The Worst Mistakes to Make on the Road

Did you know you have a 1 in 84 chance of dying in a car accident throughout your lifetime? The risk of just getting in an accident—one that is not fatal—is even higher. This risk isn’t usually the first thing on your mind when you hop in your car and head to work, but if it was, would it change the way you drive? Here are some mistakes drivers make that increase their risk of injury and death on the road.

Infractions

Some driving mistakes are actual driving infractions—things you do (or fail to do) that break the rules of the road. Teenage drivers are the most likely to make these mistakes, so it’s no surprise that teens are 3 times more likely to get in an accident than an adult. Some driving infractions that lead to accident and injury include the following:

• having more people in the car than available seat belts
• driving under the influence
• not wearing a seat belt
• following too closely
• speeding
• reckless driving
• running stop signs

No matter how confidant you are in your driving experience, always observe little laws like head checking before a merge and coming to a complete stop at a stop sign to protect yourself, your passengers, and other drivers.

Distractions

The most dangerous type of mistake you can make is to let something distract you while you are behind the wheel. Here some common distraction and strategies for avoiding them.

Cell Phones.Now that smartphones are so prevalent, phones provide so many more distractions than just a phone call. Now phones distract drivers with texting, social media, GPS navigation systems, music, taking pictures, and more.

Make a commitment to never text and drive. Put your phone on silent if you have to. Invest in a hands-free device if you need to take phone calls on the road. You don’t have to cut yourself off from the digital world—pull over if something on your phone needs your immediate attention. If you are using your phone as a GPS system, make sure you are familiar with the route before you start driving so you won’t have to squint at the map on your screen.

Passengers. Friends can be a huge distraction, especially if you have a car full of them. Make sure your friends know that their safety and the safety of everyone else in the car is partly their responsibility. Ask them not to show you pictures or texts while you are driving. Save heated or emotional conversations for after you’ve arrived at your destination.

Make sure all your passengers are wearing a seat belt as well: in the event of an accident, one person not wearing their seatbelt could get thrown around inside the car and injure seat-belted passengers who would have otherwise been safe.

Food. Don’t eat while you are driving. Resist the temptation to open up the bag of food you just bought at the drive-up window. If you can’t wait, pull over and take a bite. Your safety is worth a few minutes of your time.

Personal Appearance. Put your makeup on before you drive to work. If you are running late, apply it in the office bathroom, not your car. Same goes for shaving, brushing your teeth, and so on.
Impairments

Not only should you avoid external distraction when you drive, but you also need to make sure your mental, emotional, or physical states don’t pose a threat to your safety on the road. Some impairments include driving while you are

• under the influence of drugs
• under the influence of alcohol
• feeling drowsy
• experiencing upsetting emotions like extreme anger or sadness
• feeling sick or are otherwise affected by a medical condition

If you are suffering from any of the above conditions, call a friend, take public transportation, or make arrangements to stay where you are.

Mistakes with Legal Implications

Some mistakes not only increase your risk of injury or death, but also your risk of financial hardship; car accidents are bad enough without resulting in personal injury lawsuits. According to Bronson Jones & Co, car accident lawyers in Vancouver, there are certain driving mistakes that will make you more likely to be found at-fault in an accident, thus contributing to a personal injury lawsuit against you. Some of these driving mistakes are as follows:

• running a red light
• running a stop sign
• cutting off another driver
• not signaling when merging
• not head checking when merging
• driving under the influence
• speeding
• hitting a driver head-on in their lane
• rear-ending another driver

Driving is such a normal, mundane part of our lives, it’s easy to take safety for granted. Pay attention to your own driving habits, and make sure you are always giving the road your undivided attention. Doing so will help keep you from physical injury, financial harm, and death.