The six driving habits that could save your car and your life
Getting into a road accident can be costly, not to mention deadly. These habits could save you next time you're on the road.Around 40,000 Australians are hospitalised every year because of car crashes while, in 2022, there were 1,192 deaths. If you think it can’t happen to you, 64% of Australian drivers over 18 say they have experienced at least one car crash.
But some simple habits can reduce your chances of serious damage to you or your car.
Use your subconscious
Keep your eyes moving, your peripheral vision engaged and tag anything that could affect your driving, from speed signs to parked cars, says driving instructor of 16 years Rick Armitage of Ucandrive.
“Once you do this, your subconscious will ‘watch’ potential hazards and you can continue to scan back and forward looking for new things on the road,” he says.
Take your foot off it
The faster you go, the more likely you are to crash and to be seriously injured. This is for two reasons – you are less likely to see hazards and it takes you longer to stop.
According to the Global Road Safety Partnership, it takes 12 metres to stop at 30km/h, 26 metres to stop at 40km/h, 35 metres to stop at 50km/h, 45 metres to stop at 50km/h and 45 metres to stop at 60km/h.
Say no to carpool karaoke
It’s no surprise that young drivers who have the music booming are at significantly great risk of an accident. A medical study found that fast music significantly increases pulse rate and blood pressure.
To stay calm and safe while driving, ditch the techno, or house music and stick to something a little more chilled.
Forget about Bluetooth
Bluetooth and steering wheel phone controls have made using your mobile while driving so much easier. But has it really made it safer?
An international study found that making and answering a call, as well as talking on the phone, affects how much you can concentrate on the road. Looking at the phone or, worse, texting, takes your eyes off the road long enough to hit a pedestrian or another car. Look at your phone for just two seconds when you’re travelling 60km/h and you will miss 33 metres.
Our phones really are addictive but switch it off, or put it where you can’t reach it and, if you need to use it, pull over and park. If you need Bluetooth for your GPS, you can still put the phone in the back of your car.
Look behind you
Rear vision cameras aside, looking over your shoulder before you change lanes, merge with traffic or pull out from the side of the road is non-negotiable. “You always need to do this because you need to check your blind spot,” says Armitage.
Be courteous, but watch out for idiots
Most drivers will do the right thing but, just like life, there are always people who think the rules don’t apply to them.
Says Armitage: “Watch out for people not stopping at red lights or stop signs, or not giving way at roundabouts too, and stay out of their way. It’s just not worth engaging.”
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