By Alex Perdikis

It doesn’t matter if you’re a new driver or have been behind the wheel for decades, refreshing your best driving practices memory is never a bad idea. Read on to learn about ways to keep you, your family, and others safe when you drive.

Avoid Distractions

Yes, cell phones are great. Not only do they provide a way to stay connected wherever you are, but they give you a way to call for help when you need it. But unfortunately, cell phone use is a major cause of accidents.

Texting and talking on the phone, even a hands-free phone, distracts you from keeping your attention on the road and conditions around you.

“Put the phone away, don’t answer if someone calls and don’t read text messages or send a text yourself. If you simply cannot wait to read a text or see who called, pull over in a safe place and stop before reaching for the phone.” — Alex Perdikis

Distracted driving didn’t just appear when cell phones came into use. Changing the tunes and eating in your car are just a couple of the ways your attention diverts from your driving.

Add pets and children to your ride, and you have an even greater chance of taking your eyes and thoughts off the road. Of course, you can’t ignore the children, but they need to learn that you have to focus on your driving when you’re in the car.

Look Out the Window Before You Leave

Failing to accommodate for weather conditions means you’ll probably be late for work on a snowy day. Running late and feeling anxious may give the urge to speed get to work on time. Instead, compensate for the weather conditions before. Leave earlier if the weather’s bad.

And, if you find yourself late, don’t take risks to get to work on time. It’s better to be a few minutes late than never make it at all.

Clean It Up

If you have years of driving experience behind you, you’ve probably become complacent about following the rules. Perhaps you don’t come to a complete stop anymore when you come to the neighborhood intersection. “There’s never any traffic there, so why bother?” is a dangerous reason.

Force yourself back into following the rules. Come to a complete stop. Signal when turning. Enter the left lane of the street you’re turning onto in a left turn. Those rules are there for a reason. In fact, they’re not just rules of the road, but laws.

Drive a Well-Maintained Car

Replace tires and brakes, windshield wiper blades and lights as soon as they become less efficient. Make sure your car is in good shape and in prime running condition. You have to be able to see when it rains and brake when you have to. Safe driving is not only about your skills, but the reliability of your vehicle.

Long Drive Ahead?

If you have a long drive ahead, get plenty of rest the night before. Leave early enough to get wherever you’re going and take breaks throughout the day. Get out of the car, walk around and eat a little something. Avoid driving while fatigued.

Remember your basics and drive safely. Lives depend on it.

Alex Perdikis, Koons of Silver Spring general manager and owner, lives in Chevy Chase with his wife and daughters.