I remember when I was learning to drive, I was really nervous – what if I messed up and caused
an accident?! But, everyone kept telling me that it was so easy and that it was so fun! And, if you really think about it, driving, itself, really isn’t that hard and it can be quite fun – sometimes even relaxing. It’s the external factors that can make driving stressful and at times scary, especially for new drivers. Learning how to act and react when you are behind the wheel makes all the difference.
Learn to be a Triple-A Driver:
Alert – driving while you are distracted means that your attention is off of the road on something else. Whether you are tired, texting, eating, under-the-influence, or surfing the web, you are dividing your attention and not fully committed to your safety and the safety of others while you are driving. Grab a coffee, put down your phone and eat your bagel when you get where you are going – being ALERT is very important! Even though you may be an excellent driver, not everyone on the road is as careful and accidents do happen – being alert and ready for the unexpected can make a huge difference.
Aware – there are many conditions that can affect your drive, including but not limited to weather, traffic, construction, and detours. When you are in the driver’s seat you need to be AWARE of what is going on around you – people switching lanes, break-lights up head, and people swerving or stopping short. It’s critical that you are paying attention and are keeping your eyes on the road to be able to react to these potential obstacles.
Adapting – even if you make the same drive to work or school or on errands every day, it is likely that each time you go, the drive is a little bit different. This could be due to time of day, day of the week, holidays, accidents, weather, etc. But, regardless of the reason, it is necessary that you ADAPT to the changing conditions as they happen and try your best – though it can sometimes be tough – to keep your “cool” and adjust to the unexpected.
Not only can being a safe driver save your life and the lives of others, it can really pay off – literally! With a clean driving record, your Massachusetts Car Insurance premium will be lower and you may even be eligible for extra money-saving discounts on your other Massachusetts Insurance policies. It’s not just learning how to drive but, how to be drive smarter!
19/05/2011 at 3:25 pm Permalink
“Triple-A Driver” is great! This is very important information for all drivers, new and experienced, to remember.
01/06/2011 at 10:28 am Permalink
Thanks Colleen!