The Dangers of Driving

Driving is dangerous. Everyone knows that. But do you know exactly what is dangerous? James Ross, who already has some articles in this blog, knows. Here is an article he wrote to let you know what to watch out for (my driving test guide has more detail and more dangers, and it's also focused for the test itself).

Road Test Success Depends on Being Alert to the Dangers of Driving

Becoming a good driver depends on how you are able to adapt to what you are faced while driving. Being able to appreciate what could happen on the road will surely prevent you encountering dangerous situations and enable you to handle them safely if they should occur.

If you have studied the rules of the road and are able to drive with competence, you should always deduce that your most imminent danger is coming from other drivers. Your driving instructor whether a pro, friend or family member will have reminded you over and over again that there is no way you can tell the state of mind of other drivers on the road. For all you know, an oncoming vehicle could be driven by a over zealous teen or a drunk in his middle age. Or it might have boisterous kids who are prone to distract their mother or a youth who is dangerously chatting on the phone not realising what is around. This is why you must be alert and expect the unexpected from vehicles you. Accidents can occur that you cannot avoid whatever happens but you will avoid many more if you are very alert to the drivers around you.

Keeping your car in good condition is always something that you should strive to do. Do all routine maintenance and always make sure that you change the oil regularly. An old banger that coughs plumes of smokes as it sputters along is not only a danger to other drivers but also to yourself. The brakes could suddenly fail and end up with you ploughing into the back of another car. If your wipers fail to work you will be completely blinded to what is ahead (this is especially dangerous if it happens on a high way). Moreover a poorly maintained car will sooner rather than later be spotted by traffic police and end up with you paying a fine or worse.

The weather plays a big part in ensuring you are safe while driving. Heavy and persistent rain will make roads very slick and hard to see and brakes don't work as well. Then if it's cold road could ice over making them extremely dangerous. Snow will make visibility very poor and make your car or motorcycle very hard to handle. Avoid driving on roads if there are warnings against using them and install necessary tire chains if you live in parts of the country where they are necessary. Study carefully what to do in case your vehicle skids so that you do not lose control.

You should always be able to plan ahead ensuring you know what to do should a dangerous situation while driving comes up. Keeping the required distance between yourself and vehicles ahead will always ensure that you will never rear end them regardless of how fast they brake. You will never react in time if you tail end cars and you will be at fault if they break.

Teenagers are a group of drivers that should be watched closely. They tend to take more risks are they think they are invulnerable. Joy riding claims the lives of many of them each and every year, as does drink driving and driving under the influence of drugs. How many times have you read about entire group of friends killed because of the driver's stupidity?

Driving is a skill we should cherish and the responsibility that goes with it should always be at the fore front of our minds otherwise we might as well be playing Russian roulette with our lives each time we turn on the ignition.

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Source: EzineArticles.com.

Hope you learned something from this long, long article.

Nadav

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