Safe driving is just as important when leasing a car as it is with any other form of car finance.
And here at LeaseLoco, we want to make sure you're as safe as you can be behind the wheel.
So to help keep you right, we've put together some top driving safety tips.
Ensure You're Legally Fit to Drive
Chances are you already know if you have a medical condition that prevents you from driving, but it's still always worth checking.
The main thing that would stop you from driving safely is your eyesight.
Remember when you had to read out a number plate as part of your driving test? Well, do that again and see if you can nail it.
Point is, no-one's going to check your health for you. It's up to you to find out whether you're in a good enough state to drive safely.
Defensive Driving
Probably one of the best driving safety tips, but what is it exactly?
If you sat the UK driving test anytime in the past 10 or so years, you'll probably remember the Hazard Perception section.
Defensive driving is exactly like that – being reactive and looking out for potential hazards on the road ahead.
And yes, it might mean going a bit slower than you might like, but isn't that a price worth paying?
Conduct a Pre-drive Vehicle Check
Ideally before every journey if you can.
Or if not, then before any long journey at the very least.
A quick pre-drive inspection can be useful as it means identifying any faults in a safe place, rather than you finding out on the motorway and having to pull over onto the hard shoulder . . .
And no, we're not expecting you to go rummaging through the car's inner workings. But you do need to check are the following:
1 - Tyres: Check the pressure using either a portable pressure gauge or a pressure machine at a supermarket/petrol station, ensuring they are inflated to the correct level for your car (usually it's around 32-35 psi). Also, make sure there are no objects lodged in the tyre treads.
2 - Lights: This should include all exterior lights like the tail-lights, headlights, turn signals, brake lights, and hazard warning lights. Make sure they're all in working order.
3 - Fluid Levels: Such as the brake fluid, engine oil, engine coolant, and the windshield washer fluid levels. They should be filled up to the correct level (between the minimum and the maximum markings).
4 - Brakes: Test them by pressing the pedal down gently, making sure they are responsive and not making any funny noises. They also shouldn't feel spongy.
5 - Mirrors: You need to have a clear view of the whole area around your car, so adjust the mirror angles accordingly. Best make sure they're clean and free of any obstructions as well.
6 - Windshield: Check it for cracks, chips, and other damage. Don't forget to clean the inside as well.
7 - Seat belts: Also a legal requirement, check that all of your car's seat belts are in good working condition and that they fasten and release properly.
Plan Journeys
Yes, you probably have a satnav, but as we all know . . . they can sometimes get things wrong.
Horribly. Dreadfully. Wrong.
Which is why it's never a bad idea to look at a map beforehand, or to at least set your satnav to a route that you've checked out the night before.
The last thing you want to be told mid-trip is that you need to turn onto an impossible road, or to make a U-Turn over the dividing wall of a motorway.
Avoid Distractions
There's the obvious ones like being on your mobile phone (which is also illegal), but even just looking at your satnav or playing around with the radio can have the effect of distracting you.
And whatever anyone tells you about multi-tasking, there's no way you can do 2 things at once and still devote 100% concentration to each of them.
So unless you've got more than 2 eyes and/or hands, stay focused on the road and find ways to keep driving stress at a minimum. Comprende?
Check the Weather
Do you really want to be driving in the pouring rain? Or worse, in the snow?
Not only is it less convenient, it also increases the likelihood of you being involved in an accident.
Once you know what the weather is predicted to be like, you can then judge whether it’ll be safe enough for you to drive in. You need to think about whether it’s essential to make the journey or if you could leave it off until the weather improves.
Moral of the story . . . turn on that forecast whenever you can.
What are the Risks of Driving for Work?
In their Safer Driving for Work handbook, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) make clear that people who drive to work have a greater likelihood of ending up in road traffic accidents than the average driver. They are also more likely to take risks and to be at fault when they end up in a car crash.
That's not to say they're reckless or less skilful than any other driver, just that they're subject to extra pressures on the road, particularly if their job actually involves driving and they aren't just commuting.
For example, at-work drivers are often required to drive in more extreme weather, or they could be in a race against time to complete a job within a certain time limit. Think your delivery drivers and your HGV drivers.
Taking Breaks
The human body wasn't designed to stay in a seated position for hours on end, which is why it's important to step outside and get that blood flowing.
Taking regular breaks helps stop you developing a musculoskeletal disorder (MSD), which is any injury, damage or disorder that relates to the tissue or joints in the upper or lower limbs, back or neck that can cause discomfort and pain. They're especially common in people like HGV drivers and long-distance truck drivers.
But it's not just the physical aspect. Regular rest breaks also help focus your mind and give it time to relax.
Vulnerable Road Users
Your pedestrians, cyclists, horse-riders, children.
They're not always the easiest to spot, especially when night-time driving, so keep your eyes peeled, won't you?
Speed Limits, Traffic, & Road Safety Laws
It's not rocket science, folks.
Going at 50mph in a 50mph zone, and 70mph in a 70mph zone (allowing for the 10% rule, of course) is going to keep you safe as well as legal.
Obey that speed limit.
What to Do After a Car Accident
So, let's say you've taken all the previous precautions.
You've driven defensively, you've obeyed the speed limit, you've watched for vulnerable road users, and yet the worst still somehow finds a way to happen . . .
Your first priority should be to make sure that no one in the car is injured. And if there's another vehicle involved, check on the occupants of that as well. Then do these 4 things:
Stay at the scene
Leaving the scene can result in legal consequences, such as fines or additional violations. So if you're on a busy road, stay inside the car and wait for the ambulance or the police to arrive.
Call the local emergency services
They'll dispatch someone to the scene of the accident. Once they arrive, wait for them to complete an accident report.
Stay calm
Don't be tempted to get into a dispute with the other driver. The last thing you need on top of your troubles is a black eye and/or a lawsuit.
Nobody's expecting roses and kisses, but do exchange contact and insurance information. And if possible, collect the names and phone numbers of any witnesses.
Contact your insurance provider
Report the claim by giving your insurance provider a call. Your agent will ask for any paperwork you receive about the accident, and they'll also give you important information regarding getting your car fixed.
Summary
So yep, always important to be driving safely out there – whether it's in a lease car or not.
Don't say we didn't warn you.
FAQs
What are the safety tips on the road?
There's lots of tips for driving safely, but some of the most important include carrying emergency items/supplies, conducting a pre-drive check, avoiding distractions, understanding the dashboard controls, and limiting night-time driving.