The truth is that, especially in Greece, we are quite lacking in the discipline at the wheel. Most tourists who come to our country are very impressed by the way we drive, both on the main streets of Athens and in the provincial cities. In any case, especially now that some of us are taking to the streets again after a long time, we need to be especially careful and not be complacent.
In today's article you will read the 6+1 Golden Rules that you should never but never violate, in order to drive safely under any condition, to avoid road accidents, and not to endanger your life and the lives of other people. So read carefully.
1. Steering Discipline and Seatbelt Always Go Together
The first thing someone should definitely do when driving is to wear their seat belt. Many times, the driver or co-drivers neglect to wear a belt, especially when it comes to traveling short distances. However, the reality is that many people have survived accidents because they were wearing a seat belt and correspondingly enough have lost their lives because they did not choose to wear the seat belt.
Therefore, whether it's short distances or sitting in the rear seats, a seat belt is essential in order to be safe. Let us not neglect it and let us obey this very simple but vital rule.
2. We respect the Speed Limits and do not exceed them
It is also very important that we do not exceed the permitted speed limits. We don't need to speed up, but neither should we go too late (Speeding: When It Saves Lives and When It Becomes Dangerous)."
A middle ground is always the ideal one.
There are cases when the driver goes too late in relation to the prescribed speed limit, and this again can cause road accidents. Thus, it is important to develop a speed that does not exceed the limit, but is not very small. In this way, we make it easier for the rest of the vehicles to circulate safely on the road.
3. Discipline at the Wheel: We say no to Alcohol
Steering discipline is very important if we want to stay safe. And one of the most important rules when driving is not to have consumed alcohol.
Alcohol reduces our reflexes to a fairly large extent, whether we realize it or not (5 Truths about drinking alcohol that will make you think again before you drive).
Drinking alcohol can lead to either making very sudden and abrupt movements in order to avoid something, or getting involved in a car accident because we were slow to react. It all starts with a glass, but usually one becomes two and so on... Therefore, we say no to alcohol in order to drive safely.
4. We have our Eyes Open for Two-Wheelers and Pedestrians
"Invisible" pedestrians can become very dangerous when driving. The same goes for two-wheelers. In too many cases we focus our attention on a traffic light or the rest of the vehicles in front of us, and we do not see pedestrians and two-wheelers that may then "appear" literally out of nowhere (Learn now why the pedestrian is the "easy victim" on Greek roads).) This of course is always very likely to cause an accident, which may be fatal.
In other cases, especially with regard to two-wheelers, they may be located in "blind" corners that we cannot see in our mirrors (Learn how to look after motorbikes on Greek roads). That's why it's very important to be careful, especially when driving through the city.
5. Steering Discipline: We Don't Drive Under the Influence of Medications
Another thing that we should keep in mind when it comes to steering discipline is that we do not drive under the influence of drugs. This is because many drugs either bring drowsiness or reduce our retroactives.
So, when driving we should be sure that if we have consumed some medications, these do not bring drowsiness and do not make us slower to drive (12 Categories of drugs that you do not want to know how much they can affect your ability to drive). Unfortunately, many accidents occur because of the consumption of medicines that are not conducive to driving, so we carefully check what medicines we are taking in order to stay safe on the road.
6. We always drive Rested
It is very important to be rested when driving, especially when it comes to doing long distances. Sleep plays a huge role in making our brain work to the maximum and being able to act properly under any circumstances.
If we are going through a period when we are constantly feeling tired, or if we have stayed up late at night, it would be wise not to drive. Even more urgent is the need to leave the steering wheel to someone else when we have to travel long distances. There are several cases of drivers literally sleeping at the wheel, and this of course can be fatal. Thus, we always make sure that we have slept well and qualitatively before driving.
7. We always overtake safely
Finally, it is very important to know that overtaking while driving must be done safely because in many cases, this results in serious road accidents, and even some of them fatal (Are you sure you know How to Do Safe Overtaking?).
Overall, steering discipline is an essential feature of any conscientious driver. We do not need to escape and drive carelessly, considering that, due to experience, we are definitely protected. All drivers without exception must follow the above seven rules in order to be sure that we will remain safe.
