Approximately 95 percent of all traffic accidents involve driver error as a primary or contributing cause. There are many things drivers can do to reduce their chances of becoming involved in an accident, and one of these is forming good driving habits. The insurance industry has identified five bad driving habits that can increase the possibility of an accident.
Driving while distracted is the number one cause of traffic accidents. Research conducted by the the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute showed that approximately 80 percent of all vehicle accidents involved the driver being distracted in some way. Distraction can come in many forms, from motorists taking their hands off the steering wheel or their eyes off the road. It can involve eating, tuning the radio, putting on makeup, shaving, trying to read a map or looking for a particular address. Particularly hazardous is the use of a cell phone while driving. According to the NHTSA/Virginia Tech study, the mere act of dialing a telephone while driving can significantly increase the risk of an accident. Even worse is text messaging, which according to the same study can increase by an incredible 23 times the chance of a crash. Of course one can be doing nothing at all and still be distracted, if the motorist’s thoughts are on something other than his or her driving.
Another bad habit is speeding, which actually ranks above drunk driving as a cause of traffic accidents. The posted speed limit is not merely a suggestion, but the law, and violating it not only increases the chance of an accident but of being ticketed. What is posted is the maximum speed only under ideal conditions, and may be too high when the weather is bad or traffic is heavy.
Even when travelling at the posted speed, following too closely can be an invitation to a wreck. Drivers should always keep a safe distance between their vehicle and the one ahead of them. The best way to assure proper spacing is to use the two-second rule. Motorists can count two from the time the vehicle ahead passes a fixed object and when they reach that same point (the time can be determined by slowly counting one-thousand-one, one-thousand-two).
Unsafe lane changing is a factor in many traffic accidents. Before changing lanes, drivers should always check their mirrors and blind spots, signal their intentions and steer gradually into the new lane. It’s also important to maintain or slightly increase speed while changing lanes. Far too often, drivers will reduce their speeds if they are changing lanes while nearing an intersection.
Improper signalling is another bad habit of some drivers. It can involve signalling other drivers too late before turning or changing lanes, or not signalling at all. Signalling should not be seen as only a courtesy, but is an important part of safe driving. Failing to signal properly can lead to a ticket.
By adopting safe habits drivers can prevent accidents – and keep down their insurance rates!
A few years back, Tony Doring committed one of the offences listed above in the article and it doubled his insurance overnight. Since then, he got his car insurance Owen Sound quote and is thrilled that it’s much cheaper.