What should you pay attention to when driving on the road?

[JosephineLee]

Here are the precautions to take when driving on the road: Do not use your phone while driving: Using a phone while driving reduces the driver's attention. Drivers who use phones are 4 to 5 times more likely to encounter traffic accidents compared to those who do not. The brain's reaction speed when using a phone while driving is even slower than when driving under the influence of alcohol. The driver's response to road conditions is slower than normal. Additionally, making phone calls causes unstable driving, making it difficult to maintain a safe distance from the vehicle ahead, which can easily lead to accidents. Do not sit too close to the steering wheel: Many beginners adjust their seats too close to the steering wheel when driving, with their bodies almost touching it. This can cause the whole body to become tense, and the excessive bending of arms and legs greatly affects the flexibility of control. The closer the body is to the wheel, the shorter and narrower the field of vision becomes, compromising driving safety. Do not play car audio too loudly: Excessively loud car audio affects the auditory organs, which, through the nervous system, can alter vision. High-volume music in the car can excite the driver, distract attention, and cause auditory fatigue, irritability, and difficulty in making correct judgments. Due to the lack of concentration, traffic accidents are more likely to occur.

[Josiah]

I remember last year during a long drive, road rage almost caused me to rear-end another car. The most important thing when driving is to stay calm—don't rush when the traffic light turns yellow; it's better to wait three minutes than take a risk. When friends in the backseat chat too loudly, it can be distracting, so I always ask them to mute their phones. In rainy weather with poor visibility, extra caution is needed—remember, turning on the rear fog lights is more effective than hazard lights. And never drive while fatigued; once I pushed through for two hours with heavy eyelids and only felt better after a 20-minute nap at a rest stop. Parking illegally on the roadside is even more dangerous than getting a ticket—always use hazard lights even for temporary stops.

[VanJameson]

As a commuter who drives 60 kilometers daily, vehicle condition checks are crucial. My routine is to check tire pressure every two weeks—the manufacturer's recommended value is printed on the door frame, and it should be 0.2bar higher in winter than in summer. Headlight alignment should be adjusted monthly, ensuring the low-beam cutoff line falls below the opposing vehicle's side mirrors. Brake pads must be replaced when worn down to 3mm; waiting for the metal screech is too late. In summer, monitor coolant levels—I keep distilled water in the trunk. For nighttime driving, maintain a 4-second following distance using the telephone pole method: when the car ahead passes a pole, count '1001-1004'; if you haven't passed the pole by then, you're at a safe distance.

[MacDominic]

As someone with extensive highway driving experience, I'd like to remind you of three crucial things: Never exceed 80km/h during heavy rain – hydroplaning is far more terrifying than skidding. Never change lanes in tunnels – last year I witnessed a five-car pileup caused by crossing solid lines in a tunnel. When trucks are driving side by side, either accelerate to pass or slow down to yield – being trapped between them is extremely dangerous. Remember to take a 30-minute break at service areas to stretch your legs; deep vein thrombosis is no joke. A common mistake beginners make is focusing solely on navigation while ignoring the road – I once nearly missed an exit and had to brake hard, almost causing a rear-end collision.

[SanConnor]

Mom who often drives with kids shares tips: Child locks are more important than you think. My 3-year-old once opened the car door while moving - scared me to death. Don't skip the hassle of installing car seats properly. One emergency stop caused my child to hit the front seat and get a big bump. Always keep reflective vests in the trunk - highway patrol praised this when we broke down last year. Never leave snacks on the dashboard, sunlight refraction can ignite them. Recent discovery: Using voice navigation is safer than phone mounts - those split-seconds glancing at the screen can cause accidents.

[DiEmily]

A hard-earned lesson from a modification enthusiast: After switching to wider tires, the car indeed tends to skid more easily in rainy weather, so now I always drive with ESP on in the rain. Don't hit the road with xenon lights if they're not equipped with lenses—I've been pulled over by traffic police three times. Be careful not to block the cooling vents when painting brake calipers; once I smelled burning while going downhill. The most troublesome modification was applying dark window film—now I have to roll down the windows and stick my head out to see the road when turning at night. I've learned my lesson now and keep all original parts as backups for any modifications. By the way, installing underbody protection plates requires removing the original anti-roll bar mounts, which has tricked many car enthusiasts.