They say there are far more accidents on the road than on air the reason being there is a high concentration of traffic in the cities and urban areas.

It pays to be extra alert when driving in the city. If you don't know yet, a third of all traffic accidents take place at intersections. Like any other traffic accident, collisions at intersections are caused by drivers' carelessness and inattention. In fact, it takes only a split second of distracted attention on the part of the driver to miss a traffic sign or signal.

To curb these unfortunate incidents, here are some proven techniques to bear in mind:

Double-Check
1. Routinely check your vehicle and tires. Make sure you do the following routine maintenance: Check brakes, engine, fuel reserves and air conditioner. Keep your tires properly inflated.
2. Be aware of your physical condition. You need good vision and good hearing, and you must be alert and responsive Never drive when you have been drinking alcohol, you have taken any prescription or over-the-counter medicine that can -cause drowsiness, you are under the influence of any drug that may affect your performance or perception, you are very tired, you are emotionally upset. This can cause you to become careless.

Focus
1. Plan ahead. Be on the look out for drivers who hesitate and change their minds at intersections, but be certain of what move you are going to make before you get there.
2. Concentrate on the road. Don't do other things while driving, such us using your cellphone. Don't reach into vehicle's back seats or fool around with the radio dial. You may run off the road in a second.
3. Drive at moderate speed. The maximum must be 40 kph.
4. Stay in one lane of the road and pass only when it is safe. Drive at a safe pace and know how to adjust speed to conditions, particularly in areas where traffic is at its heaviest, and slow down in unfamiliar places.

Proceed with caution
1. Be alert and cautious particularly at the intersections where traffic and regulatory signs can be hidden by buildings, fences or shrubbery.
2. Be sure you are never caught short when you pass - passing ONLY when you have plenty of room to pull out safely, overtake, and pull back.
3. Signal clearly to other drivers what you are going to do and where you are going. Make sure that you are in the correct lane well in advance of the turn and make a visible signal before making a turn.
4. When the way is clear, don't hesitate but proceed with care. When the light turns green, wait a moment before starting off in order to avoid someone who may be trying to beat light in the cross traffic If you are behind another car, delay momentarily before you start, so that when he stops suddenly, you won't ram him.

Overtaking
1. Slow down and make way for overtake. If there's a constant stream of traffic passing the driver, he is probably going too slow and creating a hazard. When another driver overtakes, you can protect yourself as well as the other driver by slowing down, if necessary, to allow the former to overtake.
2. To be safe when overtaking, estimate the distance between you and the driver. Decide if it is necessary to overtake and make sure you have the 'two second' distance between you and the car ahead. Your counting time covers two seconds if you count "one thousand and one, one thousand and two."
3. See that the oncoming vehicle is at a safe distance away, then check on the rear view of the mirror and turn to check your blind spot. Signal the car you intend to overtake by tapping on the horn lightly or by flashing your lights, then move on into the left lane, accelerating as you move.
4. Signal hat you are going to return to the right lane after the pass, then do so when you see the front of the passed car through your rear view mirror. Cancel your directional signal and resume normal speed.

Right timing
1. Drive at a steady speed that coincides with the timing of traffic lights - good timing gets you to your destination with the least trouble.
2. Enter an expressway at the exact rate cars on the expressway are traveling.
3. Avoid peak traffic periods by timing your departure just right - by leaving a few minutes early or late, it is possible to miss a mass of inbound or outbound traffic.

Keeping emotions under control
The skilled driver -
1. Observes teamwork with other motorists when driving along highways and city streets. Sharing the road with others means cooperation, Courtesy and communication.
2. Keeps his temper under control, realizing that a thoughtless maneuver that causes other drivers to stop abruptly or swerve is seldom done on purpose, but usually is made by drivers who are distracted momentarily, and don't see something they should have.
3. Respects the fact that anger makes any driver a likely candidate for an accident - blind rage can cause a driver to be irrational, clumsy and unskilled.
4. Signals the slow, hesitant driver by flashing his headlight, or giving a light beep of the horn (not a loud long blast that may startle or infuriate the driver).
5. Stays tolerantly behind the slow driver, who ignores the message to move at normal traffic speed, until there is a clear opening to pass.