10 top tips for safer driving

Written by Benedict Harrison

Published on

We take a look at some of the best ways you can make your driving safer.

Whether you work as a private hire, courier or delivery driver, it’s important to follow good driving practices to make the roads safer for everyone using them. Although it is often said that everyone thinks they’re a good driver, many people aren’t aware of the kinds of behaviours that are typical of safer drivers.

Not only does following good driving practices improve your safety, but it also helps you save money on your fuel spend. Over time, you’re also less likely to be involved in claims, so you can also save on your insurance premium.

In this post, we’ll take a look at 10 ways you can improve your safety when you’re behind the wheel, so you can help to make the roads a better place for everyone.

Watch your speed

Even a small increase in your speed can have serious and sometimes terrible consequences. For example, if someone is hit by a car travelling between 30-40mph, they are 5 times more likely to die than a person who is hit by a car staying at 30mph. Speed limits exist to keep everyone safe, so sticking to them can help make your driving safer.

Anticipate ahead

When you’re behind the wheel, you should always try to anticipate ahead to give yourself as much time as possible to react to any incidents or hazards that take place on the roads. If you allow yourself more time to respond to any changes ahead, you’re less likely to be involved in an incident.

Drive as smoothly as possible

When you keep harsh braking and acceleration to a minimum, you’ll not only improve your safety, but you can also save significant amounts on your fuel spend. If you’re a private hire driver, a smoother driving style will also make your passengers feel more comfortable in your car, which could mean they’re more likely to leave you a positive rating.

Keep your distance

Tailgating can not only be frustrating for other road users, but it is also extremely dangerous. You should always make sure you keep enough distance between your vehicle and the person in front of you, especially if you find yourself behind a more vulnerable road user, such as a cyclist or horse rider.

Avoid distractions

If you use your mobile phone whilst you’re driving, you’re not only breaking the law, but you’re also putting your own life at risk as well as the lives of others. If you find that your mobile phone or anything else in your vehicle is distracting you, take steps to make sure that nothing gets in the way of your ability to focus on the road ahead.

Drive according to the conditions

When you drive in difficult conditions, it’s vital to do everything you can to drive as safely as possible.

If your visibility is reduced or the road is slippery, you should:

  • Slow down to give yourself more time to react to any hazards
  • Increase your following distance from other vehicles
  • Use your lights to make yourself more visible to other road users
  • Take extra care to look for vulnerable road users who are harder to spot in bad weather, such as pedestrians or cyclists
  • Avoid any harsh braking or acceleration

Share the road

Safe driving is as much about your mindset as it is about how you drive. If you take a positive approach in sharing the road with everybody, you’ll help to make the roads a safer place.

Use headlights appropriately

If you’re driving after dark or during conditions where your visibility is reduced, it’s important to switch on your headlights. Using your lights appropriately will not only help you to see the road ahead better, but you’ll also be more visible to other drivers, which makes you less likely to be involved in an incident.

Watch out for vulnerable road users

Although you should take care to look out for all other road users, it’s especially important to be aware of any vulnerable road users, such as cyclists, pedestrians and motorcyclists. You can read our guide to vulnerable road users for more tips about how to make the roads a safer place for everybody.

Make sure you feel comfortable

If you take the time to adjust the interior of your vehicle, you’ll not only feel more comfortable, but you will also be able to focus on the road more clearly. Any nagging discomforts can be a distraction when you’re spending a lot of time on the road, so it’s worth making sure that everything in your vehicle is set up to your liking.

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