Brake Safety: Tips on How to Avoid an Accident

During the festive season the road agency keeps a tally of the number of road deaths because there are more cars on the road. It is a scary thought to know that so many accidents occur on the roads that we drive. In certain cases you might actually drive past an accident scene and it can be quite gloomy. You, then, realise how dangerous our roads are. In an effort to curb road accidents, here are some tips on avoiding accidents.

• • Be aware. This is the single most important tip for drivers. Be aware of your surroundings. Be aware of what you’re doing. Be fully aware when you’re driving. As veteran drivers we may tend to think that we are so good at driving that we can multi-task while driving. This is a dangerous idea. Don’t do it. Multi-tasking while driving causes many accidents. Drivers think they can chat on a mobile phone, text, eat, drink, apply make-up, or grab something out of their bag while driving. This action will lead you take your eyes off the road. That one second is all it takes for an accident to happen. Again, be aware.

• • Service your car. Stick to the service schedule of your car. It’s there for a reason. It ensures that your car and all the related parts are checked, and that the parts are replaced for optimum functionality. During a service, unknown problems can be detected before a breakdown occurs.

• • Check your tyres. Make sure it’s not flat or punctured. If it is flat, pump it. Flat tyres can cause an unnecessary accident because your vehicle handling will be compromised.

• • Check the brakes. Get your car to a brake repair centre if you suspect that the brakes on your car may be faulty. Faulty brakes can be fatal. It’s not something that can wait until next week. If the brakes are worn or damaged, go immediately and have them repaired.

• • Maintain a braking distance. Don’t drive too close to the car in front of you. They could stop at any moment. This is what you should be thinking while you’re driving. Never assume that nothing will happen. Rather assume that something out of the ordinary may happen. Keep a fair braking distance between you and the car in front of you.

• Repair cracked windscreens. If there is a crack in your windscreen, get it repaired soon. Yes, the windscreen may be made of a tempered glass, but a large crack won’t care about that. Pressure of the wind while driving could lead to the windscreen to collapse or shatter altogether.