15 things you shouldn't do while driving

Bad driving habits are the main cause of car accidents. Ignoring some simple rules by drivers can often be fatal for those who ride in a car. A study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the American Automobile Association (AAA) show which of the most bad driving habits lead to traffic accidents.

Depending on the region, not all of the above may be common, but they are no less dangerous. We will consider them in turn.

Headphone driving

If the car radio is broken, listening to music from your phone through the headphones is not a good idea, as it will “cut off” you from the outside world. And this will make you dangerous both for yourself and for the people you are carrying, as well as for other road users. If you can, connect your smartphone to the car using Bluetooth.

Drunk driving

In the United States, 30 people die on the road every day due to accidents caused by a drunk driver. These accidents can be prevented if people truly understand the consequences of driving after drinking.

Drug Driving

In recent years, this problem has been growing, and in America, of course, its scope is enormous. According to the AAA, 14,8 million drivers each year (US data only) drive after using marijuana, and 70% of them believe that it is not dangerous. Unfortunately, in Europe the number of drug addicts is also increasing sharply.

Tired driver

Studies show that about 9,5% of US road traffic crashes are caused by driver fatigue. The biggest problem remains the lack of sleep, and it can not always be solved with an energy drink or strong coffee. Experts recommend stopping for at least 20 minutes if the driver feels that his eyes themselves are closed while driving.

Seat Belt Driving

Driving without a seat belt is a bad idea. The fact is that the airbag protects in the event of a collision, but this is not a solution to the problem if the seat belt is not fastened. In a collision without a seat belt, the driver's body moves forward and the airbag moves against him. This is not the best scenario for survival.

Using too many electronic helpers

Electronic assistants, such as adaptive cruise control, lane keeping or emergency braking, greatly facilitate the work of the driver, but do not improve his driving skills. There are still no cars that are completely ready for autonomous driving, so the driver must hold the steering wheel with both hands and carefully monitor the road in front of him.

Kneeling Driving

Driving on your knees is a trick that many drivers resort to when they feel tired in their arms and shoulders. At the same time, it is one of the most dangerous ways to drive. Since the steering wheel is locked with raised legs, it will take the driver much longer to react to an emergency and use the pedals correctly.

Accordingly, it is impossible to react when another car, pedestrian or animal appears in front of you on the road. If you don’t believe me, try parallel parking with knees.

Inability to keep distance

Driving near a car may prevent you from stopping on time. It was not by chance that a rule of two seconds was created. It allows you to ensure a safe distance from the car in front of you. Simply, you will be sure that you will have time to stop if necessary.

Distraction while driving

A shift in gaze from the road due to a message from the telephone can lead to an accident. An AAA poll shows that 41,3% of drivers in the United States read messages immediately received on their phone, and 32,1% write to someone driving. And those who talk on the phone, even more, but in this case, the device can be placed so as not to interfere with driving (for example, use the speakerphone).

Ignoring Warnings

Often the car itself "reports" about the problem, and this is done by turning on the indicator on the dashboard. Some drivers ignore this sign, which can even be fatal. Failure of major vehicle systems often results in serious damage and can result in an accident while traveling.

Riding with an animal in the cabin

Driving with an animal that can roam freely in the cabin (usually a dog) leads to driver distraction. More than half of drivers admit this, with 23% of them forced to try to catch the animal during a sudden stop, and 19% while driving try to prevent the dog from getting into the front seat. There is another problem - a dog weighing 20 kg. turns into a 600-kilogram projectile upon impact at a speed of 50 km / h. This is bad for both the animal and the person in the car.

Food driving

You can often see what the driver eats while driving. This happens even on the track, where the speed is quite high. According to NHTSA, the risk of an accident in such situations is 80%, so it’s better to stay hungry, but survive and not get better.

Driving too fast

Failure to comply with speed limits is responsible for 33% of fatal accidents in the United States, according to the AAA. You think you will save time if you drive faster, but this is not entirely true. Traveling at a speed of 90 km / h for 50 km will take you about 32 minutes. The same distance, but at a speed of 105 km / h, will be covered in 27 minutes. The difference is only 5 minutes.

Driving too slow

Driving far below the limit can be no less dangerous than speeding. The reason for this is that a slow-moving car is confusing other vehicles on the road around it. Accordingly, his maneuvers are slower, which makes him a threat to cars moving at higher speeds.

Driving without light

In many countries, driving with daytime running lights is mandatory, but there are drivers who ignore this rule. It happens that even in the dark, a car appears whose driver forgot to turn on the headlights. Its dimensions also do not shine, and this often leads to serious accidents.

Keeping these simple recommendations in mind, you will save your life for yourself and those around you.