The Most Common Bad Driving Habits And How To Avoid Them

We’d probably all like to think of ourselves as good drivers. You may have plenty of experience driving a vehicle, and during that time you might not have been in a single accident. 

But the reality of the matter is that you’ve probably got some bad driving habits that you, your passengers, and other road users at risk. 

You may not see a habit to be as severe as drunk driving but it may still cause fatalities or lead to consequences like an immediate threat revocation of your license. 

We’ve all got bad habits,  many of which have developed through overconfidence in our abilities. It is essential that you’re mindful of these habits and that you address your driving style. 

You may have been lucky up until now in avoiding an accident. However, this may not always be the case. 

In this article, we’ll discuss some of the most common motoring bad habits and how to avoid them. 

Speeding 

When we’re driving, we often need to be somewhere by a certain time. Delays on the road and other problems can make our journey times longer and put pressure on us to drive faster.

Speeding causes 26 percent of vehicle fatalities. And, even a small increase in your speed above the legal limit can be enough to kill someone. 

You may believe that you’re in control when you’re driving fast. However, you are not in control of other people’s actions, and when you’re driving fast, you’re not allowing your self enough time to react. 

Where possible, always allow plenty of time for your journey. Check on a route planner, or Google Maps to find out how long your trip will take. Allow for delays. 

Get used to checking your speedometer and if your car has cruise control, use it. 

Texting While Driving 

There have been countless cases of road traffic accidents caused by motorists texting or using their phones while driving. 

Even looking away for a couple of seconds can make be enough to put your life and the lives of others in danger.

Every year, there are 1.6 million accidents caused by drivers texting. 

It is essential that you avoid all contact with your phone while driving, regardless of how briefly you are using it. 

One way to avoid having to touch or look at your phone while driving is to connect your phone to a Bluetooth headset. Alternatively, connect your phone to an in-car entertainment system. 

By using your phones inbuilt AI, you’ll be able to use voice commands to communicate while driving. 

Not Using Your Turn Indicators

This may not seem like a major problem, but not indicating when you’re turning can cause serious accidents. 

Indicating to other drivers ahead of turning is not a courtesy. You’re alerting others to the fact that you’re about to do something that they need to react to. 

Get into a good habit of looking in your mirrors then indicating before you slow down to turn. 

Change Your Habits Now

If you do any of these things while driving, then it is essential that you get into good habits early, before the worst happens. 

Feature Photo by Tobias Seward on Unsplash