There’s a hidden safety feature that not all drivers enable when beginning to drive on the road, no matter if they ride a motorcycle, drive a car, or maneuver a HGV. It’s a safety feature that is free to gain, but you must develop it yourself. It’s also a safety feature that can be easy to forget if you’re in a rush, or if you lose your cool when experiencing negative driving habits from other road users that day.
This safety feature is your attitude. It’s a malleable object very easy to lose control of or ignore, but doing so will only lead you to be ever-more-likely to encounter trouble when driving. However, carefully curating it, and following important guidelines to this end will allow you to become a safer driver no matter what age you are or how skilled you may be.
We all know that refreshing our road theory knowledge (such as reminding ourselves of obscure road traffic signs from time to time) is worth our attention, but every time we drive it can also be worth taking a few seconds to get your headspace calibrated for your upcoming driving pursuit.
Here are the four attitudes you may wish to keep hold of to keep you safer on the roads:
You Can Never Predict Other Drivers
Unfortunately, no matter how careful you are, accurately predicting the driving habits of other road users is nigh-on impossible. A driver you have been traveling behind for five minutes may have kept exemplary road practice only to fall asleep at the wheel at the last moment you are expecting it, causing you to veer off course to move out of harms way. You simply cannot predict when and where something will happen. Traveling on the highway safely for three hours could be perfectly fine, only to have a truck in front of you blow a tire, forcing you into defensive driving procedures to get around them.
This fact is not intended to scare you, but to keep you alert. Prepare for the unexpected. Rest well before driving. Never drive with alcohol in your system. Ensure your vehicle is well maintained before setting off. This will help you when you need to be the most careful, and you’ll thank yourself for doing so. Even if you never encounter so much as a incompetent driver on the roads (unlikely), this lifelong effort will have been worth it. After all, financial insurance is important, but physical insurance is priceless.
Road Rage Is Never Worth It
Road rage is never worth the cost of venting your emotions. It just isn’t. Even ‘flipping the bird’ or shouting in your car can escalate the situation. Not only may this leave you arguing with someone in a live driving situation, but it will take your eye off the road. Who knows if someone cutting you up has also affected another road user, and they’re now annoyed and angry, contributing to your lack of safety on the roads? It’s worth asking these questions because we can never really understand how or why certain scenarios may get out of hand. To that end, don’t be the cause of that scenario.
Financial Security = Peace Of Mind
It’s important to protect your financial wellbeing when on the roads, not only because it’s a legal requirement, but because knowing you’re well-covered will grant you appropriate peace of mind on the roads. Perhaps being well-covered is an essential component fundamental to driving law, but it’s also nice to know that you haven’t been price-gouged when finding a package to suit you. A little research can be worthwhile. For instance, it’s worth knowing who has cheap motorcycle insurance appropriate to your particular needs and driving requirements, as you may be able to avoid paying over the odds for being protected. While careful driving can pay dues in regards to your safety, financial diligence and research can positively affect your driving budget.
You’re Only As Skilled As Your Last Drive/Ride
Remember that you’re only ever as skilled as your last drive or ride. It only takes one accident or one mistake to cause mayhem or put yourself in harms way. Each day you drive, and each driving session you have, you must recommit yourself to these principles. You may view yourself as a great driver, but how well will you drive today? That’s all that matters, and all that will ever matter.
With this advice, we hope you can adopt the best four attitudes that will keep you safe on the roads.
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