Drive safe and avoid accidents to keep auto insurance premiums down

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Driving a car is something that pretty much every adult in this country is capable of. America is a country where one cannot lead a normal life without access to a car, at least which is the case in all parts other than a few cities with a good public transport system.

Although a lot of people can drive, the question is can these people drive safe? Do you know the ways and means to avoid getting into an accident? Being aware at all times can help you in avoiding an accident like situation. It is important to anticipate what is going to happen on the road. We shall discuss a few pointers on how to avoid accidents.

The most important thing as mentioned before is to be aware of your surroundings. Make sure you know the local rules and regulations. It is important to do your homework before you depart for your destination. Knowing where you are going can save a lot of your time as well as the time of other commuters on the road. It is not good practice to Google your destination while driving. Be prepared and get it done at home.

Do not use the phone while driving. Although you might have a hands free, it is better to avoid phone conversations while driving. If really necessary, you can pull over and make the call.

Always wear your seatbelt. It is not only illegal to unbuckle your belts, it is also extremely unsafe. And make sure you fasten your kids and dog or other pets so that they do not trouble you while driving.

Ensure that you maintain a distance of at least two cars with the vehicle in front of you. This way you will have time to react to the driver ahead of you. There are also a lot of people who will try to milk your auto insurance by faking an accident. And a common technique is to slam their brakes abruptly such that you will rear end into their car. And for all practical purposes it will look as if you were the party at fault.

Also ensure that you show proper signals while changing lanes. Even if people try to wave you in, ensure that your speed is sufficiently low and that there are no other vehicles barreling towards you. And last but not the least; make sure that you drive within the speed limit. A little haste can result in a huge ticket which can set you back a lot of money.

And it’s not only about the immediate financial burden penalty that you will have to pay. The ticket might cost you at the most say two hundred dollars. But it will have long term consequences for your auto insurance policy. Your driving record will show that you have had a speeding ticket. This will be seen by your auto insurance company. Now the company will decipher that you are an unsafe driver and hence a risky proposition. And the more risky you are, the more your auto insurance rates are going to be. And getting it down again is not going to be easy. The driving record is a long term record. You will have to put in a lot of good driving in order to set it right.