4 Ways to Improve Your Driving Habits Today
It’s time to improve your driving habits! Sure, you know the rules of the road, but we can all use a little refresher sometimes. Better driving habits will help reduce the risk of an auto accident later. You’ll keep your car insurance costs low and more importantly, you’ll keep yourself and those around you safe and sound.
Check out this list of lesser known driving facts and think again.
No Such Thing as a Blind Spot!
When adjusted correctly, your side mirror is your best friend. Did you know blind spots can be eliminated? You never need to take your eyes off the road to glance frantically over your shoulder again!
Take your driving skills to the next level— click here to read more about eliminating blind spots.
Be a Last-Minute Merger
True, cutting to the front of the line at the taco joint is just plain rude. But racing to the start of a merge point on the highway? Not so rude. In fact, it’s the nicest thing you can do. Last second lane merges actually reduce congestion and decrease traffic confusion. Be a Nice Guy— go to the head of the lane merge!
Don’t Text and Drive!
You’ve heard it over and over again but the message is still the same, the text can wait! Distracted driving 
related accidents is on the rise and in our digital age where our phone is connected to us all day long, it’s difficult to just shut it down. The most effective way to avoid distracted driving is to put your phone out of reach when you get behind the wheel. Leave the phone in your purse, put it in the glove box, or anywhere else out of reach if you can. Another option for those who don’t mind the digital disconnection is to enable “Do Not Disturb” or “Driving” modes which most phone models have to disable incoming text messages or phone calls, but send back automated responses to senders that lets them know you’re behind the wheel and will return their message when it’s safe to do so.
However, there are some of us who’s jobs require us to be digitally connected. For those people there are some helpful apps to receive messages while reducing distraction.
- Drive Safely will read your messages out loud to you so you can resist the urge to pick up the phone to respond. It will then respond automatically with a pre-set response letting your your friends know that you are driving and will get back to them shortly. If the message is important enough to require a response, you can then get to a safe area to stop and reply to the sender.
- Drivemode has a UI easy to access out of the corner of your eye, and text messages are turned into audio—your phone reads incoming messages aloud with the touch of a button. Swipe through canned responses to send a text back. The big, “no-look” interface runs atop any app you’re using, and breaks your phone down into various functions: Music, Calls, Apps, Destinations and Messages.
Headlights in the Daylight
Ever thought it was weird to see people driving with their headlights on during the day
time? Turns out, they’re making the roads safer for everyone.
Keeping a low watt headlight on during daylight hours helps reduce multiple-vehicle crashes, particularly head-on and front corner collisions.
Have you found yourself involved in a car accident and scrambling to remember important details? Let us take your worry away! Our Auto Accident Workbook was created to keep on-hand at all times in the event of an emergency. Click the graphic to get your free, printable version! Safe travels!
At Synergy Insurance Group, we pride ourselves on friendly service and professional know-how. If you’d like more great auto tips and tricks, subscribe to our monthly newsletter and get more information to help you and your loved ones stay safe out there on the road.
