Taking a driving class from a reputable driving school can make you a better driver, but it can also save you money. Some insurance carriers give discounts for proof of a completed driver education course with a company like Pacific Driver Education.

Start small. Get used to your vehicle’s size, turning radius, and blindsopts first. Then work your way around the neighborhood, practicing three-point turns and parallel parking in light traffic. Next, make your way onto busier city streets, and once your confidence and skills have improved, onto the highway. Practice will help you improve.

Driving requires 110% of the attention you have to give. Playing with the radio, eating, and talking with friends all take away from your ability to stay focused on being a safe driver.

The biggest distraction of all is your phone. Unless you have it cradled for GPS, there is no good reason to be using it while you are driving. Don’t call or answer calls unless you pull over, and never text. Not even while stopped at a red light.

So much of avoiding an accident has to do with how much time you have to identify the threat, react, and stop or move your vehicle into another lane. When you tailgate, you reduce your time to accomplish these things down to almost zero. Furthermore, in almost every situation, the driver who rear-ended another driver is considered to be at fault.

It’s easy to get comfortable and only rely on your mirrors. Make sure to keep your neck loose by making sure to briefly check over your shoulders to guarantee your blind spots are clear before changing lanes or merging.

Avoid tickets by watching for speed limit signs. Avoid accidents by watching for traffic control changes. Avoid missing your exit or turn by knowing what lanes you need to be in. It really is that simple.

Always remember that no one else on the road knows what you are thinking or about to do next. Using your blinker sends a literal signal to other drivers as to your intentions and is the best way to avoid accidents when changing lanes.

You can’t control the way other people drive. But you can control where your vehicle is in relationship to theirs. Give yourself distance from erratic, dangerous drivers, and you’ll avoid a lot of stress and risk.

Early on, the temptation is to give all of your friends rides wherever and whenever they need to go. It can really make you feel important, helpful, and special. But while you’re learning to be the best driver you can be, a car full of people can be a dangerous distraction.