24 Jun Safe Driving
August is National Traffic Awareness month! We here at SAVA don’t need to tell you how hectic the roads can be this time of year. That being the case, we are here to arm you with some tips and tricks to keep some of the more erratic drivers at bay and perhaps even improve on some of your own driving habits.
Aggressive Driving
We’ve all seen these yahoos peeling out of parking lots with no regard for the safety of other drivers, let alone their own. Most of the time, the best thing to do when confronted with an aggressive driver is to ignore them outright; attention gives them power. By putting your pride aside and not responding to any of the guff they may be giving you or other drivers creates a safer road for everyone. The most you or a passenger can do is get out of their way, get their license plate number and alert the local authorities of their dangerous driving. Be sure to pull over in a safe area to call the police if you’re alone in your car.
And that isn’t to say we blame anyone for occasionally getting mad while behind the wheel; driving can be a stressful activity and everyone has gotten bothered by one thing or the other while on the road at some point in time. The trick is to not become aggressive.
If you feel like you might become aggressive towards another driver stop yourself. Take a breath and re-evaluate the situation. Could you have potentially been in the wrong? You can also put on some relaxing music; singing along to your favorite song should take the edge of your nerves. If none of this seems to be doing the trick, pull over at the next safe opportunity and take a few minutes to calm down. There is no reason for you to put yourself or others in danger.
Distracted Driving
One of the most daunting epidemics of the driving community is the fact that drivers are more distracted than ever. In 2012 alone, 3,328 people were killed in distracted driving crashes according to distraction.gov. The best thing to do with your phone while driving is to stow it somewhere out of reach to relieve the tempation of calling or texting. If it is absolutely necessary for you to speak with someone while you’re on the road, invest in a hands-free device, ask any passengers in the car to make the call for you or pull off somewhere safe to make the call yourself.
Distraction is not only due to cell phone use: eating, drinking, reading, putting on makeup, smoking, and any other activity that takes your mind and eyes off the road is dangerous.
Impaired Driving
There is no excuse for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. According to MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving), someone is killed by a drunk driver, on average, every 45 minutes; and 3 in every 10 Americans will be involved in an alcohol-related crash at some point in their lifetime. Keep yourself safe by maintaining as far as possible a distance between you and the impaired driver and alert your local authorities of their license plate number and whereabouts.
If you plan on driving and have consumed alcohol, either spend the night wherever you’re staying or if that isn’t an option, call a cab or ask a friend to drive you home. They will be glad you asked them for a ride; no one wants you to put yourself or anyone else at risk.
The fact of the matter is that calamity on the road cannot always be avoided, and that is why SAVA offers their customers only the very best coverage and service. We hope that this information has been enlightening and hope you all stay safe during National Traffic Awareness month.
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