Here’s an article from a sister site in the USA. It’s got great advice for being a safe and friendly motorist by outlining how you can be an annoying and potentially unsafe driver.
4 Habits Giving You a Bad Reputation on the Road
Do you experience road rage every time you get behind the wheel? If you’ve been driving for years, you may be desensitized to your own bad driving habits, but other drivers aren’t. Aggressive, distracted, and otherwise dangerous driving habits frustrate fellow motorists and increase your own risk while driving. So, the next time you get behind the wheel, check if you’re exhibiting any of these bad driving habits when you’re on the road.
Flooring the Gas Pedal
Hard accelerations don’t just annoy fellow drivers and contribute to traffic jams — they’re also bad for your car. Flooring the gas pedal increases fuel consumption and puts excessive strain on your engine components, which increases wear and tear.
Aggressive driving causes more problems in some vehicles than others, so if you like to drive fast, it’s best to buy a car suited to the task. Understanding your car’s capabilities lets you tailor your driving style to your vehicle and avoid problems on the road. For example, if you drive a Volkswagen Golf with a dual-clutch gearbox, you need to know that while the handling is top-notch, it doesn’t perform as well in stop-and-go traffic, so you’ll want to go easy when taking off. A Honda Fit, meanwhile, makes a great daily driver but is slow to accelerate and noisy on the highway. To compensate, you’ll need to stay out of the fast lane until you get up to speed.
Not Using Your Turn Signals
Flipping on a turn signal is one of the easiest things for drivers to do, yet 25 percent of drivers don’t signal when turning and half fail to signal when changing lanes.
Without turn signals, other motorists, bicyclists, and pedestrians can’t know where your car is headed. As a result, you’re more likely to get in a collision with an unsuspecting driver or pedestrian. Even if you think you’re alone on the road, play it safe and use your signal. If someone is riding in your blind spot, you’ll be glad you did.
Driving Distracted
Texting and driving, eating and driving, and tending to kids or pets while driving make you a more dangerous driver. If you don’t think so, it’s because you’re not paying enough attention.
Distracted drivers are five times more likely to be in a car accident than drivers who give their full attention to the road. In fact, distracted driving is as dangerous as driving under the influence of alcohol. If you wouldn’t get behind the wheel after a few drinks, then you shouldn’t pick up your phone while driving either.
Not Changing Your Driving with the Weather
Sunny and warm weather calls for a different driving style than cold and sleeting, yet many drivers don’t adapt their driving habits to road conditions. If you’re not slowing down and increasing stopping distance in bad weather, you’re increasing the risk of an accident.
Brush up on your bad weather driving tips so you know how to stay safe in the rain, snow, fog, and other types of inclement conditions. If local authorities warn drivers to stay off the road, follow their advice. Unless it’s a genuine emergency, getting behind the wheel in a snowstorm or torrential downpour simply isn’t worth the risk.
Good driving isn’t just about being courteous on the road, although that’s certainly a good reason to apply the rules you learned in driver’s ed. Safe driving habits also prevent accidents and protect you and your vehicle from harm. If you want to avoid the expense, injury, and stress associated with a car accident, fixing your bad driving habits is a must.
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