Staying Alert While Driving

It doesn’t take long for driving to seem like it’s second nature to most of us. As the years go by, free of any accidents, we start to feel immune to our own poor driving habits and those of others. Unfortunately, chances of being in another accident still loom large.

If you want to lessen your chances of having to work with insurance agents doing damage appraisals in the future, take a few moments to review the list of  suggestions below. They’ve been compiled to help you stay focused on your driving whenever you head out on any road or freeway.

Tips for Staying Alert While Driving

• Instead of driving to work or taking the kids to school using the same old route, consider finding an alternate path so you’ll be less likely to become so complacent that you fail to notice obvious road dangers;
• Never start out on a lengthy (or even fairly short) road trip when you know you’re sleep deprived – wait until you know you can stay focused on your driving before leaving town;
• Never drive anywhere when you’ve recently been drinking alcohol since your reaction times will be slower and you may be less likely to even appreciate the dangers that surround you – the same is true of many prescription and “street” drugs. You need to be at the top of your game whenever you slip behind the wheel of a car;
• Play some music that you like since it can help keep your mind alert as continue to try and drive defensively;
• Never use a phone in your car – for any purpose. Most people now know that when they use their cell phones while driving, in any manner,  they quadruple their chances of being in an accident;
• If you see a rest stop coming up and have someone with you, consider stopping for a while to relax a bit;
• If there are no rest stops or if you’re driving alone, consider stopping at a small diner for some coffee or a cold carbonated drink containing caffeine to help keep you awake. Even a short stop can calm your nerves enough to help you concentrate better once you return to the road. If you get out of your car and stretch your legs a bit, you’ll not only improve your body’s circulation but you’ll also increase your ability to stay alert and focused once you start driving again.
• While visiting with your passengers, make sure you don’t become so involved with them that you stop paying close attention to the road ahead and other drivers. Instead, ask your passengers to alert you if they recognize a danger you seem to have missed;
• Open your car window, if it’s not too cold or hot – the breeze can be invigorating and help keep you awake;
• Don’t let the interior of your car become so warm that you start becoming sleepy;
• Don’t try to eat, drink or read anything while driving – stop in a well lit area if you must study a map. Never spend too much time reviewing the map on your GPS device at the expense of avoiding an accident;
• Don’t try to quickly apply make-up while driving and try to avoid smoking; we all need to keep both hands “free” in case a dangerous road incident starts to develop;
• Only drive at a moderate speed to increase your chances of being able to slow down in time to avoid an accident;
• If you know that one of your passengers is sober and a good driver, ask him (or her) to drive a while so you can rest a bit;
• Take note of interesting buildings, license plates and other unique items as you scan the driving area in front of you;
• Have your eyesight checked regularly; consider doing this even more often than you’re required to do it by your state driver’s license bureau;
• Avoid heated discussions with your passengers – you may become so involved in a topic that you unintentionally forget to stay focused on the road and traffic ahead – perhaps suggest that you continue the talk at a later time or when you reach your destination;
• Explain to your children why they must keep their noise to a minimum so you can concentrate on your driving. If they become too loud, you could miss some external sound cues that might warn you of impending danger;
• At least once a year, review your driver’s handbook or look for an online Web site where you can study such things as (1) the meaning of various road signs, (2) what straight or jagged lines in the road indicate and (3) what various types of flashing lights are supposed to indicate;
• Avoid driving in the dark since everyone tends to be less alert then and unable to see as well as they do during the brighter times of the day.

By reviewing this list from time to time, you should be able to greatly diminish your chances of ever being in another car or truck accident.

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Demas & Rosenthal remains one of Sacramento’s most highly respected and accomplished personal injury law firms. We’ve been successfully representing clients since our firm first opened its doors back in 1993. Every Demas & Rosenthal attorney takes pride in obtaining the full compensation and complete justice owed to every client.