Safe driving practices are essential to ensuring the well-being of both ourselves and others on the road. Whether it’s a short commute or a long road trip, drivers have a responsibility to prioritize safety. By adhering to established traffic rules and maintaining vigilance behind the wheel, we can not only significantly reduce the risk of various accidents but also have a smoother, stress-free driving experience.

In this article, we will delve into the importance of safe driving practices and explore how dash cams contribute to enhancing safety on the road. From pre-drive preparation to navigating challenging driving conditions and dealing with emergencies, we will provide practical tips and insights to help you become a more confident driver.

 1. Pre-Drive Checks

There are a few pre-drive preparations every driver should follow to ensure a safer drive. First, you should make sure that your car is in a good enough condition to drive – inspect tires (specifically for tire pressure and any signs of damage), briefly test the brakes, verify that all the lights are in working order and check fluid levels. Secondly, adjust your mirrors and seat position, especially if someone else was driving before you. 

And lastly, make sure there aren’t any unnecessary distractions – put away your phone (connect it to your in-car system for taking calls) and ensure that there aren’t any loose items that may get thrown around in case of hard braking, like a haphazardly thrown bag.

2. Remember These Safe Driving Techniques

To navigate the roads safely and responsibly, it’s essential to adopt and practice a set of proven driving techniques.

• Keep a safe distance between your vehicle and the one in front of you to allow for adequate reaction time and braking distance. It’s best to follow the “three-second rule”, which means that when a car in front of you passes any given point, you should be able to reach that point in three seconds or more.
• Always adhere to posted speed limits and adjust your speed according to weather conditions (such as rain, snow, or fog, as well as other circumstances like wet or icy surfaces).
• Always use your turn signals when changing lanes.
• Drive defensively. Driving defensively means always staying vigilant and anticipating potential hazards on the road, such as sudden lane changes or unexpected stops by other vehicles. It’s also important to never engage in retaliatory behavior against aggressive drivers.

3. Get a dash cam for peace of mind

Dash cams contribute to stress-free driving in various ways. In some countries (like South Korea) they are even required by the insurance companies. There are multiple advantages of having a dash cam while on the road, such as:

• Keeping in mind that everything that happens on the road is recorded and can be used as evidence later can reduce anxiety-induced stress while driving.
• In the unfortunate event of an accident, the footage can be used right away. For example, connecting to your BlackVue dash cam and downloading the video to your phone (and then sharing it) is easy and hassle-free.
• Having dash cam evidence helps with the aftermath of an accident as well – it makes the insurance claim process smoother and quicker.
• Dash cam footage allows drivers to review their driving behavior and identify areas for improvement, fostering a culture of self-awareness and accountability.

4. Dealing with Emergency Situations

Despite our best efforts, accidents and other emergency situations (such as our car breaking down) do happen. Here’s how to handle two common emergency situations on the road – an accident and a mechanical failure.

1. What to do in case of an accident

First thing you should NOT do is panic. Stay calm and collected as you pull over to a safe location away from the traffic. Then you should check for injuries (yourself, your passengers and the other driver). Call the emergency services immediately if anyone shows signs of distress. Then you can proceed to exchange information (driver’s license numbers, phone numbers, insurance information). You should also secure the video evidence – download the footage from your dash cam so it doesn’t get overwritten or forgotten.

2. What to do in case of a breakdown or mechanical failure

Just as with the accident, you should not panic and move your vehicle to the side of the road where it’s safe. Activate hazard lights and use reflective triangles to increase visibility to other drivers, especially at night or in low visibility conditions. And if you can’t move your vehicle, remain inside your car with your seatbelt on while you wait for assistance. 

5. Conclusion

Let’s recap the key takeaways from this article. We’ve highlighted several essential safe driving techniques, discussed basic pre-drive checks and how to behave in case of an emergency on the road. We also stressed the importance of having a reliable dash cam that can provide us with evidence in case of an accident and can be a stress-reducing factor for worried drivers. In conclusion, safe driving is not just a responsibility but a commitment, both to ourselves and to our communities. By getting behind the wheel we should always remember that we should prioritize safety – ours and others’ – above getting somewhere faster.