Bad driving habits can lead to accidents and traffic tickets, especially if you ignore them. If you have received a traffic ticket for driving the wrong way down a one-way street, or you have been in an accident because of your bad driving habits, then it is time to learn what other bad driving habits could get you into trouble with the law.
The evolution of traffic laws can also be a source of confusion. As the use of mobile phones has spread, for example, safety experts have recognized their role in distracting drivers—and states are adopting laws to combat the problem. Those laws are still developing. While most states have outlawed texting while driving, some have made it illegal to use a phone at all while driving, although others have barred it only for younger drivers.
Still, when it comes to driving, the patchwork quilt of traffic laws should take a back seat to safety. Here are seven habits to change today.
Using Your Mobile Phone While Driving
It’s not just illegal to text while driving — it’s also incredibly dangerous. In fact, distracted driving has been linked to an estimated 100 deaths every year in the U.S., according to a recent study by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. And when you combine texting with using apps like Snapchat or Instagram, it can be even more distracting than just taking out a phone and scrolling through your Facebook feed.
Driving With Headphones On
Similar to using your phone while driving, listening to music on headphones is also dangerous because it keeps you in a bubble where you’re not paying attention to what’s going on around you. This type of distraction can lead to an accident within seconds of starting up the music player or turning on a radio station. If you’re listening to music while driving, make sure it doesn’t interfere with your ability to pay attention behind the wheel.
Changing Lanes Without Signaling
If you’re in the right lane and want to change lanes, there’s a simple rule: signal your intention by putting on your turn signal and giving a few seconds before moving into the next lane. This is so that other drivers know what you’re doing and they can get out of your way. It’s also an important habit because it protects your life as well as those of other drivers on the road.
Tailgating
When people tailgate, they’re giving up their right-of-way by being nearly bumper-to-bumper with another vehicle in traffic. This can be dangerous because it forces them into another lane of traffic where they may collide with another vehicle or cause an accident themselves. People who tailgate are also putting themselves at risk for getting rear ended by someone who isn’t ready for such an encounter.
Speeding
Speeding is one of the most common and dangerous driving habits that can lead to an accident. Even if you aren’t caught speeding, it’s still a bad habit that can cause car accidents and even death. When you are speeding, your reflexes are slower than normal and it makes it easier for other drivers to hit your vehicle. Also, when you drive at high speeds or during inclement weather conditions, your car is more likely to be involved in an accident due to poor visibility.
Not wearing a seatbelt.
This one may seem obvious but many people still don’t wear their seatbelt while they are driving. In fact, it has been shown that drivers who do not wear their seatbelts are more likely to die in an accident than those who do. There are several reasons why this is so important: by wearing a seatbelt, you can save yourself from serious injuries or even death at the hands of someone else’s recklessness or negligence; by not wearing your seatbelt, you are putting yourself at risk of getting into an accident; and finally by not wearing your seatbelt, you have less chance of surviving in the event of a car crash.
Accelerating Through Yellow Lights
Accelerating through a yellow light is both illegal and dangerous, and the consequences can be deadly. When drivers don’t stop at the intersection, they are endangering themselves and others.
When you’re driving, it’s important to always be on the lookout for potentially dangerous situations. And when you’re driving on the road, there are certain things that can be done to make sure that you stay safe. One of those things is watching out for yellow lights. If you come up behind a car that’s stopped at a yellow light, and then go around it, you could be facing a ticket or even worse.
The reason why this is illegal is because it’s dangerous and can cause accidents. If an emergency vehicle has its siren on, or if there are other cars around that aren’t paying attention, then you should yield to them at least until they pass through their own stop signs or red lights.
The behavior of some people on the road just seems downright infuriating. I’m sure you have a few people you dread seeing when you get in the car to go somewhere, and when they’re on the road with you, it makes you want to do everything in your power to get out of there as soon as possible. If this sounds like you, then keep reading to find out some bad driving habits that seem perfectly ok at first but are actually illegal.
