Safe driving is in your hands — don’t depend on the other drivers

The highways and byways are filled with drivers whose skills behind the wheel range from those of an 11-year-old to those of a racecar driver. As a motorist, you usually have no idea as to the skill level of the drivers with whom you share the road.

That’s why it’s important to take your own measures to avoid accidents, since you can’t always depend on the other drivers to be safe or sane.

“People need to respect the fact that a car is a dangerous machine and not a big toy,” said Bob James of the San Diego-based Automobile Safety Foundation (ASF).

There are many ways to avoid accidents. Here are a few tips offered by the ASF, The “Safe Driver” newsletter, the insurance industry and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, among others:

8 Use great caution when proceeding through intersections. More accidents occur at intersections than anywhere else on the road.

When entering an intersection, first look left, then right and then left again to ensure the area is clear.

Don’t encourage aggressive drivers. Don’t allow the aggressive driving behavior of others to spur you to do something irrational. Imitating such behavior is dangerous — and losing your temper could make a bad situation worse. The best thing to do when confronted with such a situation is to call the police.

Leave a safe distance between your car and other vehicles. A rule of thumb is that for every 10 miles per hour of speed, leave at least one car length space between you and the vehicle ahead. 8 Maintain a constant speed. Don’t continually slow down or speed up.

Properly maintain your vehicle. Follow the recommended maintenance schedule for tune-ups and check the tire condition and pressure monthly.

Take time at the gas station to check the mirrors, tires, brakes, lights and fluid levels.

Adjust the mirrors properly and check the side and rearview mirrors every 15 seconds.

Additional mirrors are a good idea, especially for older drivers and motorists with limited eyesight.

The government regulates the size of rearview mirrors, and most automakers tend to make stock mirrors to the minimum legal size.

However, it’s easy to attach a wide-angle mirror onto the stock rearview and side mirrors. A wide-angle outside mirror increases the area of vision by three times, making it easier to stay aware of the vehicles around yours.

Take defensive driving classes to improve your ability to drive and be better prepared for the unpredictable behavior of other motorists.

Be aware of road conditions and make your car more visible by keeping the lights on at dusk and dawn and during rain.

Don’t drink and drive. Driving while impaired puts your life — and the lives of everyone sharing the road with you — at risk.

Clean the inside of the vehicle’s windows and use an ammonia-based cleaner on the top of the dashboard to cut the shine and reduce glare.

Look far ahead as you drive. Keeping your eyes focused only on the car in front won’t prepare you for dangers farther up the road.

Looking as far ahead as possible gives you the maximum amount of time to react. The trick is to always keep your eyes moving instead of staring at one spot.

Use your hazard lights when appropriate. For example, if you encounter a sudden obstruction on the highway, put your flashers on once you’ve slowed down. This will alert drivers behind you that there’s a problem ahead.

Be aware of the weather. At the first drop of precipitation or snow, the water blends with the oil residue on the road and forms a slippery surface, so watch your speed.

Minimize distractions. Pull over to a safe place to perform non-driving functions such as dialing phone numbers and talking on cellphones, picking up items from floor mats, changing music, reading a mapor newspapers, eating or doing personal grooming.