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Speed kills
The single biggest road safety issue in the US and other parts of the world today is speed – drivers speeding too fast for the conditions.
In 2007, speed was a factor in:

• 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.

Rule 12: Keep your eyes open

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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Rule 11: Stop tailgating

‘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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Rule 9: Be cautious while you are on the road:

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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Rule 6: Don’t run red lights

“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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