Got A New Car? Here’s How To Stay Safe While Driving It

Getting a new car is for sure very exciting. You get to go wherever you want to without depending on anybody. Now, besides being a huge investment, it is a big responsibility as well. No matter how experienced you are, sometimes it’s easy to slip into autopilot.

That’s especially the case with people who have been driving for many, many years. A lot of them think they’ve got it all figured out. Unfortunately, many forget that a single mistake is enough to hurt themselves, somebody else, or crash their vehicle.

That’s why you have to do everything that’s in your power to always pay attention to the rules on the road if you want to keep yourself and others safe. If you need some guidance when it comes to this, then check out the tips we put together below.

Tips To Stay Safe On The Road

Do Not Focus On Any Distractions 

A majority of people know that they aren’t supposed to check their phones, or any other device for that matter while they are driving. Even though they are completely aware of this, they still frequently have a tendency to take a look at the text they received, or answer the call.

Namely, a lot of them think that it’s just a “quick” phone call or a short message that doesn’t require lots of time and that nothing serious can happen if they just grab their cell phone for a split second.

This is especially the case with a driver who often does this and who hasn’t experienced anything bad which is why they think that checking their cell phones is relatively safe. Just because you weren’t in a car crash because of it, it doesn’t mean that it won’t happen at some point if you continue to behave like this. Maybe you were just very lucky so far.

Many forget that sometimes all it takes is one second of carelessness to jeopardize your life or the lives of other drivers. Therefore, if you want to minimize all potential distractions, you should put your cell phone in driving mode.

So if somebody tries to reach you, your device will immediately send an auto-reply while you are driving. Now, besides gadgets, there are other things that can be defined as distractions, such as the beverage you are drinking, the food you’re eating, kids in the vehicle, and many others. 

Take The Permit Test 

Those who haven’t yet gotten their permit test have probably spent a lot of time studying to make sure they are prepared for it. If you think that you are relatively ready for it, it would be recommendable to take a practice test before the real test.

This is a great idea because it will help you prepare yourself for the real thing. Luckily, there are so many amazing websites where you can take the online test to see whether you are ready or not. It’s definitely not a waste of time, on the contrary!

The Smell Of Your Car

If there’s an awkward smell in your car, then it definitely means that there’s something wrong. If that’s the case, then you need to figure out what is going on. Below we will list the potential causes behind it:

• Burnt carpet. This usually happens if the brake pads are overheated, or if the handbrake is left on. Check these things out immediately.
• Hot oil. Search for overflow from the most recent oil change.
• If you’re smelling rotten eggs, then it is highly likely it has something to do with the catalytic converter. If that’s the case, then it is probably impacting the engine of your vehicle.

Make Sure Your Documents Are With You All The Time

Whenever you are driving, you need to make sure you are carrying a valid driver’s license, a car insurance policy, the vehicle’s registration certificate, and a valid pollution certificate. Having all these things by your side will provide you with more confidence when you are on the road and will give you the sense of being in control. Moreover, you will avoid unnecessary panic in case the police officer tells you to pull over to see if you have all these documents with you.

Seat Belt Is Always A Must!

When it comes to this, there are three types of people in the world. There are those who instantly buckle even before they start the engine. Then there are people who refuse to wear a seat belt because they will not be driving for too long, so they think that’s not necessary. There are those who practically never wear seat belts, which is the worst possible thing. All of us should behave like the first group of people because seat belts can literally save lives!

For instance, if you’re in a car crash, precisely the seat belt will keep you in the automobile and will enable you to ride out the crash forces. If you are ejected from the car or thrown around inside, you can seriously injure yourself, or worse.

Many studies have shown numerous times that wearing a seat belt is one of the best and most efficient ways to decrease fatalities and injuries whenever a collision occurs. Bear in mind that you should buckle in any type of vehicle, not just in your own car.

Just Let It Go

The most seasoned driver will confirm that there are a plethora of angry people on the road, especially when they’re in a hurry. Unfortunately, that’s not an urban myth. So, if you happen to come across a car that just cut you off, just let it go.

Just back away and pretend as if nothing happened. Why is this important? Namely, some statistics have shown that road rage has caused murder over trivial violations in a lot of states in the USA. So in case something like this happens to you, just ignore it and move on.

A majority of drivers know how crucial safety is, but unfortunately, when they’re in a rush or distraught they tend to forget this. So whenever you can, check out these tips because they serve as a great reminder.