10 Top tips to be a safer driver

Chances are you can call yourself a safe driver. But there is always room for improvement. Here are 10 Tips that should help

1. Familiarise Yourself
If you' re driving a new car for the first time, famalirise yourself with the controls. It is easy to mix up the indicator stalks with the ones for the wipers and end up spraying washer fluid on the windscreen instead of flashing the lights. Don't try and figure out how the sound system works while on the move or hunt for the light switch at speed when it is getting dark. All this could distract you and even momentary distractions are dangerous so it's best to know where all the switches and controls are before you drive off.

2. Improve your observation
Effective observation and good anticipation is the foundation of god driving and absolutely vital. Train yourself to anticipate hazards by focusing not just on whats's directly in front of you, but also all around you. Leave room for error for yourself and other road users. Watch out for children, animals and pedestrians, who have little sense of traffic discipline and invite danger both for them and for you. You need to drive in a manner that allows you to suddenly step out in front of you.

3. Improve Your Steering Techniques
Control over a cars steering is invaluable in an emergency, especially when you have to take the sudden avoiding actions so frequently needed on Indian roads. Firstly you need to grip the wheel firmly with both hands. Never rest one hand on the window frame. Hold the steering wheel at the 'ten-to-two' position with your elbows bent at a comfortable 120 degrees. Don't try and drive with your hands outstretched, as this can tire your shoulders, depriving you of the leverage you need to swing the wheel in an emergency. When you steer, try and 'shuffle' the wheel through your hands and avoid crossing hands as this could get your arms in a tangle. Always give smooth steering inputs; a sudden yank of the wheel could result in a loss of control. And avoid those silly steering wheel covers: they may look good but offer no grip.

4. Mind the Gap
Use the 'Two Second Rule' with the vehicle in front of you: keep a gap of at least two seconds between you and the car in front. How do you judge that? Use the many markers you find on the road like trees, lamp-posts and signboards. Once the vehicle ahead of you passes one of these markers start counting 1001, 1002, which takes two seconds. If you pass the same landmark before you finish counting, it means you haven't kept a safe distance.

5. Ready, Steady… Stop
Recognising poor road conditions will mean that you'll never have to deal with a skid, but knowing how to control one might just save your and someone else life. Anti clock braking (ABS) can help you maintain control during heavy braking and reduces your stopping distance in the wet.

6. Avoid Road Rage
Road rage is an increasing cause of accidents. Traffic jams, a total lack of discipline and high levels of stress and pressure make people behave in an irrational manner. If another driver does something really stupid, stay calm, back off if necessary and then forget all about it.

7. Get comfortable and Stay fresh
for long drives, you need to be as comfortable as you can to minimize the risk of fatigue. On long drives wear loose and comfortable cloths; if your wallet is too thick, pull it out of pocket and place it elsewhere. Arm yourself with good company or music that relaxes you.

8. Never drink and Drive
It might be starting the obvious but very drivers really follow this rule. You will be surprised as to the adverse effect of even small doses of alcohol on your reflexes and ability to control a car.

9. Don't get distracted
An increasing number of accidents are due to driver's distraction. Modern car comes with lots of gizmos and gadgets and it is tempting to play with them, which takes eye on the road. Changing CDs with one hand while on the move, playing with air-conditioner settings or groping for something one of the storage bins are typical driver distraction.

10. Get Experience
Finally, there's no substitute for experience. The safest driver are generally those with lakhs of kilometers under there belt. Experiences give you the ability to "Read" the road and helps you pickup potentially dangerous situations quicker than other can.

Courtesy : AutoCar (How to become Safest Driver) - Castrol