• 32 percent of all road deaths ( about 40,000 deaths)
• 18 percent of all reported injuries from road crashes (about 300,000).

Driving safely with speed limits

Many drivers might not be aware of the fact that they can be driving at the speed limit and still be driving unsafely.
The speed limit is the maximum legal speed at which one can travel on in perfect conditions. But that doesn’t mean you are supposed to driver at that speed even if you are in bumper to bumper traffic. You’ll agree that road conditions are seldom ideal particularly in cities. As a safe driver, you'll have to look out for changes in traffic, road and weather conditions, and vary your speed accordingly.

Traffic conditions to watch out for include:

• high volumes of traffic on the road
• pedestrians, joggers and cyclists
• parked cars.

Road conditions to watch out for include:

• bumpy or narrow areas on the road
• wet, icy or unsealed road surfaces
• signs warning of hazards such as sharp curves or a slippery surface.

Weather conditions to watch out for include:

• rain, wind or fog.

Ideal speed depends on conditions

While driving, you need to be careful judging the safe speed for the stretch of road at any point of time. This is called driving to the conditions. If you don't adjust your speed to suit the conditions, you may be driving too fast, even if you're within the speed limit.

“What seems to be an easy path may not take us to our destinations.” “Losers chose the path mostly free of hassles.” Are these valuable lessons applicable while we are driving on the road? “Certainly not”

People die because they choose not to drive in a way which is considered decent. We consider it beneath and go beyond the limit of what our bodies can take. And the result is obvious: thousands die in every year and thousands are left incapacitated. The point is: can’t we practice defensive driving and learn to find out where the dangers are and plan ahead to avoid them?

Let me give you an example: I ride my motorcycle everyday to work on the highly congested and busy freeways of Washington DC. Needless to say this is a dangerous ride: too many people jostling each other, harried, angry and mostly distracted. What do I do to keep myself from trouble? In all these years I’m pretty used to mixing up with them but that doesn’t mean I don’t keep track of them. It’s certainly very difficult and I mean it.

Different routes pose different challenges: No matter where you drive be it city streets or boulevards, you are always subject to an intersection collision (mostly while you are driving a bit faster) On the freeways, you might get run over, or hit from behind if you happen to brake suddenly. Changing lanes, all of a sudden, not keeping ears and eyes open, getting impatient in traffic congestions, not bothering about weather conditions are some of the key reasons why we land up in trouble.

Sometimes, mostly while we are riding a motorcycle, we tend to follow short cut or dare to cross three lanes of heavy traffic. Picture yourself hundreds of vehicles of all kinds changing lanes to the left while others changing lanes to the right to exit at the next off ramp. Oh, too horrific! What’s the point taking smaller route if it is highly congested? Riding or driving a couple of miles more will not make a hole in our wallet; nor does it sound our beneath. Why not manage the risk by taking a safer route? Can’t we take another safer route to avoid a particular intersection? The answer is yes we can. All it takes a cool mind and some time to think. The key to defensive driving is to save your life and drive off the edge.

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Changing lanes, reckless driving and not maintaining traffic rules are the key factors behind major road accidents or collisions. These impatient drivers are well known as “jackrabbit” So it is better to be cautious rather than changing decisions frequently and resist your urge of changing lanes frequently. Remember, you are not alone on the road who needs to reach office or home at the soonest. Imagine what will happen if everybody starts thinking and acting like you? The risk of collision will increase manifold.

Keep your eyes open while you are in traffic - some cars run slow and some tend to rush fast. Measuring the whole traffic will help you to make out what speed you should carry over.

Practice tortoise style of driving. It means don’t change lanes or roads frequently and unnecessarily that might evoke danger for you. None but you have to maintain the normal circumstances. Act courteously to others in traffic only then you can expect it from them. Everyone in the traffic has their own responsibilities- you maintain yours, they will fulfill theirs.

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‘Don’t tailgate other vehicles’- the significant piece of advice you receive from most of driving instructors. It is another important reason why the proportionate percentage of accidents is increasingly taking place. Fatal accidents are quite likely to happen. According to survey, 40% of death in road accident is the cause of tailgate. So, it is better to maintain fair distance while driving. You should also be careful about yourself of being tailgated.

First, don’t be too close to the vehicle ahead of you. Maintain at least 4 seconds distance in hand so that you can slow down or stop your car when necessary without hitting anything or the vehicle.

Second, be careful about the tailgaters around you. Slow the speed down the normal flow of traffic speed which would help the vehicle behind you to pass easily without any hazards. But your poor judgment or carelessness might irritate or frustrate them about you; so play it safe.

Finally, don’t be in a haste to hit the brake instantly, keep the speed in a position to slow it down comfortably. Slamming on the brake light frequently is not only against the law but you are taking risk of irritating the other drivers behind you.
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If you aren’t mechanically apt enough to check the brakes, request someone to check it or help you show the fluid reservoir. Though, brake fluid levels don’t change naturally, otherwise is undoubtedly dangerous. Regular check ups of the brakes will be much help decreasing the thickened threat of road accidents.
If, in case, you find brakes or tires are not functioning properly, it is better to replace them with quality parts; cheaper priced tires or brakes might cause you great mishaps or lead you to regret because both are significant parts of driving; once you have lost either of them you have lost total control on driving.

Check your coolant system if it is working perfectly. Be also careful about all services of cooling systems whether they have been taken on manufacturing schedule. If you are thinking of saving money and letting your cooling system continue till the red flag, a tight lesson you are quite likely to receive shortly. Simply your coolant system will lose its alkaline nature and you might not be left with any option without changing your water pump, thermostat, radiator, heater core and hoses. So your damage is double than you have ever thought of.

