Getting behind the wheel is something we all do every day. Most people drive to work to the store or on a trip without thinking much about it. Driving has become a part of life. We forget that driving requires a lot of responsibility. Cars today have safety features but no matter how many they can’t protect us from bad choices on the road. Many accidents still happen because of error. This is a cause of traffic accidents worldwide.

Many crashes are sad because they can be prevented. Accidents happen because of habits drivers develop over time. Small mistakes may seem okay at the time. They can create dangerous situations that put everyone at risk. A moment of distraction or not following driving rules can have serious consequences.

Being a driver is more than just knowing traffic laws. It requires being aware, patient and able to adjust to changing conditions. Knowing mistakes drivers make can help reduce accidents and make roads safer, for everyone. Here are some driving habits that might seem familiar. Recognizing their risks could help prevent an accident and save lives.

1. Distracted Driving

Distracted driving is becoming one of the leading causes of roadway accidents on today’s highways and byways. Many times mobile devices are implicated, but in reality there are myriad ways to become distracted. Eating, adjusting the vehicle controls, monitoring the navigation system, and having full conversations all take a driver’s attention away from driving. When even for a second a driver is not focused, hazards can occur that he is unable to perceive. In order for safety to be maintained, a driver must have all their attention on the roadway.

Some of the Most Common Causes of Driver Distraction are:

• Cell phone use
• Adjusting controls of the vehicle
• Watching and adjusting navigation
• Eating in the vehicle
• Carrying on full conversations with passengers

The hazard with distraction is that conditions on the roadway can change so rapidly. Traffic can stop on a dime, people can step out into crosswalks, and nearby cars can make unexpected movements. When the driver’s attention is divided, it takes him longer to react. If the driver’s reaction is too slow to be able to avoid the crash, a crash will occur. While traveling at highway speeds, only a few seconds of distraction can result in many miles of unaware travel.

Distraction free habits can do a lot to help road safety. Having your navigation set up before you start the engine, having the sounds turned down on all notifications, and focusing on driving are a few great steps in making drivers safer on the road. Consistent, unfocused attention is what makes driving safe.

2. Speeding

Most drivers do not realize the danger in driving over the speed limit. While the motivation to speed is often the notion of arriving at their destination quicker, driving over the speed limit significantly limits their reaction time. A higher speed limits the driver’s reaction time, thereby reducing the ability to avoid potential hazards when they arise. Driving responsibly means being able to make correct adjustments to potential changes.

Risks Associated with Speeding:

• Reduced reaction time
• Increased stopping distance
• Increased crash severity
• Higher potential for injury
• Reduced vehicle control

Not only does the risk of an accident increase while driving over the speed limit, but the consequences of the accident also increase in severity. What may be a minor fender-bender at a slow speed can be a far more devastating crash at high speed. Areas where there is a high volume of pedestrians, schools, and/or residential traffic are extremely vulnerable to the high-speed driving hazards. 

Time management can often influence speeding. By allotting more time for commutes and accepting occasional delays, a driver can better avoid the temptation of driving above the speed limit. Drivers should always try to respect speed limits in an effort to keep themselves, their passengers and others safe on the road.

3. Drowsiness While Driving

Similar to drinking and driving, fatigue on the road may also have some comparable effects. Fatigue can severely reduce a driver’s attention and reaction time and may cloud judgment. These aspects make it much harder to spot potential dangers and take appropriate actions in a situation. Driving restfully contributes to driving safely.

Indicators that a Driver is Fatigued:

• Frequent yawning
• Inability to maintain attention on the road
• Drifting between lanes
• Slow reaction times
• Memory lapses while driving

Many drivers may attribute their fatigue to a long work shift, insufficient amount of sleep, long road trip, or being behind the wheel for too long; however, the majority of drivers fail to realize how tired they actually are. There is a chance that a driver will not become fully aware that they are tired until it begins to influence their driving in a negative way. 

Not stopping to rest when feeling drowsy on the road places everyone on the road at greater risk. The most useful method against a fatigued driver accident is a good amount of rest. Regular stops while on a long drive may help keep drivers refreshed. If they feel drowsiness taking over, stopping to rest and get a few minutes of sleep is always a viable solution.

4. Underestimating Blind Spots

All cars have blind spots that mirrors can not get completely eliminated. Blind spots that are not checked when moving to a different lane and merging can be dangerous for drivers as well as passengers. The most vulnerable parties in the scenario are small cars, motorcycles, and bicycles that will go undetected in blind spots. It is vital to understand blind spots in order to safely switch lanes.

Blind Spot Safety-What you should know:

• Adjust Mirrors meticulously
• Use shoulder checks
• Look out for motorcycles
• Check for traffic clearance in intended lane
• Maintain general situational awareness

A large portion of accidents results from assuming that the mirrors alone allow full visibility. Mirrors, while effective if properly adjusted, cannot eliminate all hidden spaces around a car. While you can increase awareness with mirrors, focusing on them alone is more likely to result in missing another road user. A simple shoulder check performed before switching lanes will allow an extra layer of security and reduce the likelihood of any accidents by granting you extra seconds to verify the intended lane is clear.

5. Not Using Turn Signals

The turn signals are one of the most essential communication tools drivers possess, for they are designed to give a clear indication to nearby traffic what movement you intend to make and permit others to adjust accordingly. When used effectively, traffic and roads are a predictable place, and driving is a much safer experience. Effective road communication is critical to accident prevention.

