Five Safe Driving Tips to Lower Your Insurance Rates

Knowing how to drive safely helps you avoid accidents and keeps your insurance premiums low.
Written by Maria Cruz
Edited by Jessica Barrett
Reviewed by Brice Regling
Safe driving can help you avoid accidents and keep your
car insurance
rates low. Knowing the rules of the road keeps you in good standing with insurance providers and protects you from penalty points on your license.

The top 5 safe driving tips to keep your insurance rates low

While it’s important to drive safely in every way you can, these particular safety tips will keep you safe on the road and your insurance coverage affordable:
icon
Gather the other driver’s information
icon
Contact your insurance company
icon
Check your blind spots
icon
Follow vehicles at a safe distance to improve reaction time
icon
Know when driving is most dangerous

Before you drive: Perform regular vehicle checks

Your driving is only as safe as your vehicle. Motorists are responsible for keeping up to date
with recalls
, maintenance, and overall health of their car.
It’s a good idea to frequently check certain aspects of your car, especially before a big trip.
What to Check
When to Check
Tire pressure
Once a month
Engine coolant
Twice a year, before summer and winter
Oil
Once a month
Lights
Once a month
Battery
Every 6 months or 12,000 miles
Wiper blades
Once a month
Mats
Daily

Avoid distractions on the road

Distracted driving boils down to motorists who are engaged in other activities while behind the wheel of a car. It includes:
icon
Gather the other driver’s information
icon
Contact your insurance company
icon
Check your blind spots
icon
Follow vehicles at a safe distance to improve reaction time
Distracted driving is one of the top causes for car accidents. According to the
U.S Department of Transportation
, “8 percent of fatal crashes, 14 percent of injury crashes, and 13 percent of all police-reported motor vehicle traffic crashes” were caused by distracted drivers in 2021.
Distracted driving also tends to impact younger motorists.
39% of high school students
who drove admitted to being on their phones at least once while behind the wheel in 2019.
Cell phone use impedes driving safety, so it’s best to tuck it away when you’re behind the wheel. There are plenty of simple but effective ways to achieve this:
icon
Gather the other driver’s information
icon
Contact your insurance company
icon
Check your blind spots
icon
Follow vehicles at a safe distance to improve reaction time
app screenshot
Jerry can help you track your driving habits to help you be safer on the road.
The cleaner your driving record is, the better chance you have to save on insurance!

Drive defensively

Defensive driving is when a motorist uses a series of techniques to anticipate dangerous situations on the road. Things like not tailgating, wearing a seat belt, obeying the speed limit, and using your turn signal all constitute defensive driving strategies.
Aggressive driving is on the rise, so it’s important you practice road safety. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
reported in 2021
that speeding was a contributing factor in 29% of all traffic fatalities.
Bear in mind that aggression on the road also means road rage and
reckless driving
, both of which are equally dangerous. Defensive driving begins and ends with you — establish safe driving habits:
icon
Gather the other driver’s information
icon
Contact your insurance company
icon
Check your blind spots
icon
Follow vehicles at a safe distance to improve reaction time
icon
Buckle up
icon
Don’t roll through stop signs
You always have the option of attending a defensive driving course, too. The average course will run you $15-$100, some of which can even be taken online. These courses provide you with driving safety tips, the possibility for penalty point revocation, and the chance to improve your driving skills.

Maintain an even speed

It’s important to know that a safe, even speed doesn’t just mean follow the speed limit. Good driving behavior also means avoiding harsh stops and starts.
icon
Gather the other driver’s information
icon
Contact your insurance company
Harsh stops and starts also wear down your vehicle. Braking too hard can easily damage the driveshaft or cause cracks in your brake hoses, meaning costlier trips to the mechanic and dangerous driving conditions. Worn out brakes also means it’ll be harder to make a controlled stop.
On the other hand, harsh acceleration leads to higher fuel consumption and worn out tires.
Harsh braking and accelerating can negatively impact your insurance, too. Insurance companies can track your driving habits through telematics, and poor behavior on the road means you’re seen as a bigger risk. High-risk driving = higher premiums.
A few easy ways to avoid these harsh kinds of habits are to:
icon
Gather the other driver’s information
icon
Contact your insurance company
icon
Document the scene (any damage, license plate numbers, etc.)
icon
Get the contact information of any witnesses
icon
Never drive under the influence
app screenshot

