How much faster (and safer) would our roads be if everyone used some common sense when driving. Our guess – a lot. According to Car-Accidents.com, “There were nearly 6,420,000 auto accidents in the United States in 2005. The financial cost of these crashes is more than 230 Billion dollars. 2.9 million people were injured and 42,636 people killed. About 115 people die every day in vehicle crashes in the United States — one death every 13 minutes.”

It doesn’t have to be this way. Here are some common sense driving tips to start practicing today:

• Concentrate on the road, not distractions. It’s easy to get wrapped up in a conversation with passengers in the car. It’s just as easy to run a red light during that conversation. A driver’s main focus should always be the road.
• Don’t try to change a CD or radio station. If you have a passenger riding with you, ask them to do it. If you’re flying solo, pull off to the side of the road and make the change.
• Never drive while drunk, or even tired. Fatigue is one of the top causes of car crashes in the U.S. If you’re feeling tired, pull off the road and rest. If you’re drunk, don’t even get in the car.
• Don’t let your emotions do the driving. Road rage serves no purpose other than jeopardizing the safety of everyone on the road.
• Don’t drive in a hurry. Always give yourself plenty of time to get where you need to go.

All of these guidelines might seem like preachy no-brainers, but if everyone followed them, we’d prevent 40,000 people from dying on American roads every year. So always apply common sense when you get behind the wheel, and spread the word to anyone that will listen.