Driving is a part of life for millions of people. It’s common to use a vehicle every day to get to work, go shopping, or take a longer trip out of town. But driving can feel so normal that it breeds a false sense of security that evolves into risky complacency. Each year in the US, an average of 36,791 lives per year were lost from 2015-2019, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) consistently places road accidents in the top 10 causes of death on a worldwide scale.

Below there are lists of some of the most common driving offences and incidents that all motorists are guilty of but may not think about. Drivers are quick to notice other people’s errors but rarely recognize our own which are usually following too close, not indicating, careless parking or everyday distractions. To turn these bad habits around we need to be far more honest with ourselves, far more aware and like all good habits make an active effort to instill them.

1. Distracted Driving and Inattention

Distracted driving continues to be one of the largest contributors to car accidents across the globe. Road eyes and road feet, after all, are the most important pair of eyes and feet there is if you take them off the road for just 2 seconds, you are moving down the road nearly 30 metres completely blind at just 50 km/h! Distractions can come in many forms, like responding to a text, fiddling with the stereo, reaching for a snack or even just turning your head to talk to a passenger.

Distracted Driving Risks:

• Mobile phones reduce road attention
• Music adjustments cause visual distraction
• Eating takes focus away
• Passenger conversations can distract
• Zoning out reduces awareness

Daydreaming doesn’t have to be as simple as staring at a phone While it’s easy to think of distraction as being occupied with a specific task like texting or scrolling through social media on your phone, your mind can also check out without you realizing it. Drivers also find themselves lost in thought and arriving at their destination without remembering much of the trip. This type of mind-wandering can make it hard to notice other vehicles and pedestrians, cyclists, or objects in the way. Ways to combat this disconnect include setting up your GPS before you start driving and keeping your eyes on the road in front of you while you’re driving.

2. Tailgating and Following Too Closely

Being too close to the vehicle in front gives you almost no time to react if the car in front suddenly slams the brakes or has to brake for something unexpected. No, being too close to the car in front of you doesn’t help you get through traffic faster it just leaves you less time and distance to stop in an emergency. If you’re driving behind a well-ridden car, then when you get too close, there may not be enough room to react before you rear-end that car.

Safe Following Distance:

• Maintain a proper safety gap
• Use the two-second rule
• Extend distance during bad weather
• Watch the vehicle ahead
• Allow extra stopping space

The optimum buffer of time allows drivers a few extra seconds to identify and react to hazards and to stop safely. As a best practice, drivers should adhere to the established two-to-three-second rule and do so more frequently when wind, rain or snow hamper visibility and road conditions. One easy tip to keep track of your distance: Pick a spot-say a road sign-and count the seconds it takes from the time the vehicle in front of you passes to the time it reaches the sign to when your vehicle passes it.

3. Rolling Stops at Stop Signs

What is a rolling stop A rolling stop is when a driver slows at a stop sign but then proceeds forward without making a full stop. While it’s a quick and convenient way to make a sharp turn, it also doesn’t allow the driver the time to make a comprehensive visual assessment of the intersection. Oncoming traffic, pedestrians, and bicyclists may not be seen until you’ve already rolled too far into the intersection. In states such as California, you’re also facing a $238 fine, and points on your license for not making a complete stop.

Complete Stop Safety:

• Stop completely at intersections
• Check surrounding traffic carefully
• Watch for pedestrians
• Look for approaching cyclists
• Pause before moving forward

Stop completely for a minimum of three seconds at the line to be able to absorb your surroundings. The short stop at the line before making a choice on the lane you’re driving on gives you more than enough time to look in several directions and respond to other motorists on the road, rather than rushing to have the right answer in the split second you’re still in motion. Stopping completely each time at the stop sign also helps develop good driving habits and can be a big help in avoiding many dangerous, yet completely preventable intersection accidents.

4. Driving Too Slowly Below the Speed Limit

While most people realize that speeding is a reckless driving safety risk, driving too slowly can be just as problematic. 15 or more mph below the speed limit can be a traffic safety risk because traffic flows may be impaired by the vehicle. Vehicles that appear unexpectedly from behind can cause traffic congestion and abrupt changes in traffic flow, and impatient drivers may try to change lanes to pass, causing safety issues.

Safe Traffic Flow:

• Maintain a predictable speed
• Follow posted speed limits
• Avoid unnecessary lane obstruction
• Watch surrounding traffic
• Prevent risky passing situations

What does Slow Driving Really Mean? Slow Driving/ TESO GETTY IMAGES Because slower speeds can cause disruption on the highway in terms of traffic flow, many states have enacted legislation that entitles police to stop and issue traffic citations to drivers who linger in a lane of travel without trying to pass or who drive below the speed limit unnecessarily. Slow driving is not just about adhering to the posted speed limit; it also means not forcing others to adjust their driving habits to accommodate you.

5. Forgetting to Use Turn Signals

One of the most common driving mistakes is forgetting to signal when switching lanes or making a turn. According to information referenced in this source, signals were not used 48 percent of the time when switching lanes and 25 percent of the time when making a turn. By not signaling, a driver is not communicating their intentions to other motorists and road users which lead to two million accidents each year. Even the smallest signal can tell others what a driver is going to do.

