Good Driving Habits
"I can't believe how many bad drivers are on the road!" How many times have you thought that? When it comes to bad driving habits, we usually think it's "the other guy." But it can't hurt to brush up on the basics. Maybe there're some things you've forgotten?

1. Use your signals.
   • This goes for lane changes as well as turns. Show your intentions to other drivers.

2. Stop at red lights.
   • It sounds simple, but red light violators cause thousands of crashes every year! Amber lights do not mean "speed up," so slow down and prepare to stop.

3. Pass on the left, drive on the right.
   • The left lane is a passing lane, not a "fast lane." Keep right except to pass.

4. Adjust your headrest.
   • The headrest will prevent "soft tissue" or whiplash injuries by stopping your head and neck from over-extending in the event of a crash. The upper edge of the headrest should be the same height as the top of your head. The distance between your head and the headrest should be as small as possible, and should not exceed 4 cm. And if your vehicle has them, also adjust your rear seat headrest.

5. Drive with both hands on the wheel.
   • Driving with your hands at the 3 and 9 o'clock position lets you to steer left or right quickly and precisely. Two-handed driving also minimizes the risk of the wheel slipping out from underneath your hands.

6. Keep up with traffic speed if conditions permit.
   • A wide disparity in speeds is dangerous.

7. Be a loner.
   • Avoid clumps of cars on the road and avoid involvement in someone else's collision. The further you are from the car ahead, the more stopping distance you will have.

8. Keep track of traffic.
   • Look far down the road and keep your eyes moving to spot any problems before your reach them. Check your mirrors frequently, but don't rely on them for all your information.

9. Think ahead.
   • Consider possible traffic emergencies and plan escape routes.

10. Keep wheels straight as you wait to turn left.
    • If your front wheels are turned to the left as you wait to turn, this sets you up to be pushed into oncoming traffic in the event of a rear-end collision.

11. Let them merge.
    • If you're in the right lane of a multi-lane highway, you can help entering traffic merge safely and smoothly by temporarily moving over a lane if traffic permits.

12. Brake at the right time.
    • Slow to a safe speed before entering a turn. Hard braking in mid-corner can upset the car's balance and may cause you to lose control in an intersection.