Top 10 Driving Tips

7. Learn Your Car
Humans who haven't practiced for an emergency often lock-up like a virus-infected computer, or a deer blinded by headlights. Many—if not most—car crashes would be avoided if the drivers had employed the timely and proper combination of additional braking and more steering. With anti-lock brakes, it's easy to experience your vehicle's ultimate stopping power: Find a vacant stretch of road (or parking lot) and "Stomp, Stay, and Steer." Stomp the brake pedal to the floor. Stay hard on it. (Other than slightly accelerated brake pad wear, it won't hurt the car.) Finally, steer around the obstacle. (Understand: A little bit of steering goes a long way.) Practice before the emergency.

6. See And Be Seen
Regularly scan out to the limit of your vision. (Measure how far ahead you look: With a dry-erase marker, make a thin line at pupil height. See how often you look under the line.) Use only your peripheral vision to position your car laterally within your lane. Apply a rain-shedding product to the exterior surfaces of all windows (and the outside mirrors, too). Replace windshield wipers twice a year. Engage the air conditioner and fresh air (not recirculation) setting when windows fog over. Turn on your headlights—not just the parking lights—well before sunset and in rainy or foggy weather. Use your turn signals.

5. Figure Out The Clues
Other drivers regularly tell you things. Brake lights on a straight section mean there's a ladder in the road. Oncoming cars burning headlights during the day mean a rain shower ahead. Out-of-state plates or car rental agency stickers tell you to expect sudden stops and turns. Rusty dents says, "I have so many wrecks, I don't bother to fix them." A can of orange juice on the dash means there's possibly a bottle of vodka under the seat.

4. Prep Your Ride
On under-inflated, mismatched, or worn-out tires, Formula 1 World Champion Michael Schumacher can drive no better than a chimp. With worn-out brakes, his Ferrari will stop no shorter than the Flintsone-mobile. Many of the new safety features, such as electronic stability control, cannot perform their magic without top-performing brakes and tires.

3. Sober—And Hang—Up
Despite two decades' worth of education, enforcement, and harpy nagging, a third of fatal accidents involve a drunk driver. Sadly, cell phones are replacing alcohol as a driving impairment. Hang up and drive. And a spilled soda is several times more distracting than a "What do you want for dinner—" phone call.