As a driver, mistakes can happen regardless of your experience on the road. Some may be minor and irritating, while others can be extremely hazardous. Swipe through the following list of 15 driving errors to see if you are accidentally committing any of these no-nos, which could potentially put you and others at risk.
Eating Behind the Wheel
Do you multitask by munching on a burger when you should be focused on the road? That’s a recipe for disaster. Having even one hand off the wheel can drastically reduce your vehicle control and ability to respond quickly. Those few bites of food aren’t worth the potential for an accident.
Driving While Drowsy
You know it’s dangerous to drive drunk, but did you realize driving tired can be just as harmful? Your reaction times, awareness, and decision-making abilities plummet when you’re drowsy. Fight through that yawn and pull over if you have trouble opening your eyes. You could also board public transport when you’re not feeling your best.
Following Too Closely
Though the car in front of you might be too slow, please resist the urge to ride their bumper. This is called tailgating and can have fatal consequences for you and the driver in front. Maintaining a safe distance gives you extra time to brake if they stop suddenly, preventing rear-end collisions.
Failing to Signal
Keep other drivers from guessing about your next move. Properly using your turn signals lets those around you anticipate your lane changes and other maneuvers. As simple as it sounds, this might save a life. So, get in the habit of signaling every time—even if you don’t see another car around.
Aggressive Driving
Road rage accomplishes nothing except increasing the risks for everyone on the road. Behaviors like excessive honking, rude gestures, and aggressive lane changes can quickly escalate a situation and cause an otherwise preventable accident. Stay calm, and don’t take unsafe chances.
Distracted Driving
With hands-free technology so commonplace, there’s no excuse for texting or surfing the web while driving. But distraction comes in many other forms, like unruly passengers, typing an address into your GPS, fiddling with the radio, or even putting on makeup. Keep your eyes and attention squarely on your driving environment.
Failing to Check Blind Spots
Those small triangles on your side mirrors are designed to help minimize blind spots, but they don’t eliminate them. Get in the habit of quickly turning your head to double-check before changing lanes. A few extra seconds can prevent an ugly sideswipe.
Speeding in Bad Weather
White-knuckle driving in a severe storm seems sensible, as you want to get off those hazardous roads fast. But speeding in rain, snow, or fog reduces your traction and visibility even further, making a crash or spinout more likely. Slow down in such weather conditions to prevent a collision.
Ignoring Routine Maintenance
Staying on top of oil changes, replacing bad tires, and addressing wonky brakes might cost a little money upfront, but it’s cheaper than the alternative. Poorly maintained vehicles are much more prone to malfunctions that could leave you stranded or cause a wreck.
Disregarding Stop Signs and Red Lights
The excuse “I didn’t see it” doesn’t matter much to the other drivers you’ve put at risk when you roll through intersections. Disregarding traffic lights and stop signs, whether due to distraction or impatience, causes an alarmingly high number of serious crashes annually.
Rubbernecking
When you see flashing lights or an accident scene up ahead, it’s natural to want to gawk. But doing so takes your attention away from the driving task at hand. Please keep your eyes open and let emergency responders do their jobs. You risk rear-ending someone if you’re not watching the flow of traffic.
Not Using Child Safety Seats Properly
About 60% of car seats are either uninstalled or misused. Double-check that your child’s safety seat is locked tightly with little movement at the base. Also, make sure the straps are snug, and the chest clip is at the armpit level, as improper installation can lead to tragic injuries.
Forgetting to Buckle Up
Your kids aren’t the only ones that need to buckle up. It seems obvious, yet many drivers still fail to use their seat belts regularly. When used correctly, seat belts can prevent accidents by 45 percent for drivers and passengers. Those few seconds to secure the strap before starting the engine could save your life one day.
Not Clearing Snow/Ice Off the Car
Are you in a hurry to get going in winter? Failure to fully brush off snow or scrape windows creates large blind spots. Even worse, chunks of ice or snow can dislodge and create hazards for drivers behind you. Take the extra few minutes to clean every inch of your car.
One-Hand Driving
Lazily steering with just one hand is a hard habit to break. But when something unexpected occurs, having just one hand on the wheel drastically reduces your control and ability to correct your steering quickly. So, grip your wheel with both hands and ensure the safety of everyone onboard.