Benefits of Effective Signaling:

• Better road communication
• More predictable traffic flow
• Lower likelihood of collision
• Smoother flow of traffic
• Better road co-operation

An unsignalized change of lanes, abrupt merge, or turn demands instant reaction by drivers around. This abrupt change of lanes or merge will cause brake checking or uncertainty in heavy traffic, which is one possibility to result in a car accident.

6. Tailgating

Following a car too closely minimizes the reaction time that you have when the car ahead, or traffic around you, abruptly changes conditions. Tailgating greatly increases the probability of a rear-end collision and the driver behind the forward vehicle has minimal reaction time to adapt to conditions and circumstances. When driving the safest space between two vehicles is one that gives the driver time to perceive potential hazards. Safe following distance is a prerequisite for safe driving.

Safe Following Distance:

•  Adequate space
• Increased weather gaps
• Observe surrounding traffic
• Slow sudden stops
• Stay in defensive driving posture

Weather and traffic conditions along with the roadway surfaces affect the physics of a vehicle’s ability to stop. No matter how skilled you may be behind the wheel there is only so much that can be done when confronted with the forces associated with momentum. Ample room decreases panicked response. A good rule of thumb is several seconds in time delay and more when the weather conditions are adverse. The space behind the car in front provides a cushion effect, decreases anxiety and increases safety.

7. Lingering in the Passing Lane

Passing lanes on the freeway are designed to allow traffic moving at a greater rate of speed to continue on its way. Sitting in the passing lane when there is no need to do so can cause traffic congestion and considerable irritation for others, leading to less efficiency, and can often increase dangerous passing behavior. Lane usage can contribute greatly to an safe environment.

How to use Lanes Properly:

• Help smooth traffic flow
• Prevent drivers from becoming frustrated
• Discourage unsafe passing
• Promote traffic discipline on the highway
• Help promote efficient roadways

Drivers trapped behind slower traffic may be inclined to make illegal, unsafe maneuvers (like weaving or passing on the right side) to move beyond the impediment. Unnecessary car movement greatly increase the degree of unpredictability and accident risk for the other roadway users. Leaving the passing lane once a pass is made helps prevent chaos on a bustling freeway. This simple step can contribute to more fluid traffic movement and a better working relationship among drivers.

8. Rolling Through Stop Signs

A rolling stop is one where the driver does not come to a complete stop at the stop sign but rather reduces speed and continues through. This can increase your chances of missing pedestrians, bicycles, and cars even further as the intersection is a busy place with several types of traffic moving in various directions simultaneously. It is imperative that you make a full stop to safely assess the conditions and make an informed decision about traffic movements.

Risks Associated with Rolling Stops:

• Diminished awareness of the intersection
• Failure to perceive pedestrians
• Limited assessment of potential hazards
• Elevated likelihood of a collision
• Poor right-of-way judgment

Intersections are some of the most complex driving environments encountered because there are so many vehicles moving at the same time and so many varied rules regarding right-of-way. It is incredibly difficult to appropriately monitor these conditions and take adequate precautions when you do not come to a complete stop. It is critical that the few seconds you spend to come to a full stop are not compared to the consequences of being involved in a avoidable accident.

9. Failing to Yield

Yielding is one of the most significant of the rules of safe driving. The difficulty arises when a driver either cannot get enough speed to make it through traffic, misjudges how much of a gap is available, or simply believes others will react to whatever the driver chooses to do. More often than not, errors in yielding are the causes of crashes in both intersection scenarios and at points of merging with other vehicles. The importance of yielding rests upon patience and observation on the part of the driver.

Common Yielding Errors:

• miscalculation of available traffic gaps
• ignorance of right-of-way rules
• hurrying through intersections
• assuming other vehicles will stop
• impatient decision-making

Failing to yield most often causes side-impact collisions where occupants have a minimal amount of safety compared to crashes from frontal impacts and will most likely suffer from various injuries even at low speeds. Slow down, wait until conditions are safe, then go, and if you see someone else wanting to proceed where you are going, be a responsible driver, and just wait.

10. Failing to Account for Weather Conditions

Weather conditions impact vehicle operation and safety and will significantly affect a vehicle’s ability to remain in control and the condition of the roadway surface. Heavy rain, fog, snow and ice reduce a vehicle’s visibility and tire traction and will increase a vehicle’s stopping distance, so those not driving appropriately for the conditions pose an increased danger to themselves and other vehicle occupants. Responsibly driving is recognizing changing conditions and adapting to them.

Weather-Related Driving Precautions:

• Reduce speed
• Increase following distance
• Use appropriate lights
• Stay alert
• Keep the vehicle maintained

Roads are less traction friendly and a driver may hydroplane or spin on wet or ice covered surfaces. Fog, rain or snow may all reduce visibility and make other objects and vehicles difficult to see. This requires extra caution from drivers and appropriate adjustments to how they drive to enhance their own safety and the safety of others sharing the road.

Drivers should consider reducing the speed that they drive and increase the amount of space that they keep from other vehicles and from the road. While considering driver habits that promote safe driving such as how the vehicle is maintained and keeping good attention, these should be considered along with all other actions which would increase safety and awareness for the driving experience.