What is driving safety?
Driving safety is, as the name suggests, a type of preventative driving, the main aim of which is to avoid accidents happening by anticipating possible adverse conditions that will impair driving. This can refer to pedestrians, other drivers, or the weather.
Their practice plays a fundamental role in ensuring that the road remains safe and presupposes that we put the common good ahead of our individual wishes or needs. There are several techniques for safer driving that can be practised, however there are six that stand out from the rest.
1# A correct position in the car
We are taught many things about this topic in driving lessons, but the truth is that we quickly get used to most of them. Factors such as adjusting the seat correctly to your height, checking that the rear-view mirrors are positioned to ensure full visibility, fastening your seat belt, keeping your body against the seat and your head rest at eye level are the first steps towards safety driving.
2# Using signage correctly
How many times could a good indicator have prevented an accident? Whether it's to overtake another car, to signal a change of direction, to indicate that you want to park or that you are going to stop, the correct use of road lights is part of a safety driving. Although their use is compulsory, there are still many drivers who take the risk of not applying them.
3# Keeping the safety distance
Despite the teachings on safety distance, how often do you drive at least 1.5 metres away from the car in front? Ensuring this stopping distance is one of the most important techniques for driving safety. It allows us, in the event of sudden braking from the car in front, for example, to brake in time to avoid a collision.
4# Always use your mirrors
Before changing direction, overtaking or any other manoeuvre, always check the rear-view mirrors to see if another vehicle is approaching you. These accessories are a good ally for safety driving, as they give you a wide view of what is happening on the sides of your car.
5# Avoid the use of other electronic devices
Using mobile devices, such as your mobile phone behind the wheel, increases the likelihood of an accident by four times. Did you know that at 50 km/h, 3 mere seconds of looking at your mobile phone is equivalent to driving 42 metres blindfolded? But there's more: using a mobile phone while driving increases your reaction time by the same amount as being under the influence of 0.8 g/l of alcohol in the blood.
6# Adapt your driving to the weather conditions
The adverse weather conditions, characteristic of the coldest months of the year, represent a risk factor for our journeys. Safely driving, with extra attention during these periods, is advisable as heavy rain, ice or fog considerably reduces our visibility and loss of grip. Always adapt your driving style to the state of the road and visibility conditions.
Practice safety driving with Enterprise
Now that you know some of the main techniques for a safety driving, nothing like start planning your low-cost trip in Portugal or your road trips in Portugal for the next months. Because preventive driving gives you the ideal security and confidence to explore our country without fear of the roads, always with the help of a car hire from Enterprise.
