Let’s face it: the roads are getting more and more crowded every year. And with more crowded roads unfortunately comes a higher risk of accidents. Fostering courteous driving habits and practicing defense driving is more important than ever for a safer driving experience. Here are important etiquette tips that can help you stay safe on the roads and highways.

Always Use Your Turn Signals

Every vehicle in the United States is required to have turn signals installed in order to receive a license plate and be registered to legally drive. These turn signals play an important role on the road: informing other drivers of your intentions so they can accommodate and adapt. Whether you’re making a turn, getting on or off at a highway ramp, or simply changing lanes, do the courteous thing and flip that turn signal on to let the people behind you know what you’re doing. Far too many accidents happen because someone failed to signal before making their move, resulting in panicked corrections from other drivers.

Don’t Drive Distracted

Distracted driving not only increases your risk of an accident, but it makes you a lot more difficult to share the road with. Have you ever seen a driver weaving back and forth in their lane, unable to keep their speed, or simply seems to be aloof behind the wheel? This is usually because they’re distracted by something, and distractions are plentiful for drivers these days!

There are three types of distractions, and it’s important that you avoid all of them:

• Cognitive distractions: Cognitive distractions are those which take your mind off the road in front of you. This can be getting lost in thought about that tough project at work or a conversation you had with a child
• Visual distractions: Visual distractions are anything that can take your eyes off the road, such as reading a sign on the side of the road or reading what your car’s infotainment system says.
• Manual distractions: Manual distractions are anything which takes your hands off the wheel to perform another task.

Perhaps the largest offender of all three of these types of distractions is your cell phone. When you’re driving, put it away, keep it away, and don’t take it out again for any reason.

Give Pedestrians Space

A recent report from the Governor’s Highway Safety Association shows that pedestrians are being injured in car accidents more today than they have in more than two decades, and at one of the highest rates in history. While pedestrian distraction is perhaps the largest contributor, a lot of drivers only make the situation worse by not giving pedestrians the space they need. Too many times drivers pull too close to or even encroach into space in crosswalks, which puts pedestrians at risk for injuries.

If you know pedestrians might be around, slow down! Keep your eyes peeled, particularly from where they might emerge between cars or around corners and always make sure to drive slow enough that you can quickly come to a stop. Be especially careful in places like parking lots or streets with a high pedestrian population as you never know when someone may walk out into the road without warning. Likewise, try to avoid driving in lanes next to parked cars in order to give them the room they need.

Pull Over for Emergency Vehicles

Emergency crews have an extremely important job to do. When someone’s house is on fire, they’re experiencing a medical emergency, or need help from law enforcement, these crews rely on our roads to get where they need to go and their lights and sirens to alert other drivers that they’re coming in a hurry. They depend on the roads to be clear, so it’s critical that you give them the space they need by pulling over to the side.

The biggest delay in emergency crews getting where they need to go is traffic in their way, and this is usually because of drivers who don’t pull over and allow these emergency crews to pass. If you hear a siren or see lights coming from any direction, not just coming from behind you, pull over and come to a stop until these vehicles pass by. Even if they’re coming from the opposite direction, ambulances, fire trucks, police cars, or paramedics can all quickly or unexpectedly dart to the opposite side of the road in order to keep going, even if this means going into oncoming traffic. This will not only keep you safe, but allow someone who needs emergency help to get it faster.

About Christian Brothers Automotive

Since opening for the first time back in 1982, Christian Brothers Automotive has sought to change the way the car repair business has operated. We believe that you deserve honest, upfront, and dependable car care that gets the job done right, gets you back on the road, and doesn’t hide costs or unnecessarily inflate the price. Through our more than 34 years in business, we’ve grown to have 189 plus locations in 22 states, each one locally owned and operated with experienced, ASE Certified technicians.

Schedule a service for your vehicle by calling your local Christian Brothers Automotive at today!

Posted by, Christian Brothers Automotive