SInce your driving record effects your insurance premium quite a bit; you want to drive as safe as possible. Accident free driving history will reduce your rate quite a bit, so here are some tips that will help your drive safer.

1. Assume every other driver on the road is RAY CHARLES.
People can be blind. Only driver you can trust on the road is your self. Always expect the unexpected such as people driving through red lights & stop signs. Just because you obey the traffic rules doesn't mean other will do the same. Wait until other car stops at a stop sign before you proceed. Just because a ar turns onthe directional signal, dont assume they wiill actually turn. Do not drive assuming anything, always wait for the other car to actually do what it is supposed to do beofre proceeding

2. AVOID Driving behind a SUV or a TRUCK(especially on a highway)
Best way to drive safe is to watch at least two cars in front of you. Watching only the car in front of you is not enough since you can't trust that car's driver during emergency cituations. If they don't stop in time, you will end up hitting them as well. If you watch two cars in front of you, you will have enough time to react during an emergency cituation even if the car in front of you doesn't. Driving behind trucks and SUVs that block you from seeing whats ahead will increase your chances of having an accident. Remember even miliseconds can make the difference between a collision and a near miss. So look far enough ahead to see what is going on while you are driving.

3. Don't TRUST your mirrors!
Always turn your head and quickly verify that coast is clear before you move you vehicle. Whether you are in a parking lot backing up or on a highway changing lanes; always remember to turn your head and look where you are going before you make a move. Mirrors can have blind spots that cause you to miss other cars and objects and collide with them.

4. Leave about 1/2 to full car lenght distance with a car in front of you when stopped for a red light.
Again you can't trust other drivers behind you to stop at a red light. If you get hit from behind while sitting at a red light; you might end up hitting the car in front of you. Leaving some distance will reduce this risk since even if you did not cause the accident, your insurance will have to pay for the damages or the car in front of you. If you had the distance your insurance wouldnt have to pay a dime and the driver who hit you would end up paying your damages. If your insurance doesnt have to pay anything, it is likely that your insurance rate won't go up.

6. Take foot off gas when cruising through major intersectionsGives you better reaction time if your foot is hovering over brake pedal incase something happens.

7. Don't drive side by side with semi's....get past them as soon as you can.
They have a limited view so don't drive next to a semii for extended periods of time. Once the oppurtunity comes, safely pass the semi. Big trucks can't stop as quick and can cause a lot of damage. Either pass them or stay way behind them to be safe.

8. Be aware of road conditions. .
Knowing your car's handling limits is a good thing but remember that those limits will change with different road conditions. Not all road surfaces offer the same grip. Concrete roads can be more slippery when wet than the asphalt surface. Also be especially carefull during slippery conditions. Ice and snow is a dead give away for slippery roads but fallen leaves can be just as slippery as black ice. Be especially creafull when it slightly rains because small amount of rain will turn the road dust in mud and make it very slippery. Hydroplaning is a common cause for many accidents. When a tire rolls over a small body of water, it will float over the water rather drive through it, causing it to completely loose traction. Another adverse effect of hydroplaining happens while driving front wheel drive cars. If one wheel hydroplanes and the other still has traction, front wheel drive cars will cause the steer wheel to jerk to one side causing you to lose control of the vehicle. Do not drive fast during or after rain fall and hold the steering wheel with both hands incase it jerks because of hydroplaning

9. Get your foot of the gas before and while changing lanes during wet conditions. .
Reason is cars that drive through lanes clear water by splashing it to either side of the lane. End result of this is collection of water in between the lanes. If you keep accelerating while swithching lanes, you might end up hydroplaining your car during a lane change and loose control. By letting your foot of the gas before and during a lane change, you will reduce the chances of hydroplaning. Again if you were driving too fast for the road conditions to begin with then you could still end up hydroplaining so drive slowly when it rains.