5 Tips for Safer Driving in Salem, OR

5. Keep Your Focus on the Road

This is the most important thing you can do while driving. If your attention is divided between the road and anything else, you can miss important things that are happening in-front of and around you. It's best not to look away from your front windshield at all while driving- not even to change radio settings or climate control. Most modern vehicles have steering-wheel integrated controls to help you easily navigate these settings without diverting your eyes from the road. Other distractions that should be avoided include being on your smartphone for any reason, eating, and activity elsewhere in the vehicle. Always pull-over if you need to use your phone or eat. Make sure that any cargo in the cabin with you is secured and won't fall over during the course of driving and distract you.

4. Be Comfortable

This is an often overlooked element in driver safety, but making sure you're comfortable in the vehicle you're driving is very important. If you feel cramped or squished once you're in the driver seat, take a second before you start driving to adjust the seat so that you're comfortable. Being uncomfortable is the same as being distracted as your attention is kept on how uncomfortable you are instead of on the road. Also important is making sure your mirrors are properly positioned so that you don't have to contort in order to properly see with them. All of these things are important in keeping you safe while on the road.

3. Drive the Speed Limit

Not only does this keep you safe, but it's also the law. Driving the speed limit keeps you and everyone around you safe by making sure everyone is driving at a safe speed. The faster you drive your car, the less time you have to react to surprises. Not speeding allows you to stay at a speed that is both optimal and safe. Also, if you speed while everyone else is going the speed limit, you have now become a danger to everyone else by refusing to adhere to the flow of traffic.

2. Make A Driving Plan

Planning out your trip is an excellent way to keep you safe on the road whether you are going on a long road-trip or just driving to work. When planning your trip, consider the different paths that get you to your destination and choose the option best for your needs. By knowing exactly where you're going and how to get there, you can feel confident on your journey and just focus on driving.

When making the plan, you should also give yourself ample time for anything that may add time to your trip. If you need to get gas, or if you need to grab some food before work, as long as you give yourself time to do so, you won't feel stressed while driving, and avoiding stress is incredibly important to safe driving.

1. Drive Defensively

Being defensive is the best thing you can do to keep yourself safe on the road. Being defensive means doing everything on this list while also being aware of the traffic around you. If you monitor everything around you and consider what they might do next, you can be prepared to adjust for that. Being defensive includes things like giving a 3-second space between you and the car in-front of you and assuming the worst of your fellow motorists' driving habits. Keeping all these things in mind won't guarantee you never get into a collision, but they will mitigate the risk while keeping you safer than you otherwise would be.