Road Etiquette: How Driving Politely Can Improve Your Safety
Driving etiquette is not only polite, but it may also save lives. If you follow some of the behaviors listed below, you may reduce your risk of being involved in a car accident. Getting somewhere a few seconds faster is not worth your life or the lives of others. Use your turn signal: Neglecting it is a safety risk for apparent reasons. According to research by the Society of Automotive Engineers, failure to use turn signals causes 2 million accidents each year. The study claims drivers neglect to use their turn signals 48 percent of the time. Please, don’t be one of these people. Be careful using your high beams: High beams can improve your personal safety while endangering others.
The truth is, there is a right and wrong way to use high beams. Switch off your high beams to standard lighting when you see an approaching vehicle. Also, do not use high beams while driving directly behind another driver. Avoid distracted driving: Centers for Disease Control statistics show distracted driving kills eight and injures 1,161 drivers daily. Texting while driving is not the only form of distracted driving. Eating while driving, talking to other passengers, or reaching for nearby items can also cause distractions. Your only focus should be on driving. Let other drivers merge: Never speed up to keep other drivers from merging, as you may cause a collision. Don’t tailgate other drivers: If the driver in front of you is going too slowly, attempt to switch lanes and pass them. Tailgating is extremely risky because it does not provide you with enough stopping room if the driver unexpectedly hits the brakes. Yield the right of way: If you are at a stop sign or intersection and believe another driver may have the right of way, let them pass first. Attempting to run through the intersection is likely to cause a collision. Don’t slow down to look at roadside accidents: Slowing down to gawk at roadside accidents is known as ‘rubbernecking’. Rubbernecking is an annoyance for other drivers because it causes traffic jams. It can also increase your risk of an accident by taking your eyes off the road.
Why You Should Practice Driving Etiquette
Developing these habits will take repetition. Like all good habits, practicing driving etiquette can take time. According to researchers at the University of College London, new habits take an average of 66 days before they become automatic. If you feel you could be a ‘politer’ driver, give these techniques a try over the next two to three months and see if they stick. The Texas personal injury attorneys at Mike Love & Associates, LLC, encourage you to practice safe driving habits.