We are all aware of how important safety is, particularly when on the road; although, it can be easy to miss or overlook certain details if we don’t keep on top of things. Not only do we risk injury to ourselves but also to other road users and pedestrians.
Sometimes, all it takes is a reminder to ensure we make a concerted effort to stay cautious when driving, which is why we’ve come up with four simple tips for driving safely.
How To Ensure You Are Safe When Driving On The Road
Investing in a car with safety features
Ensuring your car is equipped with some of the top safety features can make all the difference when on the road and can help to prevent an accident – or reduce the damage caused.
Newer electric car models like the MG4 EV usually come with features like active emergency braking. This uses a complex system of sensors and cameras to detect danger in the road ahead and break accordingly, usually before the driver has chance to.
Additionally, most modern cars now have lane-keeping assist, which helps to warn the driver should they stray too close to the edge of a lane without indicating. This is usually done through an audible warning or a vibration of the steering wheel. More advanced systems will do the work for you, adjusting the steering automatically if the driver fails to do so.
Understand your dashboard signals
With some car dashboards having up to 64 different symbols to recognise, knowing exactly what’s wrong can be troublesome. Don’t worry, you’re not alone if you don’t know the ins and outs of each one.
Have a look through your car’s manual to familiarise yourself with the most important symbols and what each one is trying to tell you, particularly if one has appeared before a journey.
Generally, green means the system is working correctly. Amber indicates something isn’t working properly. Either you need to take extra care or have the issues checked out when it is safe and possible to do so. Red means there is a serious problem that you must attend to immediately, otherwise, it could be dangerous.
Regularly check the brakes, shocks, and tyres
Regularly monitoring the health and condition of the vital systems in your vehicle will most certainly help you to avoid any unwelcoming surprises.
If you notice an unusual noise when braking or a subtle difference in the performance of the brakes, it’s best to get this checked out as soon as possible. It’s also important to make sure that you have enough traction in order to grip the road. This can be achieved by assessing the tread depth of the tyres, using a pressure gauge to ensure they are properly inflated.
Carry emergency items in your boot
Sometimes, the worst does happen, which is why carrying some essential objects in your car is necessary – and trust us, you’ll be glad you were prepared!
Such items include a warning triangle, fire extinguisher, flashlight and jump leads. These are highly useful in the instance that you break down or are involved in an accident.