Car accidents may seem impossible to avoid, but you can actually reduce your chances of being involved in them. Use these tips to stay safer on the road.

How to Avoid Getting Into Car Accidents

If you've ever been involved in a car accident, you know just how stressful the situation can be. Even if the car accident is small, you will still be left dealing with insurance, car damages, and potential health issues. Luckily, you can take some steps to reduce your chances of being involved in a car accident. Use these tips to stay safe on the road.

Keep Your Vehicle in Good Condition

Regular car maintenance will help ensure your car stays in better condition for longer. Not only will this save you trips to the mechanic, it can also help you avoid dangerous situations on the road. Pay extra attention to your tires, brakes, and fluids. These essential components can make all the difference on the road. Take your brakes as an example. If these aren't working properly, you may not be able to stop safely if the car in front of you comes to a sudden stop. Neglecting your car's needs can also lead to your car stopping suddenly on the road. Not only can this cause an accident, it can also lead to serious internal car damage.

Take Care of Yourself

As the driver, you must make sure you're in good enough shape to drive a vehicle. This means ensuring you're in good health, keeping up with eye exams, and not driving when you don't feel well enough to handle a car. If you need glasses to see, never drive away without them. Keep up with your eye exams to be sure your current prescription will help you see well. If you're taking medication that makes you drowsy, do not convince yourself  you're well enough to drive. Finally, never drive after drinking alcoholic beverages. Even just one alcoholic beverage can negatively affect your reaction time.

Remove Driving Distractions

It's not uncommon to see distracted drivers on the road, but this doesn't mean we should ignore it. In fact, you should do your best to remove any in car distractions that will cause you to shift your attention away from the road. For many, this means ignoring your cellphone or putting it on silent while driving. If you're expecting an important message or call, have one of your passengers monitor your phone. If you're alone, pull over before answering any calls or messages. Other things to avoid doing on the road include applying makeup, eating, and getting dressed. If you find yourself doing these during your commute, give yourself more time to take care of them at home. To keep your engine in top shape, be sure to get a synthetic oil change at regular intervals. For help finding the right synthetic oil for your vehicle, get in touch with Cerberus Systems, Inc. Give them a call at (717) 658-1256 for recommendations like AMSOIL's Signature Series 0W-20 Synthetic Motor Oil.

Practice Defensive Driving

Before you even got your driver's license you were probably already being told to practice defensive driving. This is a great strategy that will help you anticipate the next move of the drivers around you. Remember that many drivers fail to signal before changing lanes and other make sudden moves with little to no warning. To prevent being dragged into a car accident by these drivers, be sure to increase your following distance. Scan the road ahead and take note of drivers that are drifting into other lanes or that seem to be preoccupied. Always check your blindspots before making a move and be sure to stay away from obviously distracted drivers.

Avoid Night Driving

If possible, avoid driving at night. Not only is visibility reduced after night fall, this is also when you'll find drivers that are more fatigued. We don't have to tell you that this combination is no good and can actually put you in danger. Nighttime is also when you are more likely to encounter drunk drivers. Even if you're in perfect driving condition, other drivers can still put you in danger.

Pay Attention to Road Conditions

The condition of the roads you're driving on is very important. Scan the road ahead of you and look out for potential road dangers like potholes and ice. Do your best to avoid driving over puddles, piles of leaves, and snow since these can be hiding something underneath. Do your best to avoid construction zones and look out for pedestrians in dark residential areas.

Synthetic Oil Change in Chambersburg

Before taking your vehicle on the road, be sure it's well maintained and ready to go. Always include a synthetic oil change in your maintenance schedule for the best results. Contact Cerberus Systems, Inc. at (717) 658-1256 to find the best synthetic oil for your vehicle. Don't forget to stop by their online shop where you can check out their full range of AMSOIL Oil products.