What should you do to decrease the risk of accidents while driving?

Planning your route ahead of time is an effective strategy to decrease the risk of accidents while driving. By knowing your destination and the route you will take, you can minimize last-minute decisions and erratic maneuvers, which often lead to accidents. This pre-planning allows you to anticipate any road conditions, traffic patterns, or potential hazards along the way, leading to a smoother driving experience. Additionally, familiarity with the route can reduce anxiety, enabling you to concentrate better on driving safely.

In contrast, driving faster than surrounding traffic can create hazardous situations by increasing the likelihood of losing control or not having enough time to react to unexpected events. Avoiding the use of turn signals can lead to misunderstandings with other drivers about your intentions, increasing the chance of collisions. Driving with distractions, such as using a phone or eating, severely impairs your ability to respond to other road users, making it one of the leading causes of accidents. Thus, planning your route is a proactive measure that enhances safety and helps maintain focus on the road.