Credit: rediff.com
Most of us are guilty of a few bad driving habits that we are more or less aware of, but there may be something less obvious that you are doing (or not doing) that can put you at risk. Here are four tips that will help keep you and your family safe when you’re on the road:
- Avoid using cell phone while driving.
Studies show that talking on a cell phone can cause you to be up to four times more likely of being involved in a crash. Other studies have shown that driving while using a cell phone, even if it is hands-free, may impair quality reaction time as much as a blood alcohol content of .08 (which is the legal limit in Georgia).
- Be sure to adjust your mirrors properly.
Most people assume that the proper way to adjust the side mirrors of our vehicle is to show the flank or side of the car and the road. However, experts suggest that side mirrors should be positioned so that you cannot see the side of your car at all. They should slightly overlap the field of view in rear view mirror. Adjusting your mirrors this way will eliminate blind spots and make it easier to switch lanes.
- Try not to drive in a hot car.
In Georgia we can all relate to how distracting it can be to drive in a hot car. An easy way to cool down your car is to first roll down one of the windows all the way down, then walk to the other side of the car and open and close the door five to ten times. This seems silly but it really works! This creates a circulation of air flow that pushes the trapped hot air out of the vehicle and can make the temperature of your car to go down up to 10 degrees.
- Avoid eating or drinking while driving.
Eating and drinking while driving makes for plenty of distraction. Your hands are off the wheel, your eyes are off the road, and your attention is on your food or drink. It becomes even more distracting if you make a spill (you probably will).
We want you to practice safe driving habits but if you find yourself in a situation where you had an accident (maybe because you were guilty of one of these) give us a call so we can help you during the repair process. Our fully equipped collision repair shop can handle your auto body repair needs. We work closely with insurance companies to ensure that your vehicle returns to “like-new” state quickly.
Call us today – we’ve been serving Snellville and the surrounding area for 40 years.