Let’s face it, we are all guilty of doing something we shouldn’t be doing when we are behind the wheel. However, as we start fresh this new year, let’s all make a commitment to stop those bad behaviors and put safety first. The new year is a reminder to practice safer driving techniques that can make a lasting impact on our families, friends, and everyone else around us.
The NHTSA has some helpful tips to help us all be better drivers in 2025, including:
Wear your seatbelt every time you get behind the wheel.
No matter the distance, whether you are driving down the street to pick your kids up from your neighborhood elementary school or making a longer commute to work, wearing your seat belt can reduce your risk of injuries in the event you are involved in a car crash. Misusing a seat belt can have terrible consequences, so make sure you are placing the shoulder strap across your chest and collarbone, and that the lap strap is snug across your hips. Never put the shoulder belt under your arm or behind your back – children are big fans of doing this so make sure you correct this bad habit immediately. Every passenger in your car should be properly bucked before you hit the road.
Make sure your kids are in the right seat.
It’s critical to select the appropriate seat, install it properly, use it whenever your child is in the car, and determine when switching to a different kind of car seat or seat belt is safe. NHTSA can provide you with car seat recommendations based on your child’s age and size, thorough car seat installation instructions, and locating a car seat inspection station to have a trained expert check your work. NHTSA also provides tweens with seat belt tips. For kids younger than 13, the back seat is the safest option.
Do not drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Impaired driving is a deadly and severe offense. Driving under the influence of alcohol or other drugs, whether legal or not, is illegal in every state. Driving responsibly is simple: do not drive if you are impaired. Instead, plan ahead and arrange for a safe ride home prior to whatever you are doing. Use a rideshare service, like Uber or Lyft, or take public transportation or ask a friend for a ride. If you’re organizing an event where alcohol will be served, make sure that all attendees leave with a sober driver, and don’t be afraid to stop someone from driving after drinking.
Avoid driving when you have not had enough sleep.
Drowsy driving can be just as dangerous as driving drunk, as it has similar effects on your reaction time and coordination. Be aware of how your prescriptions may impact your ability to drive safely, and if needed, modify your schedule, or find another form of transportation. If you must drive between midnight and six in the morning and late in the afternoon, when people are most drowsy, watch out for symptoms like driving over rumble strips or roadway lines.
Keep your eyes on the road.
Talking or texting on your phone, eating or drinking, conversing with passengers, adjusting the audio, entertainment, or navigation system—anything that diverts your focus from the objective of safe driving is considered distracted driving. Always keep in mind that safe driving demands your undivided attention.
Follow the posted speed limit.
You put yourself, your passengers, and everyone else on the road in unnecessary danger when you speed. Additionally, speeding raises the possibility of more serious injuries in an accident. Even if you are following the speed limit, you should keep in mind that speed can still impair your safety if you are traveling too fast for the circumstances of the road, such as in bad weather, at night, dawn, or dusk, or when traveling through a construction zone.
Watch out for pedestrians and bikers.
Remember that in addition to other drivers, you also share the road with bicyclists, pedestrians, and motorcyclists. Give bikers plenty of room on the road, yield to them like you would other drivers, and don’t underestimate their speed. Always keep an eye out for pedestrians, and drive with additional caution in situations when visibility is poor.
Be a good example to your teen drivers.
To minimize distractions, tell your teen driver to always wear a seat belt, follow speed limits, put their phone away, and limit the number of passengers they let ride with them. Be a good role model and try to keep involved in your teen’s driving habits because you have more influence over them than you may realize.
Know what to do when you see flashing lights.
If a car with flashing lights is stopped on a highway, move into a lane that isn’t next to it. Slow down if it’s unsafe to change lanes. Move Over laws are in place in all 50 states to safeguard emergency personnel, law police, and other roadside workers. On that same note, understand school bus safety laws.
If you see a school bus with its yellow lights flashing, slow down and get ready to stop. If the bus has red lights flashing and the stop-arm extended, then you need to stop and wait for the bus to switch these lights off and resume movement before you can resume driving. It is illegal to speed up and pass a bus when it has red or yellow lights flashing. Be especially vigilant about keeping an eye out for kids, even if a bus doesn’t have flashing lights.
Stay up to date on recalls for your vehicles.
There are several ways to check for recalls. The NHTSA has great resources for checking for recalls that can be found here.
Contact Whittel & Melton if you are injured in a car accident.
Making slight changes can lead to big results. Keeping everyone safer on the roads is a goal we can all get behind in 2025. However, accidents are a part of life, no matter how careful we are to prevent them.
If you or a loved one has been involved in a car accident in Florida, our personal injury lawyers at Whittel & Melton are here to help. Call us anytime at 866-608-5529 or contact us online 24/7 to request a complimentary consultation.