With the recent 100-car
pileup on the PA Turnpike plaguing the news and a general increase in weather-related
accidents, it's as good a time as any to start thinking about your driving
habits. It's easy for daily activities to become mechanical, but it's never a
bad idea to take a little refresher course – there's always room for
improvement. In fact, when it comes to driving, some of the most life-saving
tips are ones that even experienced drivers haven't heard.
1.
Know
how to Adjust your Side Mirrors
Adjusting
your side mirrors is a task that takes all of five seconds, and yet some of us
don't know how, or don't care, to do it properly. Blind spots are a big issue
for drivers – many new vehicles come with technology to alert the driver when
there is a nearby car that might be invisible from the driver's seat. But
depending on what kind of car you drive, your blind spot can be nearly or
completely eliminated. The trick is simple: just adjust your wing mirrors so
that you can't see any part of your own car in them. When your own car is
visible in your mirrors, you're wasting valuable mirror real-estate that could
be used to show other cars around you for added safety. Always have your
mirrors angled slightly away from your car.
2.
Drive
with your Headlights on…All the Time
It's probably not your first instinct to turn your headlights on when
you're driving in broad daylight, but a recent
study shows that the risk of getting into an accident can be reduced by up to 32%
just by constantly keeping your headlights on. It's logical, if you think about
it: something that's lit up is going to be more visible. Drivers are less
likely to make that left turn without seeing you if you've got them on. In
fact, many countries require drivers to keep their headlights on at all times.
Making it a habit to turn them on every time you're in the car could save your
life!
3.
Give
your Parking Brake some Exercise
We don't usually think to put on our parking brakes unless we're parking
on a steep incline. But did you know that, when it comes to parking brakes
(also known as emergency brakes), if you don't use it, you lose it? While our
normal brakes stop the car with a hydraulic mechanism, emergency brakes stop
the car with cables. However, if they don't get any use, those cables could dry
out, rust, and corrode, rendering them useless. Next thing you know, you're
slipping on an icy road with no means of stopping immediately – or, your car is
rolling off down the hill.
4.
Control
your Car when Tires Blow Out
Maybe you've hit a pothole or run up a curb, and you hear that ominous
sound: the sound of your tire popping. Maybe you start to lose control, and of
course, the knee-jerk reaction is to slam on the brakes. However, braking
during a blowout is likely to cause you to fishtail, which could result in the
car overturning, hitting a median, or ending up in incoming traffic. Instead,
if you hear a tire blow out, gently keep your foot on the gas until you regain
control, then pull onto the shoulder.
As a company with many Fords, Chevys, and Rocky Ridge
Chevy trucks for sale, we like to remind our drivers to keep it safe on
the roads, especially when it's snowy and icy. You can never be experienced
enough as a driver, so ask yourself if you're taking these lesser-known
precautions!
Labels: cars, driving