Cruising down a stretch of a country road in one’s car is the epitome of freedom for many people. There are no schedules requiring attention, no demands on your time; you can listen to whatever music you choose or simply admire the stunning view out of the window. It would seem that there could be nothing better than this relaxing drive through an open field with our favorite song playing on the radio. But while enjoying this momentary escape from life’s pressures, it is vital that safety is still taken into account. Here’s why.
Minimizing the Risk of a Lawsuit
One of the biggest reasons for maintaining good driving habits is to avoid being sued. In today’s society, if someone feels wronged or that their safety has been compromised by an individual, they have avenues available to them, including civil lawsuits and criminal charges. Some states really enforce this. If you live in Philadelphia for instance you’ll need Philadelphia car accident lawyers to take your case should you find yourself in that situation. By holding those responsible accountable for their actions, many people feel as though justice has been served and trust restored in responsible citizens. While this may be seen as a negative consequence to safe driving practices, it is a necessary aspect of your society – without accountability, there would be anarchy. Therefore, by sustaining good driving habits through obeying all traffic laws and using common sense behind the wheel, anyone can minimize the of being sued.
Minimizing the Risk of Death or Injury
The second reason for safe driving, and probably the most important one to a majority of people, is to avoid death or injury in the event of a car accident. While many accidents are unavoidable, it is possible to reduce your risk of being involved in an accident by slowing down when approaching intersections with traffic lights – especially if you have been tailgating. Furthermore, not tailgating other drivers will enable them enough time to adjust their speed should they see a problem ahead such as an accident or an obstructed section of road. While this may not prevent an accident from occurring altogether, it can help reduce the severity of injuries sustained to you or another party.
Minimizing the Risk of Damage to Your Vehicle
Car repairs are extremely expensive and something that no one wants to face unless absolutely necessary. Although insurance policies vary from company to company, most will cover the cost of car repairs should an accident occur as a result of negligence on your part or another driver’s part. Should you be involved in a fender bender, for instance, your vehicle must be presented to a garage for inspection to ensure that no damage has been done inside the engine compartment before being deemed safe for use again. Even if there is only cosmetic damage done which requires sanding and repainting, the car must still be presented to a garage for inspection and repairs. Therefore by taking preventative measures such as obeying traffic laws and maintaining good driving habits, you can reduce the risk of having your vehicle damaged in an accident.
Keeping from Losing Your License
In the United States, driving without first taking a driver’s education course can result in losing your license for at least one year – which is equivalent to losing your job if you rely on personal transport to get there. If you do find yourself enrolled in classes to retake it, that loss of income must be taken into account as well. The best way to avoid this situation is by understanding completely what your responsibilities are as a motorist and ensuring that every driver adheres to them; whether it’s commuting across town or carving up some backroads on the weekend. By doing so, you maintain control over both your license and future earning potential should an accident occur due to negligence on your part.
Preventing Yourself from Losing Your Job
Possibly one of the most stressful aspects of driving is worrying about not being able to get to work due to your car breaking down or another situation that prevents you from getting there in time. While in this situation it is completely understandable for everyone else in your household to expect you to find an alternative way home, losing your job because of something out of your control will have a huge impact on all members of your family. Therefore, taking preventative measures through safe driving practices enables you to avoid these frustrating situations and maintain a steady income.
Maintaining a High Credit Score
While people often joke about having a high credit score allowing them access to exclusive clubs and restaurants – it’s actually true! A good credit score opens the door to more loans, cheaper car insurance rates, and even new jobs. If your credit score is already high, you’ll want to maintain it by driving safely. However, if your credit score isn’t great right now, you’re far better off improving it through safe driving than through risky behavior that may cause accidents.
Avoiding Getting Traffic Tickets or Fines
Having unpaid traffic tickets or fines hanging over your head can quickly ruin your day; which is why they are also referred to as ‘moving violations.’ Stop signs and lights are in place for the safety of everyone on the road – not just because some policeman who doesn’t like you thinks he can make some easy money pulling motorists over for them. Therefore by obeying all traffic laws and avoiding unnecessary risks on the road, you can avoid receiving a fine and maintain a clean driving record.
Maintaining Your Insurance Rates
While it may seem like a great idea to just stop paying for your auto insurance until you need it, doing so will actually raise the rates paid on any other policies that you have with the same company. This should be completely avoided as it can lead to an extremely high bill being sent shortly after being involved in an accident where you required repairs or replacement of your vehicle, as well as injuries sustained by yourself and others involved. By obeying traffic laws and maintaining good driving habits, you avoid this from occurring and keep your rates low instead of raising them even higher!
Safe driving is important to anyone who wishes to avoid being sued or killed in a car accident, but ultimately it comes down to maintaining good common sense when behind the wheel. In today’s society, there are many distractions that have been designed for use when you’re not driving such as smartphones and radios, but when you’re actually operating a motor vehicle it becomes even easier to lose sight of what’s important – for everyone’s sake. So remember these tips next time you get behind the wheel and enjoy your cruise, just make sure it is safe!
