How do you drive safely every day?

Question

When I read newspaper, I often read about people who got killed in car accidents. It happens so often that I came to accept it as part of life. It is truly sad to see people die from car accidents but what is more sad is the fact that a lot of the victims are young people.
I have been fortunate enough to never get into any car accident. But it goes without saying that I sometimes feel afraid of getting into car accident, especially on the highway.
How do you drive safely every day, especially on the highway? What precautions do you take to make sure you are driving at the safest level possible?
Thanks in advance for any insights.

Thanks for pointing that out. Yes, people get into car accidents not only from drinking, but from falling asleep while driving, or paying attention to other things such as changing the radio station. You really have to drive with 100% concentration.
Thanks for insights.

Answer 1

People will be screaming racism after reading my answer but the answer is based on observations and not ignorant thought.

I have driven most things and been on most roads in North America. From what I have seen the most dangerous, ignorant, undisciplined, empty headed and blatant vaccum packed drivers around fall into 3 categories.
1. ages 18-25 with cell phones attached to their faces
2. soccer moms
3. Asians

If you see any of these things on the road give them lots of space and imagine the worst case scenario.

AND STAY OUT OF THE FAST LANE (LEFT LANE) UNLESS YOU ARE PASSING !

Answer 2

people die everyday from thousands of different things, car accidents is not the only thing that can kill you. also, the highway is probably the least likely place you will get into an accident(unless maybe if it a two lane oncoming hit). Red light running has a high death rate. the way to avoid accidents is to PAY ATTENTION. all the time. no cell phone talking, no looking at your passengers, no worrying about what the guy next to you or behind you is doing. there is no such thing as 100% the other person's fault(well, legally there is for purposes of fault and retribution, but in reality there is not). It takes two to have an accident. Don't be the 2nd person.

also, you should take a defensive driving class

Answer 3

On the highway buckle up and try to match your speed to the other vehicles around you. It is really the speed differential between the hitter and the hittee that kills. Be attentive and always keep a safe distance between you and the car in front and try to have a plan "b" in case you need to move left or right. I've been driving for 50 years and have had a lot of close calls and the median or shoulder option has saved me more than once. The most dangerous part of highway driving is getting on or off the highway - few drivers do it correctly. Not taking driving seriously is what gets most young people killed.

Answer 4

I have never been in an accident, and mainly because I keep aware of other drivers. Driving is an active experience and you should be aware of what's going on even after all the mechanical operations have become automatic.

Also, don't multi task while driving (eating food, talking on a cell phone, getting too caught up with the radio).

Answer 5

I have been in two motor vehicle accidents. Both times it was unimaginable. And both times they were 100% the other drivers fault. It is really scary on the roads out there. I agree with you.
The bottom line is: you need to make sure your vision is 100%. You need to be awake and aware while driving. Dont get distracted with other things going on.
And just be really aware of people around you. Never ever give other drivers the benefit of the doubt. There are billions of people on the roads out there and a lot of them are just 'out of it' or just dont pay attention, or drink and drive.
You have to be in control. Dont trust drivers around you.
Dont think that people are going to stop at stop signs! thats my biggest lesson.
But driving cannot become a thing to be feared either. It is crucial in this day and age to get where we want to go in this world. Just be attentive.

Answer 6

Not talking on the cell phone and obeying all signs. Also watching out for what other drivers are doing. If someone is driving like a crazy person, I clearly do my best to avoid them. I also try to be considerate of others on the road.

Answer 7

I ride a custom Harley and I ride fast. Faster then I should I also work with traffic. I learned to anticipate what two or three cars ahead of me are gonna do. I always try to have what I like to call an avoidance plan. Like always traveling in the outside lanes so if something does happen I can try to avoid it.

Answer 8

GOOD question, and so far good answers.
I am a professional driver who spends at least 60 hours a week on the road, mostly in the City, I have an average of 3 accidents per year, always minor damage.

Always allow plenty of room between you and the vehicles around you, keep your eyes moving, looking all around you, including your mirrors, this rapid eye movement also holds off fatigue, don't be intimidated, if someone rides your rear bumper, tap your brake quickly, and slow down, they'll soon go round you.

If someone cuts into your gap in front, just take your foot off the gas for a few seconds, returning your safety margin.

Never watch just the car in front, always watch 3 or 4 cars further up, if one of them brakes or gets into trouble, you have plenty of warning, if the car in front brakes, your unconscious will register it and bring your eyes back to it.

Always expect the unexpected, and stay alert, fatigue or inattention is probably the biggest killer in this country. (Australia.)

Drive as if every other driver on the road is out to kill you, this will keep you cautious,
don't become involved in road rage, and don't be afraid to say sorry when you make a mistake, mouthing it out the windscreen and a friendly wave, defuses a situation very quickly.

Use the equipment you vehicle is fitted with, indicate well before you need to change lanes, this gives people plenty of time to make room for you,
same for turns, indicate before you brake, the slightest pressure on your brake pedal brings on your brake lights,
if you anticipate stopping or slowing, give the people behind you plenty of warning,before you start to slow.

Check your vehicle regularly, head & tail lights, indicators clean and working, get someone to check your brakelights, or reverse up to a shop window to see your reflection, mirrors correctly adjusted,
if you have heating or cooling, make sure they remain in working order,
many accidents I see in summer are caused by people who are hot and racing to get to somewhere cool,make sure your radio is working and preset to your favourite stations.

If you are comfortable, and enjoying the drive, you will stay relaxed and alert.

Give yourself plenty of time to make the journey, if you know the trip usually takes 30 mins, give yourself 40, you can use the extra few minutes at the other end to unwind.

As a proffesional driver for 34 years, I have driven most vehicles you see on the road, I hold licences from motorcycle right through to road train, (tractor unit and 3 trailers.).

In Australia we have Defensive driving courses available for heavy vehicle, and motorcycle, but to my knowledge, not for cars.
there is probably something similar in every country in the world, they are superb, you won't know how little you know about driving until you do one of theses courses,
I have done 3 for motor cycle, and 2 for heavy vehicle, I am sure they have saved my life many times, something I have learned from these courses are:

Having right of way is no good if you are dead! even if you have right of way, be prepaired to yield it if someone disputes it, stay alive!

Never look straight at something you need to avoid or you'll hit it, always look to the side of it, you will steer to where you are looking.

If you go into a slide, always steer towards the slide, not away from it, this can cause a rollover.

Good on you for wanting to stay alive, the accident you keep out of might be the one that was going to kill me!

Answer 9

You have to approach driving like everyone on the road is trying to run you over. Once you do that you get real defensive and watch for everything.