5 Simple Tips That Can Prevent Mishaps on The Road
There are a lot of things that you could encounter on the road. It could be a drunk driver or a reckless bus driver who is a perennial lawbreaker on the road. According to statistics, in the Philippines, road accident ranks fourth as the most common cause of death in the country. To give you an idea about the absurd number of accidents in the country, over 200 accidents were recorded every day in 2012 according to the MMDA, and the reasons range from mechanical problems to drivers’ behavior when using the road.
Aside from defensive driving, there are some things that you can do that could significantly reduce the probability that you are facing an accident. It helps to have a preventive approach whenever you are driving. Here are some useful tips that you could use.
Fasten your seatbelt
Philippines is the country where seatbelts are taken lightly. If you’ll see jeepneys, you really don’t see anyone wearing a seatbelt, mainly because of the design of this vehicle. For car owners though, you have no reason to use the road without a seat belt. Seatbelts save countless lives from accidents yearly. It has been proven to reduce fatality during a car accident.
Check your car regularly
One of the most common reasons why car accidents happen in the Philippines is because of lost brakes, as well as mechanical problems. Checking the vehicle regularly, especially when it comes to long road trips, can help reduce the probability of being involved in a road accident.
Ensure your focus while driving
There are many distractions these days. From using your phone to text or call to using your mobile device to connect to the internet, these are some of the most common examples of distractions that could make you lose your focus on the road.
Of course, there are also those instances when some people still opt to drive drunk. When you are driving under the influence of alcohol, or any type of sedative medication, keep in mind that your reflexes are not that fast.
Drive moderately
Do you like driving 120 kilometers per hour? Are you the type of driver who is typically called mabigat ang paa sa pedal? If so, maybe you should moderate your speed when driving. Not only are you putting your life at risk, but you are also putting other people’s lives at risk. Also, given the culture in the Philippine roadways, you just can’t predict when will an unruly pedestrian cross the street or a motorcycle swerve to try and overtake.
Know the road prior to driving
Ever read about haunted stories about roads that take away lives from shows like Magandang Gabi Bayan during the 1990s? Most likely, these are roads that have a blind spot, or simply poor lighting. For this scenario, this could be avoided if you’ve done your research. Thanks to the internet, GPS, and even Google Maps, you can avoid dangerous roads by doing a couple of things.
Regardless if it is a minor or a major car accident, prevention is always better than cure. Incorporating a defensive driver mentality with these tips, you can minimize the probability of facing accidents. Also, if you want to have peace of mind while using the road, it is imperative that you have the right kind of car insurance policy. This way, even if you are involved in a road mishap, you can still stay calm from the cost of repairs to your vehicle.
