Follow These 5 Rules to Reduce Your Risk of Crashing
Your vehicle carries more than just precious loved ones, it holds flammable materials and weighs more than 3,000 pounds. In many cases, it can kill. Understand the risks every time you get behind the wheel and more importantly, what steps you can take to stay safe.
Avoid distracted driving. Distracted driving is any activity that could divert a person’s attention away from the primary task of driving. All distractions endanger driver, passenger, and bystander safety. Texting, eating, and putting on makeup are just a few tasks to avoid while operating a vehicle. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “Each day in the United States, approximately nine people are killed and more than 1,000 injured in crashes that are reported to involve a distracted driver.” There are three types of distraction: visual, manual and cognitive. Minimize other activities while driving to ensure you are focused on operating your vehicle safely. Taking your eyes and mind off the road could be lethal.
Don’t speed. There are speed limits for a reason. Extensive analysis goes into assigning speed limits. Even in ideal driving conditions, things can happen quickly. A deer or other animal can dart out in front of you, another vehicle could come to an abrupt stop, and flat tires have been known to happen unexpectedly. The faster you are going, the greater your chances of collision.
Be a proactive driver. At Top Driver, we claim to teach Driver Intelligence. Proactive driving is the primary focus of the Driver Intelligence we seek to build in our students. In proactive driving, we go over S-C-C and how to apply the technique to driving. S-C-C stands for:
- Scanning – Knowing where, when and how to look 360 degrees around the vehicle for signs, signals, roadway markings, and potential hazards.
- Communication – Using various methods to notify those we share the road with of our intentions.
- Cushion of Safety – The area around the vehicle that we try to keep clear of hazards. Front of the vehicle: Maintaining Proper Following Distance of 3-5 seconds.
Perform vehicle maintenance regularly. Many drivers overlook this topic. Whether you rely on others to change your oil, replace your brake pads, etc., it’s your responsibility to ensure your vehicle is maintained properly and meets inspection standards. The best source for this material is in your vehicle’s owner’s manual. Also, be prepared for unexpected situations. Keep the following items in your vehicle: flashlight, blanket, signaling devices (triangles, flares), jumper cables, abrasive material (sand, salt, kitty litter), small snow shovel and snow brush/window scraper. Obviously, you can adjust for weather conditions. No need for a snow shovel in July.
Don’t drive impaired. There are many factors that affect drivers on the road, some things we can’t control and others we can. There is, however, one key factor that drivers can control — yourself. Do not operate a vehicle under the influence of drugs (alcohol and over the counter medications are considered drugs). Depressants, narcotics, stimulants, and hallucinogens all have the ability to alter your vision, physical responsiveness, and your thinking skills. Drugs quickly affect reaction time, coordination, and judgment. Drivers under age 21 face a license revocation in addition to the penalties that apply for DUI offenders age 21 and older. A person under age 21 convicted of DUI may be ordered by a judge, as a condition of probation or discharge, to participate in the Youthful Intoxicated Driver’s Visitation Program.
Interested in learning more from Top Driver? Click here to check out our full list of safe driving tips for adult and teen drivers!
Frequently asked questions
What are the three types of driving distraction I should avoid?
Distractions come in three forms: visual (eyes off the road), manual (hands off the wheel), and cognitive (mind off driving). Texting hits all three at once, which is why it is so dangerous, but eating, applying makeup, fiddling with the radio, or even a heavy conversation can pull you into one or more categories. According to the CDC, about nine people are killed and more than 1,000 injured every day in the United States in crashes that involve a distracted driver.
What is the S-C-C technique Top Driver teaches?
S-C-C stands for Scanning, Communication, and Cushion of Safety, the foundation of what we call Driver Intelligence. Scanning means looking 360 degrees around the vehicle for signs, signals, road markings, and hazards. Communication means using turn signals, brake lights, horn, and eye contact to tell others on the road what you plan to do. Cushion of Safety is the buffer of space you keep around your car, including a proper following distance of 3 to 5 seconds in front of you. Together they form a proactive driving style instead of a reactive one.
What emergency items should I keep in my car?
Build a small kit so you are not stranded if something goes wrong. Top Driver recommends a flashlight, blanket, signaling devices like reflective triangles or flares, jumper cables, abrasive material such as sand, salt, or kitty litter for traction, a small snow shovel, and a snow brush or window scraper. Adjust seasonally: you do not need a snow shovel in July, but you definitely want one in January. Pair the kit with regular maintenance, since the owner's manual is your best source for service intervals.
Why are speed limits not just suggestions?
Speed limits come from extensive engineering analysis of the road, sight lines, terrain, and typical traffic. Even in perfect conditions, things happen fast: a deer darts out, the car ahead stops short, or a tire blows. The faster you are moving, the less time you have to identify, predict, and react, and the more energy is in any resulting collision. Sticking to the posted limit is a built-in safety margin that someone already did the math on.
What happens if a driver under 21 gets a DUI?
Drivers under 21 face a license revocation in addition to the standard DUI penalties that apply to adult offenders. A judge may also order the underage driver to participate in the Youthful Intoxicated Driver's Visitation Program as a condition of probation or discharge. Beyond legal consequences, depressants, narcotics, stimulants, hallucinogens, and even some over-the-counter medications can alter vision, reaction time, coordination, and judgment, all of which are essential to driving safely.
