All drivers are expected to exercise great caution on the road. Whether you are driving alone or with passengers aboard, road safety should be your priority at all times. This is why the government strictly imposes that an individual has to be oriented and trained first before given the privilege to drive.
On that note, an assessment of a person’s skills in driving, as well as knowledge in traffic rules, road safety, andminor and serious traffic offenses, is conducted before the issuance of a driver’s license. This helps ensure that all motorists and drivers on the road are well oriented about each aspect of driving.
Unfortunately, there are instances wherein some drivers or motorists get too comfortable or confident in their own driving skills. As a result, they are most likely to neglect the basic safety rules simply because they think they can do it without endangering anyone.
However, this faulty confidence in one’s ability sometimes results in accidents and casualties. So, it is best to avoid distractions when driving, no matter how harmless they may seem. Here are three things you should never do while you are behind the wheel.
Drink Alcohol
As everyone is aware,drunk driving or drinking while drivingis strictly prohibited. Still, many people do so. In general, alcohol causes body impairments that make one unable to drive properly. Even with just a bit of alcohol content in the blood, you can experience blurred vision, double vision, slower reaction time, and loss of consciousness.
These kinds of impairments can potentially incur road accidents. Statistics show that about 30% of vehicle accidents and fatalities are caused by drunk driving. Drivers who are caught driving with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.08 or higher are charged heavily and jailed for a time.
Use Your Phone
Regardless if you have fast reflexes, it is inadvisable to use your phone while driving. This includes texting, surfing the net, and dialing someone. Your eyes should always focus on the road. In this way, you can clearly see the traffic signals and pedestrians.
Always keep in mind that taking off your eyes on the road even for just a few seconds can be very risky. You will most likely be unable to react faster if something goes wrong.
There are ways to go around this restriction. You can either use the voice command setting on your phone or purchase a Bluetooth earpiece. In this way, you can freely communicate with others while you are driving. These methods can be really handy, especially if you are a very busy person.
Unclasp Your Seat Belt
A lot of people are probably guilty of doing this. After all, many individuals claim that seat belts are quite uncomfortable. However, seat belts are among the most important protective features of your car. And in a life-and-death situation, it can make a lot of difference. Despite how uncomfortable they are, never take them off.
Road safety rules are implemented for a reason. As a driver, it is your responsibility to abide by them. Always remember that your life is not the only thing that depends on it. Your rash actions can also affect the lives of innocent passengers, pedestrians, and bystanders. This is why you should always drive safely.