It is the duty of every car owner and driver to drive responsibly so that everyone on the road can be safe. While buying good car insurance online can take care of the physical damages to your car, the emotional anguish could be difficult to manage. Reducing the number of such incidents or avoiding them altogether requires some effort from everyone’s end.
Here are five ways to minimise car damage when you drive:
- Lessen the number of distractions:
It is crucial to minimise the number of distractions when driving. If you are new to driving, do not turn on the radio or have elaborate conversations with your passengers. Focus on the road and the signals. If you must have a word with a passenger, avoid an argument as a distracted mind is likely to cause rash driving.
No matter how convenient and important our mobile phones are, simply avoid taking calls when you are driving. Or stop the car somewhere on the side of the road and then take a call. A hands-free earpiece can be useful for urgent calls but keep the conversation brief. The road and your driving deserve your undivided attention.
These are some types of distractions you must avoid:
- Texting and driving with one hand
- Having an argument on the phone
- Ignoring the road to look at something
- Don’t drive if intoxicated:
It is very obvious that driving under the influence of intoxicants is extremely dangerous. Despite this, people still get behind the wheel after drinking. There is no such thing as “a harmless amount of alcohol” before you drive. Sometimes, even a few sips can hamper your motor skills and your reaction time.
If you know you are going to consume alcohol at an event, leave your car keys at home. It will be cheaper to pay for the cab, than for paying the DUI (Driving Under the Influence) fine or causing accidental damage. In a lot of cases, a DUI fine can cause you to lose your job and also increase your car insurance price, as now the car insurance companies will consider you as a higher risk.
- Maintain distance from other cars:
When driving on a busy road, it is best to keep some space between you and the car ahead. If you follow a car too closely, you can end up rear-ending them. It is always good to follow the 4-second rule when driving in neck-to-neck traffic. You should be able to count up to 4 before getting close to the next car.
If you are a cautious and safe driver, your car insurance provider will consider this while calculating your premiums during the insurance renewal for your car. You will be eligible for lower premiums if you are careful with your car.
- Always wear a seatbelt:
Seat belts are designed to keep you safe and so, never neglect the importance of wearing one. Even if you are driving a small distance, wear the seatbelt. And when there are others in the car with you, encourage them to do the same. A lot of car accidents turn out to be non-fatal when the driver and the passengers put on their seat belts.
In fact, whenever you feel that the seat belt is loose or doesn’t hold well, have it repaired and changed. Since seat belts are a safety measure, you can bring down your car insurance premiums by being a careful and responsible driver.
- Defensive driving:
Sometimes, even the most experienced drivers cannot control what happens on the road. Don’t always expect an accident but drive defensively to avoid any damage to your car. This could be difficult, but the best way to drive defensively is to be aware of the other vehicles all the time. Here are a couple of tips you can follow:
- If you notice a heavily loaded goods-carrier truck driving close to you, give it a wide berth and let it pass first. And if it does not move ahead, then speed up and drive on. Heavy vehicles have the potential to cause severe damage to your car, and this is something you should keep in mind.
- Sometimes, bikers and certain drivers engage in rash driving. If you spot such mischief-makers on the road, your first step should be to move away from them. Luckily, such drivers also have noisy gears which give you enough time to move out of their way.
When you learn driving, you can ask your instructor to share tips that can enhance your defensive driving skills. It goes a long way in keeping your car and yourself out of harm’s way on the road.