Safety on the roadways is a continuing conversation across the country. Highways, as they become more and more crowded, become more and more dangerous because of high speeds and large amounts of volume. Fatal accidents on the roads have become all too common over the past handful of decades and have taken the lives of many people from as young as infants to as old as senior citizens. Road safety is the key component of any driver's education course as well as the main concern for parents of new drivers. If drivers follow these 10 road safety tips then everyone will be safer when driving to the store to pickup milk to driving cross country for a family vacation.

1.Allow for extra driving time - Don't rush to your destination. Leave 10 or 15 minutes earlier than normal to allow for traffic and any other problems along the way.

2.Never drive tired - Get a good night's sleep before long trips and pull over to rest if need be.

3.No cell phone use - Do not call or text while driving. Purchasing a hands free Bluetooth headset will solve calling problems.

4.Concentrate solely on driving - Don't' fumble for CDs, don't put on make-up, don't shave, don't eat and don't goof off with any passengers in the vehicle.

5.Be a defensive driver - Learn to anticipate problems such as aggressive drivers, roadway hazards, impending accidents and problems with own vehicle.

6.Avoid aggressive driving - Don't tailgate, don't speed, don't weave in an out of moving traffic, always use blinkers, yield to emergency vehicles, don't flash headlights or beep horn unnecessarily.

7.Don't drink and drive - A D.U.I. or D.W.I. can ruin not only the culprit's life but also the life or lives of others on the roads. Drunk driving and driving while intoxicated causes serious bodily injury and even death to pedestrians, bicyclists, other drivers and even people in the culprit's vehicle.

8.Don't read while driving - That is a map, directions or even a newspaper.

9.Always have enough gas - This goes along with always being prepared. Have enough gas in the tank so the car does not run out in a bad neighborhood or on a long stretch of highway where exits are few and far between. Always have enough gas in the event of inclement weather.

10.Know how to change a flat tire - Practice makes perfect. Knowing how to change a flat tire can be the difference between being late for a meeting and getting there on time. Always pull completely off the road before changing a tire, as far away from moving traffic as possible. If remaining on or near the road, set up road flares so other drivers know that there is a disabled vehicle on the side of the road.

If these 10 simple tips, or rules of the road, are followed then driving will not be as difficult or as dangerous as it can be. Road safety doesn't have to be a concern if drivers take time out of their day to follow all the rules and regulations of driving and put safety procedures into effect each time they hit the road.