When it comes to driving, there are a number of things that you should be aware of. However, there are three things that are crucial to your safety. These are things that can affect the way that you drive that you might not be fully in control of, such as the weather, things that can be a distraction, such as illness, or others such as interstate law changes. Here are three things that you must be aware of and prepare yourself for.
#1 Severe weather conditions
One thing that drivers everywhere should be aware of, is how quickly driving conditions can change, and how they can become extremely dangerous very quickly. Whether it’s sudden fog at night, low-visibility rain, or even if you are passing through a forest and the dappled sunlight makes the road seemingly disappear, severe weather conditions can make driving a living nightmare.
They are also life-threatening. You might crash and write off your vehicle, which can be inconvenient and expensive. However, sometimes you needn’t go into the bad weather for there to be an incident involving your vehicle. Heavy rain could make a sunroof leak, the sun could cause a fire, and flooding and high winds might mean something crashes into the side of your vehicle, even if it’s in your driveway.
If you live in Colorado, you will know that between the months of April to September, the threat of hail damaging your vehicle is incredibly high. Thankfully, there are businesses that will help repair weather-related incidents with your vehicle, just a quick search on the internet, for something like auto hail damage repair near me could help you and your vehicle get back on the road.
#2 Driving laws change per state
As you are probably aware, driving laws change via state. This can be an issue if you are going on a road trip, and you don’t know the exact laws that are in place. Between some states, the only real changes in the law are highway speed limits, for example in Oregon it’s 65 MPH for passenger vehicles, however, in New York, it will be 45 MPH. However, there are other laws that change that might affect your driving or might mean that you need to switch drivers in between certain times.
Every road user must be aware of these changes because you will be liable for a fine if you are caught. It’s easier to just know, instead of answering awkward and embarrassing questions about your speeding. Sometimes, states will also have separate speed limits for different vehicles, such as Oregon, whose truck speed limit is 55 MPH on a highway.
#3 Your own health and how it will affect your driving
This is something that all drivers must take into account. Their own health will change the way that they drive. A cold and a runny nose can be a distraction, headaches can massively affect concentration and hot flushes might cause dizziness, which might affect your control of the vehicle. If you are tired, you absolutely must not get behind the wheel of a car.
If you experience micro-sleep, a small nodding off sensation that causes your eyes to close for a few seconds, you might have covered a very large amount of road, which might have changed drastically. Medication and caffeine will also affect how you drive, including tiredness, mood swings, and maybe even your ability to react in very sudden situations. Not only this, but if you need glasses, you should wear them for driving, even if it’s still not required. Just because you can drive without them, it doesn’t mean to say that you should, as it could mean that you end up affecting other people on the road, and not for the better.
Final thoughts
When it comes to making your drive a safe one for you and your passengers, there are three things that you absolutely must be aware of. First, the weather – you must always check the most reliable weather forecast in your area before you leave. Next, law changes per state – investigate what changes and what doesn’t if you are thinking about going to the next state along. Finally, your own health and wellbeing, and being mindful about whether you should drive or not, for the safety of yourself and others on the road. Knowing these factors may reduce the chances of you getting in an accident, or even getting fined for speeding or unsafe driving. 3 things that every car owner should be aware of and prepared for.
