Lets see if we can make 2020 a safer year for driving. Most car accidents are caused by human error – here are some of the most common mistakes made that can lead to crashes.
Driving with headphones onHeadphones disconnect you from the outside world. You might not hear someone honking or the motorcycle that’s about to pass you.
Driving drunkThe effects of driving while drunk are proven and well known and the solution couldn’t be simpler: if you’re driving, don’t drink. If you’re drinking, don’t drive.
Driving high (drugs)Driving high is just as dangerous and just as illegal as driving drunk yet most people think it’s unlikely they’ll get caught if they drive high; they’re wrong.
Driving tiredResearchers concluded that driving after only five hours of sleep is just as dangerous as driving drunk.
Not wearing a seat-beltGoing belt-less is even more dangerous in a newer car equipped with airbags. If you crash, you’ll be projected towards the steering wheel while the airbag is deploying in the opposite direction. That’s not a great recipe for survival.
Relying too much on electronic driving aidsElectronic driving aids help make your commute safer but they don’t give your car driverless capabilities.
Driving with your knees!Driving with your knees is an excellent way to stuff your car into a wall.
Browsing the infotainment systemInfotainment systems found in virtually every single new car can be far more distracting than a smartphone
TailgatingThe closer you drive to the vehicle in front of you, the less likely you are to stop in time if it suddenly slows down. That’s basic physics.
Distracted drivingTaking your eyes off the road to send a text message or to reply to an email is one of the best ways to get in a crash.
Ignoring recallsRecalls are free so there is no valid reason to ignore them. Some fix potential mechanical problems such as gearbox problems but they’re often issued due to safety concerns.
Letting a pet loose in the cabinFailing to properly restrain a dog or other animal when travelling in your vehicle can cause dangerous distractions.
Eating while drivingEating while driving increases the odds of crashing by 80%
Driving a car that’s not properly maintainedRegularly maintaining your car keeps it reliable while saving you money in the long run but it also ensures that you, your passengers and other motorists stay safe.
Driving in extreme weatherAvoid driving in the snow and in the pouring rain when possible.
Driving too fastSpeeding is the most common traffic violations in the UK by a long way and speed is a factor in 33% of all fatal accidents
Driving too slowDriving far below the speed limit can be just as dangerous as exceeding it
Road rageBrake-checking other motorists, cutting them off, hooting and making obscene gestures puts everyone at risk, even pedestrians.
Putting your feet on the dashboard (passenger)Nearly every car sold new has an airbag waiting to explode packed into the passenger side of its dashboard.
Driving without lights in the darkThe number of motorists who drive without their lights on has grown significantly since car-makers began making LED daytime running lights standard.
Lets be careful out there people.
Wiz