Having a car can be convenient. You can wake up a few minutes before you need to leave for work, walk a few paces to your vehicle and be on your way.
Yet leaving in such a rush can decrease your safety once you are out amongst the mad morning traffic. Allowing yourself an extra few minutes is all it takes to reduce some of the dangers. Here are some examples of what you could do with a couple of minutes to spare:
Check your tires
How long does it take to walk around your car and glance at the tires to ensure they are properly inflated? A few seconds. Yet many motorists fail to do this. Tires are your only point of contact with the road, so keeping them at the correct pressure is crucial. A blowout as you travel could cause you to lose control.
Check your lights?
Modern vehicle electrics are much more reliable than in old vehicles, where bumps in the road could cause your connections to come apart. Yet bulbs and fuses can still blow. If other road users cannot see your intentions, they are more likely to crash into you.
Set up your car
If you share a car, it takes a few seconds to adjust the seat, mirrors and steering wheel to your favored positions. Doing this on the move is dangerous.
You should also connect your phone to the charger and select your favorite radio channel before leaving to reduce distractions.
You might not consider these things necessary, yet if you think the roads are full of other morning commuters who have also jumped into their car and driven straight off, you will see that it makes the road a dangerous place. If you are prepared, it reduces the chance of someone (who isn’t) injuring you in a collision.