Driving is a huge responsibility. You need to pay attention to everything and everyone around you though distractions and obstacles often compete for your attention. Driving defensively — keeping your eye out for the other guy — and driving courteously are your best defenses against accidents and costly car insurance claims.
Here are some tips on how to stay safe and pay less for car insurance:
- Take a defensive driving class. Chances are, you've learned a lot of bad driving habits since you got your license. Completion of a defensive driving course will increase your driving awareness, minimize traffic violations, and help prevent you from having an accident. Plus, completion of an approved defensive driving course could earn you a car insurance discount.
- Slow down in bad driving conditions. (In extremely poor situations, you may not want to drive at all.) Rain, snow, and fog can make it difficult to see and impossible to drive. Plus, wet and uneven surfaces require additional time to make a complete stop. Wet surfaces require 2 to 10 times more stopping distance than dry ones.
- Keep your distance. Following too closely to other vehicles can make it difficult to stop in a hurry. Slowing down and putting distance between you and a hazard can prevent accidents. You can determine if you're following too closely to other cars by using the "3-second rule."
Use a tree or pole on the side of the road to gauge how closely you're following the car in front of you. If there's less than 3 seconds between you and the car in front of you, slow down or switch lanes to pass.
- Pay attention to drivers around you. Distracted drivers may swerve, stop quickly, or react slowly. Be on the look out for other drivers' erratic behavior by always using your mirrors to locate cars and hazards behind and beside you. Also, make sure to look several cars ahead of you for clues about when to apply your brakes.
Esurance rewards safe driving with car insurance discounts for good drivers in most states. Find out if you're eligible for a good driver discount, or for any other auto insurance discounts, by getting your car insurance quote today.