Keep yourself and others safe on the road with these driving tips!
We are all in a rush to be somewhere. When you’re behind the wheel of a car – whether alone or with passengers – driving safely should always be your top concern. It’s important to know the basics of safe driving and practice them every time you’re on the road in order to drive responsibly. Here are 8 ways to stay on the road and be safe during your commute.
1. Have good posture and focus on the road
- Sit up straight with your head elevated to have a clear view of the road.
- Focus only on driving, and don’t be distracted by other matters, such as using your phone while driving.
- Be mindful of traffic laws, check your mirrors, and respect the speed limit.
2. Look at the big picture and be alert
- Always keep an eye on the road and your surroundings to identify potential hazards, including other moving vehicles.
- Stay alert and react safely to unforeseen situations, such as when the car in front applies the brakes suddenly or when the car next to you turns to avoid colliding with a cyclist.
- Stop at a safe place and take a short break before continuing if you feel tired or sleepy while driving.
3. Always have a way out
- In the event, your path of travel is suddenly blocked, leave yourself an alternate route for your vehicle to move.
- To avoid being blocked by other vehicles, make sure you don’t follow other cars too closely.
4. Expect others to make mistakes
- You may have signalled your intention, but that doesn’t mean other drivers will automatically give way to you, so watch before changing lanes.
- When it comes to intersections, be prepared for drivers or pedestrians running a red light, and be ready to react.
- Don’t move just because the light is green for you.
5. Safe distancing
- Timing is the key to keeping a safe distance between you and the driver in front of you.
- Every second counts, so use the 3-second rule as a guide to keeping your distance. If the weather or road conditions are not ideal, double to 6 seconds.
- Creating space between your vehicle and other drivers gives you more room to avoid unexpected collisions.
6. Adapt to road conditions
- Unforeseen circumstances such as bad weather or construction work can affect road conditions. In such cases, adapt your driving habits.
- If there are road works, you should expect to slow down even if you are below the speed limit.
- It would be best if you were still on high alert after passing through the site, keeping an eye out for debris that may have been dragged by other vehicles.
7. Watch your blind spots, and others too
- Keep an eye on vehicles passing your blind spot before turning or changing lanes.
- Beware of large vehicles such as trucks or buses with large blind spots.
- The general rule is that if you can’t see the driver in the mirror of a large vehicle, the driver can’t see you either.
8. Keep an eye on other vehicles.
- Avoid getting too close if you see a vehicle showing signs of accident damage.
- These are signs that the vehicle owner may not be a defensive driver, and to avoid danger and for your safety, you do not want to drive too close to the vehicle.
Adapted from Automobile Association of Singapore
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