100 lbs. in your vehicle can reduce the miles you can travel on each gallon of gas by up to 2 percent, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.
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