Know when driving is most dangerous

Late-night driving, bad weather conditions, drowsy driving,
the holidays
, and winter road conditions are all major contributors to dangerous driving. Even something like
Super Bowl weekend
or
St. Patrick’s Day
can make your drive more dicey.
There are 7.84% more fatal crashes on the Saturday prior to Super Bowl Sunday than Super Bowl Sunday itself.
Winter holidays like
Christmas
and
Thanksgiving
often lead to car crashes, too, on account of heavier traffic, speeding, and
people driving under the influence
.
Holiday
Most Dangerous Time to Drive
St. Patrick’s Day
8-9 p.m. on St. Patrick’s Day and 1-3 a.m. the next day.
Super Bowl weekend
Saturday and the Sunday between 6-7 p.m. and 10-11 p.m.
Thanksgiving
Thursday (Thanksgiving) and the Saturday between 6-7 p.m.
Christmas
December 23-25 between 6-8 p.m.
Though, it isn’t only the holiday season. Insurance company telematics apps also consider late-night driving to be unsafe.
To keep yourself and everyone else safe, you should:
icon
Gather the other driver’s information
icon
Contact your insurance company
icon
Document the scene (any damage, license plate numbers, etc.)
icon
Get the contact information of any witnesses
icon
Never drive under the influence
icon
Get a good night’s sleep to avoid drowsy driving

What to do if you get in an accident

The first thing to do
after a crash
is check if you or any other parties are injured.
If no one needs medical attention, and you can safely do so, bring your car to the side of the road so it doesn’t impede oncoming traffic. You can also put up reflective triangles to alert other drivers of the situation.
Keep an emergency kit in your car, preferably the trunk or storage compartments for easier accessibility. A flashlight, small first aid kit, jumper cables, non-perishable food, water, a small tool kit, and reflective triangles are all items to have on hand.
Next is to contact law enforcement. Pending on how long their response time is, it gives you the chance to:
icon
Gather the other driver’s information
icon
Contact your insurance company
icon
Document the scene (any damage, license plate numbers, etc.)
icon
Get the contact information of any witnesses
It’s also important to remember that most insurance ID cards will actually have a checklist on it to guide you on what to do in the event of an accident. Always have your card on hand, not only for yourself, but to show other drivers and law enforcement.
Watch what you say
in the event of a crash. It’s best to wait until law enforcement arrives before you discuss the crash so as not to confuse facts or come across like you’re at fault if you’re not.
In fact, most insurance ID cards will advise you to do the same!
You can also stay better covered by adding towing and labor coverage to your insurance policy.

FAQs

What is the most important thing for safe driving?

There’s no one thing you can do to safely drive. It comes down to a collection of habits like keeping on top of repairs, avoiding distractions, driving defensively, and knowing the most dangerous times to drive.

What are some tips to help you avoid being in an accident?

To avoid accidents be sure to stop at red lights and stop signs, not tailgate other drivers, and never drive under the influence. You should also avoid distractions, particularly to focus on your surroundings and actively steer clear of danger—keeping your eyes on the road can help you avoid something as small as a pothole to larger hazards like other vehicles or an animal. 

What is the first thing to do before driving?

Before driving, adjust your side and rearview mirrors. Also make sure you have enough space between you and the wheel, buckle up, and get rid of any distractions.

What are the 3 basic principles of defensive driving?

Basic principles of defensive driving are: remove distractions to keep your attention on the road, obey all traffic laws, and consider other drivers (use your blinkers, four ways, don’t drive aggressively, etc).

What should I do if I have a flat tire?

If you have a flat tire, don’t drive on it! Either safely pull over to the side of the road and put on your spare, or call roadside assistance.

Easiest way to compare and buy car insurance

√
No long forms
√
No spam or unwanted phone calls
√
Quotes from top insurance companies
Find insurance savings