Be aware of your surroundings. Watch out for other vehicles in front of, behind and beside your vehicle. Regularly check the rear-view and side-view mirrors. Scan the road ahead for traffic problems, road hazards and people crossing the road.
Observe speed limits. The speed limit tells motorists the safe and efficient speed for a given road. Excessive speed reduces the amount of time you have to adjust to adverse road conditions and is a contributing factor to accidents.
Avoid getting too close to vehicles to when driving in the city. This can prevent a fender bender if the vehicle in front of you stops suddenly. Keep away from aggressive drivers as much as possible.
Reduce your speed at night on poorly lit roads, where visibility is limited (such as on a winding rural road) or where road conditions are poor. In rainy weather, it can be difficult to see the road ahead, so drive more slowly to compensate. Make sure your wipers are in good working condition before driving in rainy weather.
Use your headlights on high beam on dark highways when there aren't a lot of other cars on the road, but switch to low beam when you see a vehicle ahead. In extreme weather conditions when there is very poor visibility, turn on your hazard lights so other motorists will be able to see your vehicle more clearly.
Go slow when driving in potentially flooded areas. If the water on the road seems too deep, or you can't be sure how deep it is (at a low-water crossing, for example), turn your vehicle around immediately. "Two feet of water will carry most cars away," according to the National Weather Service, and you can lose control of your vehicle in much less water because of hydroplaning.
Clear snow off your vehicle's lights, windows and roof before driving in the winter. Drive slowly to avoid skidding on icy roads. Avoid abrupt acceleration, sudden gear changes or steering movements. Apply the brakes as gently as you can.
