{"id":34769,"date":"2022-09-19T17:00:58","date_gmt":"2022-09-19T17:00:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.safetyrestore.com\/blog\/?p=34769"},"modified":"2023-08-24T16:14:38","modified_gmt":"2023-08-24T16:14:38","slug":"driving-habits","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.safetyrestore.com\/blog\/driving-habits\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Reduce Dangerous Driving Habits"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Good Driving Habits – Hand Positioning is at 10 and 2 on the Steering Wheel<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

7 <\/span>Dangerous <\/span>Driving Habits<\/span> to Avoid<\/span><\/h1>\n

Nobody\u2019s perfect, but if there\u2019s one place we should strive to be as close to it as possible, it\u2019s on the road. However, for most of us, we drive so often that it\u2019s become second-nature \u2014 we don\u2019t put much thought into our <\/span>driving habits<\/span> once we get behind the wheel. That\u2019s why it\u2019s important that we take the time to learn to recognize common <\/span>bad driving habits<\/span> that can put ourselves and others in danger. <\/span><\/p>\n

Poor <\/span>driving habits<\/span> aren\u2019t just dangerous, they can also result in expensive tickets, frequent stops at the gas station, and both major <\/span>and <\/span><\/i>minor repairs to your vehicle. There are lots of reasons to take a second look at your driving and actively learn <\/span>how to reduce dangerous driving habits<\/span> to make sure you\u2019re not being <\/span>that person<\/span><\/i> on the road. <\/span><\/p>\n

7 <\/span>Dangerous Driving Habits<\/span> to Avoid<\/span><\/h2>\n

We won\u2019t cover the obvious things to avoid, like <\/span>driving illegally<\/span> or under the influence. While not all of the items listed below will be unexpected, some might surprise you. Here are the seven most common <\/span>drivers\u2019 dangerous habits<\/span>:<\/span><\/p>\n

2. Drowsy Driving<\/span><\/h3>\n

Let\u2019s look at a danger on the road that doesn\u2019t get as much attention as speeding: drowsy driving. In 2017, drowsy driving was estimated to have caused 91,000 accidents, resulting in tens of thousands of injuries and roughly 800 fatalities, <\/span>according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration<\/a><\/span><\/strong>. Yet, these estimates are likely low, and sleepy motorists may be to blame for as many as 6,000 annual fatal accidents.<\/span><\/p>\n

If you\u2019re going on a long trip, take regular breaks or bring a buddy to switch off with you. Didn\u2019t get much sleep last night? Get a ride to work \u2014 don\u2019t drive. Feeling sleepy while on the road? Pull over and rest \u2014 it\u2019s not worth it.  <\/span><\/p>\n

3. Aggressive Driving<\/span><\/h3>\n

Another <\/span>dangerous <\/span>driving habit<\/span> is aggressive driving, which is estimated to cause <\/span>60% of all traffic accident deaths<\/span><\/strong>.<\/span><\/a> Aggressive driving includes anything from speeding, running red lights, cutting others off, erratic lane changes, and more. The link between aggressive driving and road rage is strong, so next time you get cut off, don\u2019t engage. <\/span><\/p>\n

The best way to avoid becoming the victim of aggressive driving is to learn to recognize aggressive drivers and symptoms of road rage so that you can avoid those drivers completely. <\/span><\/p>\n

4. Disregarding Seat Belt Laws<\/span><\/h3>\n

This one probably didn\u2019t shock you but it\u2019s so important we had to include it. Everyone knows how important it is to wear a seatbelt, yet approximately <\/span>14% of Americans<\/a><\/strong><\/span> don\u2019t. In 2020, there were a total of 23,824 passenger vehicle occupant deaths, and a whopping <\/span>51% of those people weren\u2019t wearing seat belts<\/a><\/span><\/strong>. <\/span><\/p>\n

Still thinking about not wearing it? It\u2019s estimated that seat belts <\/span>reduce the risk of front seat passenger deaths by 45%<\/span><\/a>. The best thing you can do to make sure you never drive without a seatbelt is getting into the habit of putting it on before you even turn on the engine. Not only does this apply to drivers, but passengers are also at risk if they don’t strap up. <\/span><\/p>\n

5. Distracted Driving<\/span><\/h3>\n

A bad driving habit you should avoid is <\/span>distracted driving. <\/span>This includes everything from texting, eating, and even simply talking while driving. While it might not seem like a big deal in the moment to reach over and answer that text, it puts people\u2019s lives at risk. In fact, <\/span>nine people are killed everyday<\/a><\/strong><\/span> in the US as a result of distracted driving for a total of approximately 3,000 deaths per year. Distracted driving is split into 3 categories: <\/span><\/p>\n

1. Speeding<\/span><\/h3>\n

The list of consequences for reckless <\/span>driving habits<\/span> is endless, but the most severe is the danger it poses to everyone around you. This one may seem obvious, but speeding is one of the most dangerous things you can do on the road. Don\u2019t believe us? It\u2019s estimated that speeding causes <\/span>one-third of all traffic fatalities<\/a><\/span><\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n

One of the best ways to avoid speeding is to take advantage of cruise control if available to you. If your car doesn\u2019t have this feature, remind yourself to check the speedometer regularly and try to notice whether you seem to be going faster than those around you. <\/span><\/p>\n