Have you been driving for decades? Or are you new to the open road? Either way, there’s always room to become a safer driver. Consider these eight driving safety tips as a mini-refresher course to help you make sure you’re covering the basics — and maintaining good habits behind the wheel.

1. Buckle up

Even though seat belt usage is the law in Texas, too many drivers and passengers skip this important safety step. Among fatalities on Texas roads in 2023 where investigators could tell if seat belts were used, more than 48.89% of those who died were not buckled in¹ at the time of the crash.

Seat belts are important for everyone in the vehicle, no matter what age they may be. Properly installed infant car seats and child booster seats adapt seat belts for smaller bodies. For older drivers, seat belt use can help to reduce this group’s elevated risk of dying in a crash due to “increased vulnerability to injury.”²

2. Slow down

Speeding is a major contributing factor in crashes and fatalities in Texas. “Failure to control speed”³ contributed to more than 3,504 crashes in 2023 alone, according to the Texas Department of Transportation.

The faster your vehicle is traveling, the less time you have to react if something unexpected happens, like a deer in the road or another vehicle suddenly stopping ahead of you.

Reduced reaction time can make it harder for inexperienced drivers, like teens and young adults, to choose a safe response in time to avoid an accident. Plus, as we age, reaction times typically slow, meaning older drivers who speed may have less reliable responsiveness.

3. Maintain your lane

Veering over the line that divides your lane from another puts you at risk of hitting an object or a person on the shoulder of the road, sideswiping a vehicle in the next lane, or even having a head-on collision. Leaving the lane⁴ was the second most common contributing factor in crashes in Texas in 2021.

Does your vehicle have lane-tracking technology? Sure, the alerts may be annoying, but they also can help you and the other drivers around you stay safer. And if you’re so tired that you’re having trouble staying in your lane, it’s time to pull over and rest. Avoiding distractions can also help you focus on maintaining your lane position.

4. Ditch the distractions

There are so many things that can distract a driver, starting with cellphones. Even if you have your phone on “Do Not Disturb” mode while you’re on the road, the screens and indicators in your vehicle may capture your attention — especially if you’re navigating to a new place using a digital map. If your screens are too distracting, it may be better to put them in sleep mode.

Technology isn’t the only culprit, either. Eating or smoking while driving can pull your eyes off the road if you drop something in your lap or on the floor. Conversations with passengers can compete with the road for your attention, too. Teenagers are more likely to have a crash if there are other young people⁵ in the car with them, according to the CDC.

Have that snack or chat when you arrive at your destination. Bonus: You'll likely savor it more when you give it your full attention!

5. Don’t drive after drinking — or taking drugs

Drinking and driving are a deadly combination at any age, but teenagers and young adults are at the highest risk for this behavior. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) data shows that 30% of drivers aged 15 to 20 who died in crashes in 2022 had measurable levels of alcohol⁶ in their blood. Drivers aged 21 to 24 had the highest proportion of legally drunk drivers.

However, it’s not only young drivers risking their lives by drinking and driving. NHTSA also found that motorcycle drivers aged 45-49⁷ made up 37% of all drunk-driving cycle fatalities in 2022.

Driving while under the influence of drugs — drugged driving — is also a safety concern. And it’s not just illegal drugs. Prescription medicines can cause drowsiness and impair your thinking and judgment — and cause accidents. Teens and older adults are most often affected by drugged driving.⁸

6. Give, don’t take, right of way

Learning how to safely navigate four-way stops and highway entrance ramps is a rite of passage for new drivers — and one that not all drivers do well. Managing right-of-way interactions gets easier with experience, to a point. According to the Institute for Highway Safety, failure to yield⁹ the right of way is the leading cause of crashes involving senior drivers.

7. Stay calm

Aggressive — and sometimes violent — behavior by drivers is known as road rage.¹⁰ Alas, it’s increasingly common. Speeding, weaving across lanes, yelling, tailgating and cutting off drivers ... these aggressive roadway moves can result in collisions or, worse, fatalities.

Being calm and courteous behind the wheel keeps your driving from being perceived as hostile. If you encounter an aggressive driver on the road, refrain from responding to their risky behavior. Do not make eye contact or react — safely continue on your way. If necessary, call 911 to report the behavior.¹¹

8. Be open to feedback about your driving

Hearing criticism about our driving — even when it’s well-intentioned and constructive — can put us on the defensive. But if a friend or family member suggests that we might want to do something differently when we drive, it’s worth considering that they may have a point.

This is an issue that spans ages. Teens typically bristle at corrections from their parents. Aging parents are usually not too pleased when adult children raise concerns about their driving skills. The goal, however, for all of us should be to keep everyone safe on the road. That approach benefits drivers of every age, at every life stage.

The takeaway

Brushing up on safe driving skills at every age can help you and your loved ones stay safe on the road. While the right insurance coverage can help protect you and your family, too. RBFCU Insurance Agency is available to provide you with a review of your current policy, or you can request an online quote today.*