Bad Drivers and Bad Driving

Bad driving is not just annoying, but unfortunately also a habit that most of us are often guilty of.

Infuriating and sometimes downright dangerous – it’s a subject close to our hearts and which I am sure we are all very familiar with.

The reasons for bad driving are as diverse as the drivers on the road. Older drivers are often found to have bad driving habits due to over confidence. Younger drivers bad driving can be laid at the door of inexperience. And unfortunately technology is playing it’s part in bad driving.

Good driving techniques require constant vigilance especially nowadays as the roads become increasingly busier.

It is easy to forget when driving a car just how quickly a change of events can occur. Cars can stop suddenly in front of us. Children may run out onto the road. A car coming from the opposite direction may decide to overtake.

If our attention is elsewhere and not focused on what we are doing whilst driving, inattention even for a split second of time can prove to be fatal.

The number one cause of car accidents is inattention. This can be caused due to a variety of factors. One of the most common is chatting on a cell phone or even texting. Studies have shown that if you are talking on a cell phone whilst driving, even if you are watching the road, then you are much more likely to have a car crash.

Texting or even accessing Facebook or sending an e-mail – All are seriously dangerous as the driver must take their eyes off the road in order to do this. This problem is compounded by the fact that the most common culprits of texting are young people. Young people are already inexperienced drivers and when this is combined with inattention the results can be catastrophic.

Another common cause is adjusting the car stereo or some other electrical item. Remember every time you fiddle or adjust some gadget in the car you are not concentrating fully on the road.

We seem to be becoming increasingly surrounded by new gadgets designed to make our driving experience better, but unfortunately making it more complex at the same time -also adding to inattention whilst driving.

Another common cause of car accidents is eating and drinking whilst driving. This is doubly dangerous as the driver must remove one of their hands from the steering wheel in order to carry out these tasks. Not only this, they will have to occasionally take their eyes off of the road.

Perhaps though the most dangerous activity to do prior and during driving is drinking alcohol. No matter how well you think you can hold you alcohol, if you have been drinking then your reaction time will be much slower. If you have drunk a significant amount then you are a serious threat to yourself and those around you.

Most accidents could be avoided if people concentrated fully on their driving. Another common bad driving habit is to leave insufficient space behind the car in front. You want to trail at least three seconds behind the car in front of you. If the car in front deceases speed you should adjust your own speed to match.

By having a reasonable following distance you are allowing yourself time to react to ever changing circumstances on the road. It will also mean that you are able to reduce your speed more gradually if the car in front of you stops unexpectedly. This will stop you being rear ended by the car following you.

Remember bad driving habits are mostly due to lack of care. Driving is a serious business and should be treated accordingly.

When driving your car always maintain a reasonable distance from the car in front and keep your eyes on the road at all times.

Pay constant attention while driving these potentially lethal machines.