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Little Known Driving Tips that Could Save Your Life

Most drivers are familiar with the basics of car safety. Drive at or below the speed limit, always come to a complete stop at stop signs, use your turn signals, and never drive after consuming alcohol. While these tips are all extremely important, there are also many tips that drivers may be unaware of that could save their lives.

As Jackson car accident lawyers, the legal team at Matt Hardin Law has handled countless car accident cases and we’ve learned that many drivers can reduce their risks by going the extra mile when it comes to road safety. Check out the list of tips below to learn more about lesser known safety advice that can greatly decrease your chances of being involved in a car accident in the future.

Follow These Driving Tips

These driving tips aren’t the most common or popular among drivers, but they’re equally as important when it comes to protecting your safety on Tennessee’s roadways:

  • Adjust your side mirrors to provide as much view of the road as possible.
  • Aside mirrors are adjustable so that they can be positioned to suit each person that drives a specific car, but many drivers adjust them incorrectly or don’t bother adjusting them at all. To increase the effectiveness of your car’s side mirrors, always adjust them so that they provide the maximum view of the road and vehicles behind you and to your sides. If your mirrors show anything beyond that a small sliver of your vehicle, they need to be pushed further out to reflect less of your car and more of the traffic and roadway behind you.

  • Keep your headlights on at all times.
  • While many drivers and even sensor-equipped cars only turn on their lights at night, statistics show that driving with your headlights on even during the daytime can reduce your risk of being in an accident by up to 32 percent. Having your headlights on makes your car more visible on the road and makes other drivers less likely to pull out in front of you at an intersection or when leaving a parking lot. In addition, keeping your headlights on means your risk of being involved in an accident won’t go up when you drive into a heavily shaded area or inside a tunnel.

  • Never apply your brakes during a blowout or sudden loss of traction.
  • Blowouts and slick driving conditions are two of the biggest causes of car accidents, but the risk of these scenarios can be greatly reduced by remember to never slam on your brakes. Instead, grip the steering wheel firmly and take your foot off the gas and brake and allow the vehicle to gradually lose speed. Unless you’re traveling downhill, your car will quickly lose speed and become much easier to control within a few seconds, allowing you to steer it towards the shoulder of the road and out of harm’s way.

  • Watch other drivers’ movements at all times.
  • While it’s important to always follow traffic signs, it’s equally important to keep an eye out for the movements of other drivers. If you’re at a four-way stop, don’t automatically assume that you have the right of way just because it’s your turn. Always watch other drivers and the crossroads to make sure no one tries to pull out before it’s their turn. The same is true in all scenarios on the road—just because something is against the law doesn’t mean other drivers won’t do it.

While these lesser-known safety tips can help further reduce your risks of being involved in an accident, our Jackson auto accident lawyers know that there’s nothing that can reduce your risk zero.

If you or someone you love was injured in a car accident caused by another driver’s negligence, get in touch with the legal team at Matt Hardin Law by dialing filling out a free online form. We’ll do everything in our power to help you get the compensation you deserve.

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