Collision Guard

Lately we’ve seen the commercials, the public service announcements, and articles about safe driving gain enormous attention. Most states now have laws that are cracking down on cell phone use while driving to try to keep the roads safer. Even Oprah is joining the movement with her “No Phone Zone” campaign. With the great deal of “buzz,” I am sure many of you are wondering, “How can I make sure I drive safely?”

Here are some tips on what you can do, to make sure you are driving in a safe way and following these new laws that states are passing.

1. Know your limits when driving. We know that cell phone use has restrictions in most states now, but what about those distractions which are not regulated? Know your limits when it comes to music volume, fiddling with the A/C dials, changing the radio station, talking to someone else in the car, etc. If you feel yourself becoming distracted from the task at hand (driving safely), even if it is only slightly distracted, you know that is your limit and you should steer clear from getting near it.

2. Pay attention to not only the road, but the cars around you. All too often we hear about the importance of keeping your eyes on the road, paying attention to where you are going, but we rarely are told to watch where the other drivers are going. It is very important to watch what other drivers are doing to see if it will conflict with what you are doing on the road. Watch how straight they drive, look for turn signals, notice the behavior of the vehicle and anticipate where it will go. This will help you avoid accidents as you will be able to alter your course accordingly, even if the other driver is distracted.

3. Do not use your cell phone while you’re driving. This is a simple one; there are even laws on it, but it is often a tip that is not followed or applied. The problem lies with our natural tendency to communicate with others no matter what we’re doing at the time. Technology is such a huge factor in our everyday lives, that it feels natural to talk or text while you’re driving somewhere. So, if you can’t make yourself turn off the phone on your own, there are some devices out on the market that can help. There are some that use your GPS to tell if you are driving, others use bluetooth and hardware installed in your car.  They are a little expensive, but worth it if you or a loved one cannot stop texting and driving.  Just do a search for “text blocker” and you should find a few good ones.

These are just a few tips on how to drive safe. Just remember to pay attention and don’t let yourself get distracted while you drive. It’s just not worth it. Keep your eye out for more of my tips coming soon.