As much as some feel like a cozy little living room, cars are dangerous. Getting behind the wheel hundreds or even thousands of times doesn’t automatically mean you’ve learned how to drive well. Much of what separates a good driver from a bad one (or merely an average one) comes down to small habits. And anyone can learn them.

It’s all about how you prepare, observe, and react. Here are six actionable tweaks that any driver can adopt right away to elevate their game and become safer, smoother, and more in control. Some of these take literally seconds of your time, like a quick mental shift to focus on the task at hand.

1. Get organized before starting your drive

According to OnStar, 8% of fatal car accidents in 2021 were caused by distracted driving.

Too many drivers hit the road while still fiddling with their phone, bag, food, mirrors, the seat position, nav input, or climate controls.

Instead, do all of that before you pull away.

Walk the car, align your mirrors, choose the seating position, set the climate or music controls, and even engage “do not disturb” on your phone.

By doing that, you remove distractions and mental load once you’re moving, which leaves you free to focus on the road, the traffic, and unpredictable moves by others.

2. Maintain a safe following distance and scan ahead

The “two-second rule” is known to some, but maybe you need a little refresh.

Pick a fixed point ahead of the car in front and count at least “one-one-thousand, two-one-thousand” before your front passes that point. That gives you enough buffer to react.

If the driver in front slows suddenly, you already have the space to brake smoothly or steer clear. 

Combine that with scanning ahead (looking beyond the immediate car in front to the general flow of traffic) and you’re driving more defensively, not just reactively.

3. Expect the unexpected

Carrying on with that last idea, good drivers don’t assume everything around them is predictable.

They assume someone else might cut in front, a vehicle might swerve, or conditions might change without warning.

We’ve shared Scott Bryson’s driving tips before. He’s a retired Secret Service agent who recommends staying alert to avoid getting trapped in traffic:

Scan both ahead and behind, avoid being boxed in, and prepare for surprises.

Beyond road rage risks, for instance, when you’re on the highway, don’t sit in someone’s blind spot. When exiting an intersection, leave yourself an escape path. That extra mental margin makes a difference.

4. Smooth foot, steady hands

Some drivers treat their captain’s chair like an on/off switch: accelerate hard, brake hard, jerk the steering wheel.

But smoother actions make you more predictable to others, reduce wear on your car, and give you more time to respond to curveballs.

Don’t accelerate up to a red light and brake suddenly, for example. Gradually ease off the gas when you see a red light ahead instead of waiting until the last second. Practice keeping the steering input steady and controlled, especially in turns or lane changes.

5. Minimize distraction and manage fatigue

The most skilled driver won’t stay safe if their attention is split.

That same OnStar report said that over 14% of police-reported crashes in 2021 involved driver distraction.

So commit to keeping the cell phone out of reach, no fiddling with the console while moving, and avoid eating or much conversation if it draws your focus.

Also, if you’re tired, take a break. Even if you feel okay, fatigue reduces reaction times significantly; it’s the hidden risk many drivers, including professionals hauling commercial loads, skip over.

6. Understand and use your car’s safety systems intelligently

Modern cars now come packed with driver-assist systems (like lane-keeping, adaptive cruise, blind-spot sensors) but owning them isn’t enough.

You must know their limitations and don’t let them lull you into complacency.

While I won’t dive into deep technical specifics here, the principle is well documented in self-driving studies and preventable Tesla crash reports.

Understanding the system’s role prevents misuse and improves safety outcomes.

So spend five minutes reading your owner’s manual or watching a quick tutorial on your vehicle’s features. That way, when the system engages, you’re still the captain. Remember that you’re never the backseat driver if you’re sitting behind the wheel.

Becoming a better driver isn’t about flashy moves or driving like a stunt pro

If you want to take a professional driving class, by the way, have at it! They’re a blast. But for most of us, it’s about layering in better habits.

The next time you head out, try picking one of these six tweaks and applying it intentionally. Over time, they compound, and you’ll find your drives feel less reactive and more composed.