Most of us can name a bad habit or two that we would like to change. It could be biting our fingernails when we are nervous, eating too many sweets before bedtime, or leaving the water running while we brush our teeth. Unfortunately, bad habits are often tough to break.
When it comes to driving a car, however, there are a few bad habits that simply need to be fixed. To engage in these behaviors is to endanger not only yourself on the road, but also your fellow motorists. And at the same time, some of these behaviors can result in traffic violations and a rise in your car insurance premium. So let’s examine some of the more common poor driving habits and learn ways to correct them.
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Tailgating
The word “tailgating” is a rather succinct way of saying, “driving too close to the vehicle in front of your vehicle.” There is another word that explains this behavior – impatience. When speeding down a road, sometimes we come across a fellow driver who is not going as fast as we would like. So, in an effort to help them along, we drive close to their rear bumper. You know, as a not too subtle suggestion to “go faster!”
If you are a person who likes to tailgate, you need to change this habit. Riding close to another vehicle’s rear bumper decreases your reaction time and ability to stop quickly if you need to. If the car in front of you slams on the brakes, you won’t have time to stop and will end up rear-ending them. Guess who is at-fault for the accident in this scenario? That’s right, you are.
So stop trying to control the driving behavior of the motorist in front of you. Back off and slow down. You will still get to your journey’s end, and will avoid a nasty collision and traffic violation.
Excessive Lane Changing
In an effort to get to our destination a.s.a.p., some of us drivers like to dart all over the road. Sneaking in and out of traffic like driving is some sort of game, where the driver who gets to their destination fastest wins. Well, your daily commute is not a race. Every lane change is a potential collision. Shooting back and forth between lanes greatly increases your odds if getting into a wreck. It only takes one moment where you didn’t check your mirrors or blind spot to get into a serious crash.
Excessive lane changing is a waste of effort and creates an unnecessary hazard for those sharing the road with you. So, stop trying to shave a few minutes off your commute. Zipping between lanes isn’t going to save you time; it’s only going to annoy other drivers and possible cause a car accident.
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Eating While Driving
Who doesn’t enjoy a good snack once in a while? Well, if you happen to be one of those motorists who likes to shovel handfuls of food into his or her mouth while cruising around, this is a behavior that needs to stop. We know that bag full of fast food is extremely tempting; but it’s better if you wait until you get home. Eating while driving is a distraction that takes your focus and eyes off the road. Simply, it’s harder to concentrate and avoid potential hazards when you are digging into that taco bell bag, reaching for burritos. And if you wait to gobble down that hamburger, you can also avoiding creating a ketchup-mustard-crumb mess in your car. Stay safer and cleaner – don’t eat and drive.
Failure To Use Your Turn Signal
Your fellow drivers are not mind readers. They don’t automatically know that you are going to make a turn or change lanes. Hence, the creation of the turning signal. It’s a wonderful invention, one that wordlessly tells the world, “hey I’m going to turn here, watch out.” These brilliant little lights were created for a reason, so use them. Alert those around your vehicle of your impending action; don’t assume that every other driver on the road is a psychic.
Blasting Your Music
Believe it or not, your car was not built for the sole purpose of being a traveling rock concert. Blasting ear-shattering heavy metal not only irritates your fellow drivers and pedestrians, it also helps cut you off from the outside world. When listening to music at a deafening level, you can’t hear the horns of other cars or other warning signals that can help you avoid a collision. And it’s not just heavy metal you should turn down; even Beethoven when listened to at a screaming level can imperil you. Turn the music down. The outside world will thank you.
Bad habits can be hard to break. But when it comes to driving more safely and saving money on car insurance, you need to change your behavior. It really amounts to being more courteous, having more patience, and demonstrating more self-control. Do that and you will make your daily commute and lot safer, and make your fellow drivers a lot happier.
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