Signaling Safety Habits:

• Signal before changing lanes
• Signal before every turn
• Communicate clearly with drivers
• Warn cyclists and pedestrians
• Make signaling automatic

Whether you’re walking, on foot or in a vehicle, turn signals help you predict what the car in front of you will do next. A turn signal doesn’t even have to be on if you’re in the turn lane, it just lets other people know you’re driving will follow the norm and can eliminate surprises to prevent road rage. You can take one of the simplest steps to safe driving by using your turn signal every time you change lanes or direction.

6. Fatigued Driving and Drowsiness

Fatigued driving can be deadly because at the wheel, fatigue can impair your concentration, coordination, decision making, and reaction time. Not only can fatigue slow your reaction time so you don’t notice road hazards as quickly, but it can cause you to veer between lanes or toward the shoulder. Look out for yawning, trouble keeping your eyes focused, and difficulty maintaining a lane position, and never write off these symptoms as “just being tired.”

Fatigue Warning Signs:

• Frequent yawning indicates tiredness
• Difficulty focusing signals fatigue
• Lane drifting needs immediate attention
• Microsleeps cause lost awareness
• Adequate sleep improves safety

The most hazardous of all of the serious fatigue effects is a microsleep, or a short period of unintentional unconsciousness. One moment of nodding off while driving at 55 mph can cause you to cover hundreds of feet of road without control. If you find yourself starting to nod off while behind the wheel, the best thing to do is find a safe place to pull over and sleep don’t keep pushing through your fatigue. Always be sure to get plenty of rest before a long car ride.

7. Ignoring Blind Spots and Skipping Shoulder Checks

Mirrors alone can also create blind spots. There are often spaces around the vehicle that mirrors cannot show. If another vehicle is in this hidden area, it might be a motorcycle or bicycle, or it might be a pedestrian; a driver, cyclist or pedestrian might even be in the space without a driver having been aware of it. When mirrors are correctly positioned, they can minimize the blind spots but never eradicate them.

Blind Spot Safety:

• Adjust mirrors correctly
• Check before changing lanes
• Perform shoulder checks
• Watch for motorcycles
• Verify the lane is clear

A physical check over the shoulder is a quick way to be aware of what is around you before switching lanes or merging. It takes very little time to check, but can actually show you the vehicle that you cannot see in your mirrors. Not doing a quick shoulder check can result in major sideswipe accidents at highway speed. Making the shoulder check a part of every lane change can help you ensure your lane really is open before proceeding.

8. Improper High Beam Usage

Your high-beam headlights are especially helpful when traveling along rural roads with no other cars around, or when the road conditions justify increased illumination. In other situations, however, there’s a serious safety risk involved in leaving your high beams on: you’re essentially dazzling approaching drivers with a very bright light, which could blind them and cause them to lose control of the vehicle, and will also cause drivers far in front of you to temporarily lose sight of the road.

High Beam Safety:

• Use high beams appropriately
• Dim lights for approaching traffic
• Avoid dazzling other drivers
• Check surrounding vehicle positions
• Return to low beams promptly

Safety advice requires you to turn off high beams and back on low beams when approaching other vehicles and when you’re too close behind other drivers. Properly deflashing your lights not only enhances safety; it is also an important form of courtesy toward your fellow drivers. Fitting your high-beams in a timely manner ensures you don’t cause glare to other drivers while limiting the risk that another driver’s vision may be obscured or temporarily compromised. Proper high-beam use enables you to see more clearly without turning your car into a nighttime nuisance for everyone else.

9. Rubbernecking and Distracted Curiosity

Rubbernecking occurs when drivers gaze or slow down to observe an accident, or odd event happening on or near the side of the road. It’s normal to be curious, but diverting one’s gaze or attention away from their cars to the sides of the road can make for a tricky situation. Other cars will slow as well while everyone else continues driving normally, causing log jams and bottlenecks that can be dangerous, especially if it’s a closed off scene with EMS already working on it.

Roadside Distraction Risks:

• Keep eyes on traffic
• Avoid staring at crashes
• Maintain normal traffic flow
• Watch for sudden slowdowns
• Protect emergency workers

“Gawking at an event increases the likelihood of other drivers rear-ending you, because they aren’t paying attention,” the source says. “Distracted driving kills about 3,000 people a year,” and there are better ways to satisfy that curiosity without putting your life at risk. As long as drivers stay where they are paying attention to the lane ahead of them, they can respond more quickly when traffic slows, and help keep the flow of traffic smooth and ensure crews working along the side of the road are safer.

10. Misjudging Intersection Speeds and Rushing Turns

Intersections are especially dangerous because they are places where several streams of traffic come together. Often, drivers on the road are turning left into the path of oncoming traffic or entering the flow of traffic and may not accurately assess the speed or distance of approaching vehicles, mistakenly believing they will be able to pass safely. This risk is increased when yellow lights are entered too quickly or the intersection is not adequately checked. A slight misjudgement can be deadly.

Intersection Safety Habits:

• Scan approaching traffic carefully
• Avoid rushing through turns
• Respect changing traffic signals
• Never assume others will yield
• Wait when clearance feels uncertain

Another element of safe and defensive driving is to watch out for others. Instead of thinking that a driver will either stay slow or get out of your way, be a little defensive by taking a moment to stop and check the traffic. Taking a couple of seconds to stop and check out the traffic will help you to get a good idea of the speed, distance, and space, always take the extra moment if you’re unsure of whether to turn or not. Defensive driving is a very good practice to have daily because one can’t take the small decisions to turn into dangerous situations.