New Year's Resolutions to be a Smarter and Safer Driver in 2019
It’s now the perfect time to follow through on your 2019 New Year’s resolutions. The new year brings an ideal opportunity for you to begin again on a fresh slate and make genuine commitments to change and becoming a better driver is always a good idea. Some people promise to eat healthier while many strive to eat right and exercise more or stop smoking, for example.
At Service King Oakland in Oakland, CA we fix cars that were damaged when people drive dangerously. They speed, they change lanes erratically or text while driving, among other things.
So, here are some driving resolutions that you can quickly embrace in 2019 and beyond to keep you and those around you safe out on the roadways.
Respect the speed limit: Speeding kills and statistics prove it. Not only will you stay away from having to pay a large fee for a speeding ticket, but you’ll keep the roads much safer. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that speeding resulted for more than one-fourth of all traffic fatalities in 2016, and that is why speed limits are posted for a reason.
Use your directional signal: Whether you’re turning onto a new road or simply switching lanes, signaling is always not negotiable. It enables the cars around you to know where you’re going so that they’re never caught off guard. Turning on your blinker is a necessary part of road safety, and it’s easy to do. Don’t rely on what other drivers are thinking—always make signaling a habit.
Buckle up: You’ve heard it since you were a child--wear your seatbelt at all times! Yes, it’s still against the law to leave your seatbelt unbuckled. If you require an additional incentive, that seatbelt could save you from severe injury if you’re ever in a collision. Seatbelts saved approximately 14,668 lives in 2016, according to the NHTSA, so keep them on, even if you're only traveling a short distance.
Never tailgate: Tailgating will unlikely get you to your destination any quicker. If you’re following behind another car too closely, you probably won’t have enough time or distance to avoid a rear-end collision. So, take a deep breath and avoid that dreaded road rage aside; and remember you're not a Formula One racer.
Stay off your cell phone: If you really need to use it, make certain that it’s connected to your vehicle via Bluetooth or another hands-free device. Plan your destination well before you get into the vehicle, so that you don’t need to mess around with your GPS while driving, and always tell your friends that you will text them when you're off the road and in a safer place. You can even set your cell phone to “Do Not Disturb” or download a safety app that blocks texts and calls while you’re driving.
Service King Oakland, 7801 Oakport Street, Oakland, CA 94621
Sources: NHTSA and AAA
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