Police officers are trained to notice subtle driving cues that most drivers overlook. Many everyday habits behind the wheel may feel harmless, but they can quietly break traffic laws or draw unwanted attention from patrol cars. So, here are the top 10 driving mistakes that might be putting you at risk of getting pulled over. Stay alert, stay safe.
Speeding
The seemingly harmless act of driving a few miles over the limit catches many drivers off guard. With more than 50,000 daily traffic stops nationwide, speeding violations dominate police encounters. This single offense accounts for nearly half of the 20 million yearly traffic stops in America (based on national data compiled by Stanford researchers).
Distracted Driving
Police officers have seen the deadly impact of distracted driving. In 2023, it accounted for 8% of fatal crashes, according to official data from NHTSA. While officers are often more likely to stop drivers for criminal suspicion or impairment, many still target distracted behaviors.
Equipment Violations
Vehicle equipment issues are also among the leading causes of stops, second only to speeding. These pullovers follow standard procedures, including recording the encounter and conducting a detailed vehicle inspection to ensure safety and compliance.
Failure To Wear A Seatbelt
A quick seatbelt check before driving could prevent an unwanted encounter with law enforcement. Police officers frequently use this common violation as grounds for traffic stops. Most states enforce strict seatbelt laws, and some officers view non-compliance as a potential indicator of other violations.
Car Color And Visibility Factors
The myth about red cars attracting more police attention needs correction, since white vehicles are actually pulled over most often. This fact shouldn’t worry white car owners, though. Their high stop rate merely reflects their popularity on American roads. Still, visibility factors can play subtle roles in attracting police attention.
Racial Disparities In Traffic Stops
Research from the Stanford Open Policing Project reveals troubling racial disparities in traffic stops nationwide. The term “driving while Black” emerged from documented cases of racial profiling. A Maryland study found Black drivers represented 72.9% of I-95 searches despite being a minority demographic.
License Plate Issues
Police officers frequently run license plate checks before approaching vehicles during traffic stops. Expired tags, obscured plates, or mismatched registration details often trigger stops. This standard practice helps them identify potential risks and outstanding issues, with officers documenting encounters using both dashboard and body-worn cameras.
Rash Driving
More than a third of law enforcement officers watch for rash driving patterns. Aggressive moves and erratic swerving typically trigger traffic stops. These behaviors also hint at more non-compliance issues. So, officers routinely check car interiors when pulling over drivers for dangerous actions.
Rolling Through Stop Signs
One of the most common mistakes drivers make is the “California roll,” which means slowing down but not coming to a complete stop at a stop sign. Police officers are trained to spot this behavior instantly. It continues to be a leading cause of tickets in suburban and residential neighborhoods.
Driving Too Slowly
While speeding is the most obvious reason for a stop, driving far below the speed limit can also raise suspicion. Police officers may view overly cautious driving as a sign of impairment, distraction, or even an attempt to avoid detection. This makes it a surprisingly common cause for traffic stops.
