You’re late to work, so you speed.
You’re on your way to a get together with friends, so you text and drive.
There aren’t any cops around, so you roll through a stop sign.
You are ready to head home from the party and so tired that you can barely keep your eyes open, but decide to drive home anyway.
We’re all aware of the standard driving distractions like texting or emailing and driving, taking pictures and watching videos, putting on makeup, or turning your head to scold the kids in the back seat. Many drivers are actively trying to curb these behaviors, including drinking and driving, but these are common driving behaviors that many drivers, and you, may do without considering the consequences.
1. Excessive speeding
We all may go a few miles per hour over the limit here and there. Have you ever heard the phrase “driving with traffic?” The presumption is that if you follow the flow and speed of the drivers surrounding you, an officer won’t pull you over for speeding. Other drivers excessively speed 10, 15, or even 20 miles per hour over the speed limit, which begs police officers to pull you over.
2. Ignoring poor weather conditions
In many areas of the country, including Pennsylvania, weather conditions can change in a flash. One moment it could be slightly cloudy, and the next, you could be driving in a torrential downpour or winter storm. If this occurs, it’s important to adjust your driving behaviors, and if needed, find a safe location to rest until the storm has blown over.
3.Forgetting to check your blind spot
All drivers have a blind spot on their driver and passenger sides where the rear and side mirrors don’t reach. It may seem insignificant, but not checking one’s blind spot leads to many vehicle accidents. To check your blind spot, you’ll have to look over your shoulder quickly. This practice is essential when switching lanes, accessing the interstate, and pulling into traffic from a parked position.
4. Disregarding traffic signals and driving courtesy
Tailgating is fun before the big game, but it’s not so much as a tailed driver. Engaging in tailgating can be viewed as an act of road and lead to driver confrontations or a car crash. Is risking your safety and that of drivers around you worth it when deciding to disobey traffic signals, like driving through a red light, running or doing a rolling stop through a stop sign, disobeying yield signals, and pedestrian right of ways, speed bumps, and other common traffic laws?
Accidents do happen and sometimes seem unavoidable. If you are facing an extreme traffic-related offense or driving under the influence (DUI) charge, you deserve competent representation. We all need to get to our destination, but always keep in mind the safety of yourself and other drivers when on the road.
