Depending on where you live, it’s fairly common for students to commute to various schools to receive higher education. If you’ve been driving for a while, then you probably think that there aren’t many safety concerns to be aware of on the road. There’s always something to watch for when you’re driving as there are never the same people or road conditions from one day to the next. There are a few tips that you might be missing that can keep you safe as well as the people who are in your vehicle.
Adjust The Mirrors
When you look through your mirrors, you probably see the road behind you and the road on either side of the car. One thing that you might not know about your mirrors is that you shouldn’t be able to see your own vehicle in them. If you adjust the mirrors in this manner so that the only thing that you see is the road or your surroundings instead of your vehicle, then you’ll reduce the blind spots and decrease the chance of accidents when you’re changing lanes.
Large Vehicles
While you’re driving, you have to share the road with larger vehicles. These include transfer trucks and garbage trucks. They can’t always see if you’re behind them on the road. If you can’t see their side mirrors, then they can’t see you. Garbage trucks have an added disadvantage in that there is usually a person on the back of the vehicle and a device that opens and closes. Keep your eyes open and be aware of your surroundings, whether you are on the way to finding your higher education or on your way to finishing that degree.
Keep Your Headlights On
Instead of waiting until it’s dark, turn the headlights on when you get in the car. It’ll save time later, and it’ll keep you from forgetting to turn them on at all. Accidents can sometimes be reduced if people had their headlights on all the time because drivers would be able to see other cars that are coming in the opposite lane or that are driving in front of them.
Scan The Road
Always scan the road in front of you. Pay attention to road conditions and the other cars on the road. Scan your eyes along the horizon as this is a good focal point while you’re driving and generally gives the best view for most road issues that might be present.
Driving is never the same from one day to the next. You’re faced with drivers who don’t know what they’re doing or who are distracted. Focus on what you’re doing while taking in the actions of those who are around you to decrease the likelihood of an accident.
Emma is a freelance writer currently living in Boston, MA. She writes most often on education and business. To see more from Emma, say hi on Twitter @EmmaSturgis2 or Facebook.
All views and opinions of guest authors are theirs alone and are not representative of the views of Petersons.com.
