If drivers thinks about what they do before they start driving each day, road injuries and deaths could be drastically reduced.
It’s as easy as taking a mental “refresher” each morning before you start driving for the day. Even if a good driver absentmindedly sets off, he or she could find themselves out of control because they have taken driving for granted.
Drivers with years behind the wheel and no blemishes on their record can become complacent with dangerous results.
According to expert instructors, it’s the little things that can determine whether or not you have a crash and its severity.
The top 10 list of driving mistakes start with not looking far enough ahead.
Many drivers keep their eyes straight ahead, on the car in front, leaving them ill-prepared for an emergency among other vehicles ahead.
It’s important to raise your eyes and scan the traffic ahead. Not many people realize that their peripheral vision works up and down as well as from side to side.
Related to the first mistake is traveling too close to the vehicle in front. It is an all too common practice. The best rule to apply here is to leave a two-second gap between yourself and the vehicle in front.
Deadly mistake number three is failing to adjust driving to suit the conditions.
Weather changes driving dynamics considerably. In sunny conditions, glare can be a hazard; in the wet, roads become slick while rain and spray reduce visibility.
Reducing speed in the rain increases control and your ability to react safely.
Mistake number four often comes as a surprise incorrect tyre pressures. They are considered a major vehicle defect and can have a marked effect on how a car handles. Check your tyre pressures every time you refuel; the couple of extra minutes it takes may save your life.
Hard driving is mistake number five because it puts unnecessary stress and strain on the vehicle and makes life difficult for other drivers.
Deliberately swerving to change lanes or to avoid an obstacle doesn’t give people around you a lot of time to react.
Number six mistake is failing to use mirrors or not having them correctly set in the first place.
Most set up their wing mirrors so they can see the sides of the car but they’re actually creating blind spots.
Set wing mirrors until you just lose sight of the back corner of the car.
Failing to keep left on multi lane roads is number seven on the list.
Hogging the right-hand-lane is plain dumb and it makes you a hazard to others.
It may seem like commonsense to obey the road rules, but not doing so is mistake number eight and it happens all the time.
Mistake number nine is incorrect seat posture usually too far away from the wheel. You should have slightly bent arms but not so close you’re hugging the wheel.
The last big mistake is failure to keep cars in a roadworthy condition and it’s not just smoky rust buckets a blown indicator or tail light instantly makes a car not roadworthy and dangerous.
Everyone should check their cars once a week to make sure headlights, indicators, tail lights and brake lights do work.