Keep your observant mind and eyes open to the sounds your car makes and repair them as soon as possible. Various sounds are responsible for different parts’ damage. If it is weird or like metallic scuffing, beneath your foot then remember your brake needs instant attention. Rattling or clanging sound indicates steering problem; shrieking or whirring underneath the hood specifies the problem like losing your water pump or power steering pump; ratcheting sound can cause the damage of CV struts.

You should also check the oil on a regular basis and other requirements of your car. Don’t compromise with the quality oil.

Defensive Driving Skills

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Communicate with other drivers to alert them about your presence. It considerably decreases the chances for mishaps or accidents. Use your light and horn to inform the other drivers especially while driving in congested traffic. Making direct eye contact, if possible, would be the best way to let them aware of your presence.

If you are in a hurry but unable to go ahead because of the car in front of you, then the easy process is to give signal or press the horn to express your intention to pass so that the other drivers can leave enough space for you. Though, this act is no more taken as a matter of courtesy in recent time, your intention can be taken otherwise which can fuel their arrogance to speed up instead of letting you pass by. So be aware of this kind of hazards and steps to be taken intelligently not haughtily.

Make sure that the horn and lights are functioning properly; if not, take it to a mechanic. Remember, they are the main instruments to grab the attention of others and save yourself from collision.

Most of the accidents occur at the turning points where you are unable to foresee if anyone is approaching towards you and need to slow down. Press the horn to let the drivers, coming to you, know of you so that they can equally be alerted of your presence. It might sound impossible to you to keep all the rules in mind while driving; in fact, it is a matter of regular practice.

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Defensive driving rules

Driving safely is all about attitude—how serious we are about it. Recently, the tendency of driving fast is escalating horribly among the youngsters and that is confirmly treacherous for their lives as well as others. None but you are responsible for your own protection which can easily be learned through adherence to the specific rules and techniques for safety and survival. Defensive driving assists you take cautious steps by anticipating dangerous situations that reduce the risk of road accidents.

Fluctuation of moods especially anger or extreme emotions are quite likely to overshadow the right judgments such as taking turns or noticing traffic signals and welcome the obvious dangers for your life. Here, one should be very careful about it to control and calm down; otherwise result can be risky and regretful.

When you are distressed or distracted, it is better to either stop or think about positive things. A stressful mind makes conflicted judgments that can result into dangerous collisions.
“To err is human” we all are bound to make mistakes in our daily lives. If cautious, it would be very easy to save yourself from becoming a victim of unintentional mistakes of other drivers.

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Defensive driving rules

When we presume our driving duties, the most significant one is that we are accountable for all the involved actions and the results that follow. In every collision or accident, person in driving seat is most responsible; it is their indifferent nature towards surrounding situations that cause irreparable damage. Lame excuses such as, “I haven’t seen him”, and “It is not my fault” are common and numerous. But the question is why don’t they see others? It is only because of their diverted attention collision or opportunity of accident can easily be avoided by concentrating on their duties. So, it is better to stay focused before risking anyone’s life.

It has been seen that eating, drinking or conversing on mobile, changing CD disk, dealing with the disobedient child are most common reasons for road accidents. Drivers should be careful about driving speed (means where it has to be slowed down), signals and road intersections at the time of diversions which will undoubtedly reduce the chances of collisions or accidents.

It is the driver who can make the road safer for himself or herself by maintaining the driving rules and focusing on one particular duty. Don’t let other insignificant matters distract your attention which will help you minimize or avoid accidents.

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“Red Light Spells Danger” I really wonder how many of us remember this song of Billy Ocean while driving. Most of us run red lights by mistake; or because we are in a hurry to reach office or home and can’t afford to wait for long 45 to 80 seconds. Whatever may be the case, running red lights kills hundreds of us every year and leaves thousands other incapacitated. The choice is ours. We can pay attention to driving and make sure we are not one of the oblivious red-light runners and live to drive another day; or put ours and others life at stake.

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Motorcycles, to most of riders, are a unique form of transportation that privileges them an exclusive position on the road. Speed and fun that come along with it expose them to dangers mostly not met by motorists. The lack of substantial protective shields between a motorcycle and the road result into serious injury or death at the event of collision. Unlike a car or other four wheelers, a motorcycle is lighter in weight; it has no door, no roof, no airbags, and no safety belts; therefore, motorcyclists are about 26 times more likely to die in a crash than a person riding in a passenger car, and are 5 times as likely to be injured.

A helmet alone doesn’t guarantee your safety: In case of collision with a four wheeler, or any other form of accidents, the motorcyclist involved can’t escape injury. What would be a "fender bender" for a four wheeler is often death for a motorcyclist. Wearing helmet, therefore, in most of the accidents, doesn’t make much difference.

I remember, once I was thrown off my motorcycle at a minor speed of 40 mph. It wasn’t a collision; I was just trying to save a puppy that emerged, all of a sudden, in front of me. I landed on my head. I was wearing a good helmet so it saved my head, but it took four months to completely recover from pain and injury. I still ride the same bike, wear the same helmet but I ride it very carefully. A recent study shows that a motorcyclist can suffer fatal head injuries in an impact as low as 4 mph.

Visual Recognition: Motorcycles, due to small in size, are smaller visual targets, which are more likely to be covered by other vehicles, or weather conditions. This is an issue of greater concerns at intersections, where near about 70 percent of motorcycle-versus-vehicle collisions occur.

Road Hazards: Hazards such as potholes, oil slicks, puddles, debris, ruts, uneven pavement, and railroad tracks become a major hazard for a motorcyclist.

Poor Riding Skills: Against the popular belief that a motorcycle is very easy to ride, it requires much more skill and physical coordination to operate than a car. Majority of motorcycle accidents are caused due to the rider’s lack of basic skills, or inability to understand the operating characteristics and limitations of the motorcycle.

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Defensive driving rules