In the hustle and bustle of our often-hectic lives, we have plenty of places to be, people to see and not a lot of time to do it. Taking the kids to school, driving to work, doctor’s appointments, grocery shopping, taking the kids to practice and after-school activities, dinner with friends and family, and so much more. It’s a lot to handle – and a lot of time spent on the roads.

In the rush of trying to fulfill all of our daily duties, safety often takes a backseat. However, for your sake, and the sake of those you love who you may be shuttling around, safety should never play second fiddle.

Irresponsible driving can get people hurt. You should love your car and the people in it… so please, do everyone a favor and practice safe driving methods. You never know when accidents can happen.

Here are a few basic rules and practices you should follow for the safest driving.

Wear your seatbelts and make sure others are too

Wearing a seat belt seems like common sense to most. Unfortunately, common sense isn’t always so common. In an accident, a seat belt could mean the difference between life and death. They keep your body from being thrown around (or out of) your vehicle in the event of a collision. In 2015, the NHTSA estimated over 13,000 lives were saved because of seat belts. So please, buckle up. But don’t just worry about yourself. If you have passengers, young or old, make sure they are buckling up to.

Give drivers around you plenty of space

We’ve all been in a rush. When you are, you may tend to speed and tailgate the drivers around you. Reckless driving and getting in an accident won’t help you get where you need to go any faster. The NHTSA attributed almost 10,000 deaths in 2015 to speeding. Always be mindful of the speed limit and leave a car’s length or two in between the car in front of you. This way, you’ll have ample time to react to cars breaking, turning, slowing down or changing lanes around you and reduce your chance of a collision.

Be mindful of your headlights

Because of lower visibility, driving at night can be much more dangerous. Drivers at night always need to ensure their lights are always on at night and to replace any burnt out bulbs as soon as possible. However, always be sure to monitor your high beam usage. While they can help you see better on particularly dark roads, they can be blinding to on-coming traffic. When vehicles are coming your way, be courteous and turn them off until they pass.

Preventative maintenance

The safest thing any driver can do is keep accidents and incidents from even occurring. Regularly taking your car in to be checked by a professional who can identify problem areas before they get worse is the best way to do that. While you may opt to have a professional handle some things like changing your oil, replacing your tires or replacing parts, you can do your part at home. Keep an eye on your fluid levels, keep an ear and eye out for any irregular noises or sights and especially checking your tires from tread reduction. The NHTSA estimates approximately 11,000 tire-related incidents each year.

Need someone to give your car some care so you can keep yourself and your loved ones safe? Bring into Raben Tire. We have locations across the Midwest and are committed to helping you be a safer driver.