Hands up if you think you’re a good driver. Unsure? How do you think other drivers see you?
Poor driving habits are easy to pick up. Once your formal learning is over and you’re a licensed driver, there’s nobody there to keep your behavior in check. From eating while driving to not using your lights correctly, there are a lot of driving habits that at best are a nuisance to other drivers, but at worst could cause a serious accident.
Is it time you wised up to focus on becoming a better driver? Safety over style and appearances is important, so check out the following bad driver habits and kick your bad driving behavior to the curb.
Distractions while driving
When you’re driving, your focus needs to be on the road and nothing else. When you look at the top causes of distracted driving, you’ll see that the majority of the causes such as eating and drinking, talking on your phone, talking to friends, smoking, etc. are all behaviors that you can prevent. Try to eliminate all distractions so that your eyes and hands are where they should be and ensure that you can react as needed.
Playing your music too loud
Playing your music too loud is not only another form of distraction, but it can also be a nuisance to fellow drivers, pedestrians and residents. It’s fine to play music, but if you can’t hear what’s going on around you or you’re focusing too much on the music and not the road – it could lead to an accident. Remember this advice when planning your next road trip, it’s great to have the perfect soundtrack, but just remember to keep it down – your ears will thank you for it later!
Tailgating
Tailgating involves driving too close to the car in front of you, reducing your safe breaking speed and making it more dangerous if the car in front of you has to stop for some reason. As well as being dangerous, it can also be intimidating for other drivers. It seems some states are worse than others for tailgating, but that doesn’t make it excusable.
Tailgating can lead to accidents, and you’ll be within your rights to receive damages through legal proceedings if you’re the victim of tailgating. Tapella Law can offer advice on who was at fault and whether or not you could be compensated. Help yourself by learning all about safe braking speeds to give you the best chance of avoiding an accident.
Poor parking
Is there anything worse than trying to find a parking space and seeing someone else has parked over the line, taking up two spaces or has made it difficult for you to pull out? Don’t be that person. There’s no excuse for poor parking – it’s just laziness and affects those around you. By parking poorly you run the risk of having your own vehicle get scratched – so is it worth the risk? If you’re not great at parking, you can always practice to help you learn to navigate into the tightest of spaces.
Aggressive behavior
Road rage is the subject of many jokes, but it’s not really something to laugh about on the road. Road rage can cause problems both in and out of your vehicle, which could lead to some serious consequences, and even a stint in jail if it turns into physical violence. Some tips for avoiding road rage include:
- Not getting into a car when you’re angry
- Count to 10 when another driver’s behavior has irritated you
- Keep your own behaviors in check to prevent others from developing road rage as a result of your driving
- Try not to let circumstances get the better of you. Traffic jams, accidents, etc. can’t be helped, so you’ll need to just accept the situation and wait for it to pass.
If you’re feeling angry or upset for whatever reason, don’t start the car. Take a breather, grab a coffee and calm yourself down before you set off. They say you shouldn’t go to bed angry, but don’t drive angry either.
The rules of the road are easy to follow. While you think you might be saving time by flaunting the rules or think you’re not harming anyone with your actions, it’s important to remember that accidents can happen in the blink of an eye. By vowing to be a more conscientious driver, you can look after your own safety as well as others. Don’t take the risk – stick to the rules and be safe on the road.