In addition to S&S, here are some proven habits that you can apply today to help keep you safe while driving:
ALWAYS wear a safety belt. If you do get into an accident, this alone could save your life. This is proven, and I’ve witnessed the bad outcomes of not wearing seat belts too many times. Please wear your safety belt!
ALWAYS make other passengers wear their safety belts, because you could be killed by a passenger propelled through the cab of your vehicle in the event of an accident, especially someone seated directly behind you.
ALWAYS focus on driving the automobile. Distracted driving is often cited as the primary cause of automobile accidents, along with speed and drunk driving. You cannot apply the S&S concept if you are distracted in any way.
ALWAYS stow hard or heavy items in the trunk versus the passenger seat or back seats of the cab, because you could be killed or severely injured by these items propelled through the cab of your vehicle in the event of an accident. A simple can of corn from the grocery store can become a deadly projectile.
ALWAYS use daytime driving lamps to improve the visibility of your vehicle by other drivers.
ALWAYS use the two-second rule to determine minimum following distance or “space” (buffer zone) between you and the vehicle ahead (this is for ideal conditions) – a key rule of S&S.
When stopping in traffic, ALWAYS position your vehicle so you can see the rear tires of the vehicle ahead of you. This will ensure you will have sufficient space to pull around the vehicle in front of you if necessary. This also creates an additional buffer space to allow for greater reaction time, if needed.
ALWAYS be on the look-out for motorcycles. Pay particular attention to the blind spots created by the front corner posts of your vehicle. They often block the view of motorcycles or other vehicles.
ALWAYS know your travel route in advance and allow sufficient drive time. NEVER EVER let an arrival or meeting time alter your safe driving habits.
Everyday driving is not a competition – NEVER allow another driver’s actions to alter your safe driving habits.
And ALWAYS, ALWAYS check your blind spot when making a lane shift. I can’t stress this enough. You CANNOT rely on mirrors alone for this. In addition to checking your mirrors, you MUST ALWAYS turn and look to verify your blind spot is clear before signaling and changing lanes, each and EVERY TIME. And before checking your blind spot, you MUST ALWAYS first ensure you have established sufficient distance (buffer zone) to the front of the vehicle to allow the time you need to physically look at your blind spot. Drivers who do not check their blind spot before lane shifts contribute significantly to auto accidents. Drivers who do check their blind spot (taking their eyes off the roadway to the front), but don’t allow sufficient buffer ahead of their vehicle also cause accidents.
Remember, it isn’t enough to just reduce your SPEED – you must ALWAYS remain focused on driving your vehicle.
