Keeping safe on the road is often about having your car in good condition before you set off. However, once you are actually driving about there are still plenty of things that you can do to keep yourself and other road users safe.
It is not just about buckling up and putting your foot down, after all. Next time you are on the road, try to keep this mental check list in your mind which will help you to drive safely and minimise the risk that motoring exposes us all to.
When approaching roundabouts, consider the traffic that is coming from the right before you reach the junction. If there is a gap, then you may feel it is okay to proceed but remember that traffic from the other direction or from the left may be turning round in front of you, too. Drop a gear so that, when approaching, you have more control over the car to either stop or to proceed safely.
Beware of motorbikes or cyclists when you are in a queue of slow moving traffic. These two-wheeled vehicles may choose to filter up in some cases and have the right to do so. Before you pull away, check all three mirrors and look over your shoulder, especially if you will be making a manoeuvre rather than just heading straight on.
If your car feels like it is not cornering properly and that you might spin if you pushed it any harder, then consider having your tyres checked. Under or over inflated tyres can cause problems with cornering. If your tyres need to be replaced, pick good quality tyres from a reputed brand such as National.co.uk or Tyre-Shopper.co.uk, which can be booked online to save both money and time.
Avoid all distractions when you are behind the wheel. We all know that safe driving means avoiding using a mobile telephone nowadays, but there are many other distractions to avoid as well. Only change the radio or adjust the air conditioning, for example, on straight sections of road without lots of traffic. When you are manoeuvring or negotiating junctions, simply leave the in-car gadgets alone.
Use your lights appropriately. If you are thinking of maybe turning your side lights on, then don’t waste time considering the merits – simply do it. The same thing can be said of your dipped headlights. There is no penalty for driving with your lights on, so why wait until the light level drops? Put your lights on before you really need to and you will be more easily seen by other road users and pedestrians, alike.