10 Bad Driving Habits To Break Today: #6 - #10
Last week, we examined five of the top ten most common (and some of the most dangerous) bad driving habits exhibited by drivers everyday. In case you missed the original blog post, here is a quick recap of the habits we discussed:
- Using Your Cell Phone While In The Driver's Seat
- Tailgating The Car In Front Of You
- Failing To Check Your Blind Spots
- Not Using Your Turn Signal
- Speeding Through A Yellow Light
While it's possible to do any one of these things and get away with it occasionally, every time you do one of them you run the very real risk of getting in a car accident. This week, we're wrapping up the discussion with the remaining five bad driving habits.
10 Bad Driving Habits You Should Break Today:
#6 - #10
#6 - #10
6. Driving When You're Tired
Everyone knows that drunk driving is dangerous, but what about fatigued driving? Some sources have begun saying that "tired driving is the new drunk driving," because being fatigued can slow your reaction time almost as much as alcohol does. The urge to simply "get home" may be strong, but it's important to be honest with yourself about your mental alertness. If you catch yourself nodding off, pull over to the side and take a power nap. It's better to arrive late than not at all.
7. Ignoring The Weather Conditions
You may be able to get away with driving quickly on a clear, dry, windless day - but the same probably won't hold true for a day with pouring down rain, wet roads, and/or below freezing temperatures. The weather and current road conditions (including the amount of traffic and road construction) can significantly impact the speed at which it is safe to drive. Before accelerating all the way to the speed limit, take a critical look at the current conditions to determine if you may need to drive more slowly.
8. Speeding
Speed limits are posted for a reason; speeding is one of the leading causes for automobile accidents. Driving faster than the speed limit makes your car take longer to slow down and gives you less time to react to traffic, wildlife, and other things that may get in your way. Because of the many times you will be required to stop or slow down while on your journey, speeding probably won't actually help you arrive at your destination any faster - you'll simply subject yourself (and other drivers) to a greater risk while you travel.
9. Eating While You Drive
We've all enjoyed a snack or two (or an entire meal) while on the road before. In some situations, snacking while you're driving can be safe (it can even be a good way to keep your self awake), but it can easily turn into a risk if not approached correctly. If you are going to eat and drive, only eat dry snack foods that can be handled easily without requiring direct attention. Ideally, you should only eat in the car if you have a passenger in the front seat who can assist by opening snack bags and sealing them back up afterwards. If you try to do it all yourself, you will be taking too much focus away from the road.
10. Messing With Onboard Electronics
As technology continues to advance, our cars become more and more technologically complex. While many of these advances are convenient and cool, it can be dangerous to dedicate too much attention to them while driving. Most cars have blocks within their onboard computer system that don't allow certain actions to be taken unless the car is in park, but this cut-off is usually well past the point of distraction for most drivers. If you have a copilot, delegate the electronic responsibilities to them. If not, wait until you are stopped to mess with it.
Stay Safe On The Roads!
As the best car dealership at the Lake of the Ozarks, we are dedicated to our clients' safety. We sell only new or certified pre-owned vehicles to ensure that our clients have reliable vehicles they can count on to get from point A to point B, but it's up to drivers like you to keep the roads safe. Avoiding these ten bad driving habits will go a long way towards making the roads safer for everyone involved!
Hulett Chevrolet Buick GMC
That's The Way We Do It At Hulett!
513 N. Business Route 5
Camdenton, MO 65020
www.ShopHulett.com
Sales: 573.317.4191
Service: 573.317.4195
Follow Us On Facebook
7. Ignoring The Weather Conditions
You may be able to get away with driving quickly on a clear, dry, windless day - but the same probably won't hold true for a day with pouring down rain, wet roads, and/or below freezing temperatures. The weather and current road conditions (including the amount of traffic and road construction) can significantly impact the speed at which it is safe to drive. Before accelerating all the way to the speed limit, take a critical look at the current conditions to determine if you may need to drive more slowly.
Speed limits are posted for a reason; speeding is one of the leading causes for automobile accidents. Driving faster than the speed limit makes your car take longer to slow down and gives you less time to react to traffic, wildlife, and other things that may get in your way. Because of the many times you will be required to stop or slow down while on your journey, speeding probably won't actually help you arrive at your destination any faster - you'll simply subject yourself (and other drivers) to a greater risk while you travel.
9. Eating While You Drive
We've all enjoyed a snack or two (or an entire meal) while on the road before. In some situations, snacking while you're driving can be safe (it can even be a good way to keep your self awake), but it can easily turn into a risk if not approached correctly. If you are going to eat and drive, only eat dry snack foods that can be handled easily without requiring direct attention. Ideally, you should only eat in the car if you have a passenger in the front seat who can assist by opening snack bags and sealing them back up afterwards. If you try to do it all yourself, you will be taking too much focus away from the road.
10. Messing With Onboard Electronics
As technology continues to advance, our cars become more and more technologically complex. While many of these advances are convenient and cool, it can be dangerous to dedicate too much attention to them while driving. Most cars have blocks within their onboard computer system that don't allow certain actions to be taken unless the car is in park, but this cut-off is usually well past the point of distraction for most drivers. If you have a copilot, delegate the electronic responsibilities to them. If not, wait until you are stopped to mess with it.
Stay Safe On The Roads!
As the best car dealership at the Lake of the Ozarks, we are dedicated to our clients' safety. We sell only new or certified pre-owned vehicles to ensure that our clients have reliable vehicles they can count on to get from point A to point B, but it's up to drivers like you to keep the roads safe. Avoiding these ten bad driving habits will go a long way towards making the roads safer for everyone involved!
Hulett Chevrolet Buick GMCThat's The Way We Do It At Hulett!
513 N. Business Route 5
Camdenton, MO 65020
www.ShopHulett.com
Sales: 573.317.4191
Service: 573.317.4195
Follow Us On Facebook
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