When you’ve had your licence for a long period of time, it can be easy to fall into certain dangerous habits. Let’s face it, it can be easy to get too comfortable behind the wheel! However, driving should always require your full attention. Unless you are fully concentrating on the road, you may end up in a terrible accident. Even skilled and experienced drivers can get into trouble. While some mistakes may be minor, others can affect your life and that of other innocent drivers, sometimes forever. For these reasons, it is crucial to stay safe by avoiding the following dangerous driving habits:
Driving Under the Influence
This one is very obvious, but drunk driving still kills thousands of people each year, and is one of the most dangerous things a driver can do. Alcohol and drugs greatly affect your ability to drive, and the consequences can be deadly. In addition to causing potential harm to yourself and others, you will likely lose your license and your driving privilege because a DUI conviction comes with serious consequences. There is also the possibility of jail time. To stay safe, never drive under the influence. Even if you don’t think you have had a lot to drink, it’s never a good idea to take the risk. Always opt for another option, such as a cab, Uber, or public transportation.
Using Your Phone While Driving
Though our cellphones are a normal part of our everyday lives, they should never be part of our driving routine! Texting while driving can increase your risk of a serious car accident. This is because it takes your attention off the road, which is a dangerous habit. Your eyes should always be on the road, and your cellphone screen should never be a distraction, as it can cause you to collide with objects, other cars, or pedestrians. Place your phone out of reach so it is not a distraction and answer your texts when you arrive safely at your destination! If you need your phone for directions, invest in a dashboard phone mount. Or, if you are using your phone for navigation, make sure the audio is on so you don’t have to take your eyes off the road!
Distracted Driving
Your cellphone isn’t the only thing that can shift your focus while you’re driving! Many activities, such as eating, applying makeup, and listening to loud music, are also considered distractions. All of these habits can lead to deadly consequences, so if you need to do something that could distract you while driving, it is best to pull over to keep you and others safe. Remember to be safe when pulling over and make sure it is always safe to do so. To be completely safe, always try to eat or apply makeup before you get behind the wheel of your car. Even if it means arriving a bit late at your destination, it is never worth risking your or others’ safety.
Road Rage and Aggressive Driving
We get it, sometimes other people’s actions can prove frustrating when you are behind the wheel of a car. Drivers often find themselves in frustrating situations. However aggravating a situation may be, you must always remember to remain calm. Aggressive driving is extremely dangerous and very often can lead to an accident. Driving recklessly, making erratic lane changes, and ignoring traffic laws are all examples of dangerous driving habits that are often caused by road rage. Road rage can also lead to violence when you’re on the road, so it is always best to remain calm and to practice courteous driving. No matter how frustrated you may be at someone or a situation, it is never worth putting yourself or other drivers at risk!
Speeding
Unfortunately, this is one of many dangerous driving habits that are all too common. Follow the speed limit, and your chances of being involved in an accident will decrease drastically. It is often quite tempting to drive fast or go a bit above the speed limit, but the risks involved are never worth it. If you find yourself running late, take the initiative to inform your boss or whoever you are meeting of your expected arrival time. They will almost always understand!
Running Red Lights
This may seem obvious, but running a red light is an extremely dangerous driving habit that endangers everyone. Intersections are designed to control traffic flow, and ignoring a red light can lead to severe side-impact collisions that often cause serious injuries or fatalities. Other drivers and pedestrians don’t expect it, so they have little time to react. Waiting a few extra seconds is always safer than risking an accident.
Rolling Stops
Rolling stops can be a very dangerous driving habit to have for a couple of reasons. To start, drivers are not given a full chance to check what’s happening around them. When a driver performs a rolling stop, it is easy to miss pedestrians, cyclists, or other cars on the road. So, it is crucial to take the time to stop to fully prevent close calls and accidents.
Not Wearing a Seatbelt
Finally, one of the easiest habits to pick up, especially for experienced drivers, is not wearing a seatbelt. Even at low speeds, a sudden stop can throw you forward with a lot of force. Therefore, without a seatbelt, even a minor collision can cause serious injury. Seatbelts help keep you in place and give airbags a chance to work properly. Buckling up only takes a second and can make a huge difference.
Driving While Fatigued
Driving while extremely tired can be just as dangerous as driving under the influence of alcohol. Fatigue slows your reaction time, affects your judgment, and can even cause you to briefly fall asleep behind the wheel. Long commutes, late-night drives, or busy schedules can make fatigue more common than many drivers realize. If you find yourself struggling to stay alert, drifting between lanes, or missing traffic signs, it is time to pull over and take a break. A short rest, a walk, or switching drivers can help prevent a potentially serious accident.
Following Too Closely (Tailgating)
Another dangerous driving habit is following the vehicle ahead too closely. Tailgating significantly reduces the time you have to react if the driver in front of you suddenly brakes or encounters an obstacle. This often leads to rear-end collisions, which are among the most common types of accidents. A good rule of thumb is to maintain at least a three-second following distance, and increase that gap in bad weather such as rain, snow, or fog. Leaving more space gives you more time to react and helps keep traffic flowing safely.
Failing to Use Turn Signals
Turn signals are one of the simplest yet most important tools for communicating with other drivers on the road. When drivers fail to signal before turning or changing lanes, it can confuse other drivers and increase the risk of collisions. Properly signaling your intentions allows surrounding drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians to anticipate your movements and react accordingly. Always signal well in advance of your turn or lane change to give others enough time to adjust.
Dangerous Driving Habits: Conclusion
Dangerous driving habits can develop gradually, especially for experienced drivers who feel comfortable behind the wheel. However, staying alert, following traffic laws, and eliminating distractions can significantly reduce your risk of collisions and keep everyone on the road safer. By making safe driving a daily priority — from buckling your seatbelt to putting your phone away and respecting speed limits — you protect not only yourself, but your passengers, other drivers, and pedestrians.
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