The population of the world is 7.3 billion and, of this, there are 1.2 billion drivers equating to 16.4 percent of the population. So, there are, without a doubt, a few circumstances which many us will happen upon during our driving lives. I’m going to outline the 5 most common and how to avoid, or deal with them.

Skidding.

Driving in the rain or post downpour and negotiating a bend which sends your car skidding on the wet surface and spinning out of control. Now what? We’ve all heard that expert advice of ‘turning into the skid’ but in the heat of the moment you panic, and things become blurry so remembering which way is into or away from the skid can be confusing. Therefore, new advice is to take your foot off the gas immediately, pick a focal point somewhere slightly further down the road and gently steer your vehicle towards that. The most important thing to remember is not to over-steer. Jolting the steering wheel left and right can cause the car to over-turn. Also, slamming the breaks on can cause more of a skid, so avoid this too.

Flat tyre.

Whether it’s been a slow puncture or a tyre blowout, everyone should be prepared to deal with this happening. Get into the habit of regularly checking your tyres before embarking on a journey for good practice. If it happens whilst driving, don’t panic. Slow down and pull over as soon as you can, safely and preferably on a level, firm surface where you’ll be able to use a jack if you know how to do so. If not, call your breakdown cover.

Driver fatigue.

Being tired behind the wheel increases your chances of crashing the car by a third. That feeling of dreaminess, restlessness, sore eyes and yawning are just some of the things to look out for. If you can, take a break, drink some water and get some fresh air. A decent night’s sleep the night before definitely helps too.

Being unprepared.

Plenty of fuel in the car, make sure you check engine oil, water and screen wash before journeys. Check the weather conditions before making trips, especially in the case of ice or snow. Ensure you have a breakdown kit in the boot, extra blankets, fuel can, torch

Distractions.

Having anything distracting in the car can always be quite hazardous. If travelling with children make sure you have games, entertainment, snacks and drinks to hand. Regular stops to break the boredom may be necessary too. Cell phones on silent or on hands-free mode is a no brainer, try not to try changing CDs or Sat nav destination whilst driving too.

And an extra tip, just for good measure; is to simply, be aware. As crazy as it sounds, you need to think about other drivers. Anticipate things that might occur and be aware of your surroundings. Pedestrians, wildlife, other road users just use your peripheral vision to be conscious that you are not alone on that road or journey.