Whether you are a new driver or a veteran to the ways of the road, there are general tips every driver should know.  Following these tips will help to keep you and your passengers safe and accident free.

• Be a safe and courteous driver.  Be attentive to who is around you and what they are trying to do.  There is a language drivers use to give their fellow road companions an idea of what they should anticipate.  Unfortunately, not everyone uses their communication skills effectively.  You should make the effort to be clear and concise in your actions at all times.
• Be extra cautious with children in the car.  Vehicle car crashes are the leading cause of death for children between 1 and 13.  And three out of four car seats are not used correctly.  You should always use the appropriate car seat for every trip, even if you are just going down the street.  The car seat should be the appropriate fit for your child, as well as your car.  If children are older, ensure that safety belts are worn.  Take time before every trip to remind your children the danger of playing around in vehicles and monitor them closely when vehicles are present.  Cars can be lethal to any living things, but because children are small and lack attention to detail, they are at  greater risk of being harmed.
• Be aware of other vehicles.  Staying attentive to who is around should never waver.  This includes vehicles in front, behind and on the sides of your vehicle.  Giving extra attention to specialty vehicles is important.  Trailers need more time to stop than the average vehicle.  If a trailer is forced to a sudden stop it can create a jackknife or gooseneck position and cause more problems for everyone else on the road.  In addition, the goods they are pulling have the potential of being damaged.  This includes severe harm to livestock.  Give motorcyclists extra space so they have time to slow down if necessary.  And always  be aware of bicycles and pedestrians who might not be taking the safety precautions necessary to keep themselves out of harms way.
• Don’t get distracted while on the road.  Each year, thousands of people are killed in distracted driving crashes and hundreds of thousands of people are injured.  Being distracted while driving is the leading cause of most vehicle crashes. We are all guilty of being on autopilot when we are driving the same route day after day.  But it is important to stay present at all times when operating a vehicle.  Before you go on a journey to a new location, it is important to plan the route before you leave.  Do not hesitate to pull off the road if you need a moment to review your directions.  Likewise, never use your phone while driving.  Your chances of getting into a car accident increase by 400% when talking or texting on a cell phone.  Again, do not hesitate to pull over if you must text or call.  Or ask a passenger to assist you.
• Reduce your blind spots.  An average of 840,000 blind spots accidents happen each year in the U.S. resulting in fatalities.  Take the necessary precautions before getting on the road to help reduce blind spots.  Adjust your rear-view mirror to see directly behind you.  Adjust your left side mirror until you can barely see the left side of your car.  Move your right side mirror so that when sitting perfectly upright, you cannot see the side of your car at all.
• Check your speed.  According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, speed is a factor in nearly one-third of all fatal crashes and costs more than $23 billion a year. Drive the posted speed limit and adjust your speed based on road and weather conditions.  Plan ahead to give yourself enough time to get to your destination.
• Accelerate properly when getting on freeways.  This can be tricky since you are often at the mercy of other drivers.  Keep a safe distance from the driver in front of you so you have more control over how fast you can accelerate if necessary.  The goal is to be able to keep up with the flow of freeway traffic upon immediately getting on the roadway.  This ensures the drivers you pull in front of aren’t putting themselves at risk of sudden stops or extreme slow downs which can cause them to swerve or even create an accident for you or the other drivers around them.  Extreme focus should be placed when emerging onto the freeway.  Take time to view how long the merge lane is and how busy neighboring lanes are then do some rough calculations in preparation.
• Help prevent auto theft.  Motor vehicles are stolen every 44 seconds in the United States.  The total estimated value of vehicles stolen nationwide is more than $4.3 billion.  Nearly half of theft is due to driver behavior.  Be sure to lock your doors and remove your keys from the vehicle ignition.  Always use common sense when parking and exiting your vehicle.  Park in well-lit familiar areas whenever possible.