Improving your driving is all about paying attention to small details that make up your driving behavior. It’s the small, consistent habits that could lead to improved driving scores, and higher scores lead to rewards.
Distraction Free
This one’s easy! According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, distracted driving is a significant cause of car accidents in the US. Plus, in most states, handling your phone while driving is against the law. Simply put, when your car is in motion, hands off your phone.
You can do this by:
- Setting your phone to “Do Not Disturb” mode
- Setting your phone’s GPS in advance
- Turning on your favorite playlist or podcast before hitting the road
- Using a cradle or a phone holder during your trip so you can view your GPS hands free
HiRoad’s smart technology knows when you’re moving and when you’re stationary. So if you need to pull over to take a call or pay for a snack at a drive-thru using your digital wallet, you’ll still be distraction-free.
Driving Patterns
How, when and where you drive can make a difference. We know you don’t always have control in certain situations. But by using these tips, you could decrease your chances of getting in an accident and create habits that can increase your driving score.
Here are some of the situations you should avoid, if you can:
- Night time–more people drive drunk, speed or forget their seatbelt at night.
- Bad weather–about 73% of weather-related accidents are due to wet pavement.
- High traffic times–the more cars there are on the road, the higher the risk of getting into an accident.
- Weekend driving–Saturday is the most dangerous driving day of the week. When you can, schedule your errands on weekdays to cut down on your weekend trips.
- Summertime–Did you know the most dangerous month for driving is August? So, plan your next road trip outside of the busy season.
Safe Speeds
At HiRoad, we believe “safe” is the new “fast.” Studies show, speeding doesn’t save you much more than six minutes. And, given the risks associated with speeding, your best bet is to keep to the speed limit.
Speed matters because doubling your speed quadruples your car's stopping distance, so look ahead when you're on the highway to reduce your chances of an accident.
Smooth Driving
The little choices you make on the road can make a difference for you and the people around you. So, when you’re behind the wheel, remember to:
- Maintain your distance–keep at least 3 seconds between you and the car in front.
- Avoid left turns–on average, left turns are more dangerous than right turns. When you can, go around the block and make a right turn.
Mindful Driving Tips
The HiRoad app is pretty smart–but it doesn’t know if you’re in the right headspace to do your best driving. So here’s what you can do to make sure the app is capturing your most mindful self.
- Get some sleep–seven to eight hours per night is recommended for safe driving
- Train your brain–memory games and other similar activities can help keep your mind sharp on the road.
- Park your phone–A car can enter your blind spot in the amount of time it takes to check text.
- Take on a challenge–visit the HiRoad app Challenge tab to get started