From emergency tire changes to parking lot jump-starts, being a driver means knowing how to be prepared for the unexpected. But when it comes to protecting both your car and personal safety, you must take extra care to make sure auto accidents aren’t one of these surprises. To shield yourself, your passengers, and others on the road from harm, below are a few safe driving practices that can help lower your risk of having a car accident.

5 Ways to Stay Safer on the Road & Avoid Auto Accidents

1. Follow the Rules of the Road

You must obey stop signs to avoid intersection collisions. You should also adhere to posted speed limits, as exceeding them may make it harder for you to come to a complete stop before hitting a potential hazard, such as an animal or a car that has suddenly stopped in the road.

2. Adjust for Hazardous Conditions

Many conditions can impact your ability to control a vehicle, so it’s important to know when to make necessary adjustments. When it’s raining, for instance, you can reduce the risk of skidding by reducing your speed by one-third of the posted limit. If you’re driving through a construction zone, you must lower your speed according to the posted signs to prevent collisions with equipment or crew members.

3. Get Regular Tune-Ups

Keeping your vehicle in prime shape ensures that it can handle all conditions of the road and respond to hazards properly. Among these regular maintenance tasks, you should invest in tire changes whenever one gets low, as a sudden flat or blowout could cause a car crash. You should also have your brakes regularly inspected to stay confident in your car’s stopping ability.

4. Keep Your Distance

Although it might be tempting to ride close to other vehicles when you’re in traffic, it’s critical to maintain a safe following distance when you’re behind cars. This distance should be at least three seconds, and even longer if the conditions are poor. Without these precautions, you may hit the car in front of you if you encounter a hazard and don’t have enough room to come to a complete stop.  

5. Don’t Impair Your Abilities

When you’re a driver, there are many factors you’ll need to monitor on the road. But if you’re intoxicated, texting on your phone, or haven’t gotten enough sleep, your driving abilities will be impaired and leave you at a higher risk of causing an accident. Make sure you get enough rest, drive sober, and preset the radio and vehicle controls before driving. 

When accidents can’t be avoided, it helps to have the support of Discount Towing & Recovery in Mountain Home, AR. Providing 24-hour towing services throughout Baxter County, this team will quickly report to your location and safely transport your vehicle to a repair facility. Roadside assistance is also available to provide emergency tire changes, jump-starts, and lockout help. Visit this towing company online to learn more about their capabilities or call (870) 425-1775 to request responsive care.