5 Bad Driving Habits and the Best Ways You Can Fix Them
Bad driving habits can increase the risk of an accident.
Bad driving habits can put you, your passengers, and others on the road in danger.
According to former cosmetic surgeon Maxwell Maltz in Psycho Cybernetics, it can take a person 21 days to form or break a habit. This idea was developed in the 1960’s, and is looked at as a myth by some.
Regardless of how long you think it can take to make or break habits, the fact is that many drivers don’t always follow proper driving etiquette when they get behind the wheel.
There are a plethora of bad driving habits. Some of the more common bad driving habits include:
Distracted driving – in the go-go world we live in, multitasking is a daily habit for most. This can include driving distracted.
Drivers who are distracted have their attention focused on something other than the road ahead. This can include texting, making phone calls, eating, etc.
Avoid distracted driving by making sure any tasks such as eating are performed before driving. Text messages can wait until you are parked, and if they need a quicker response, pull over to text.
Speeding – anytime a driver goes over the speed limit, they put themselves and others at risk. Speed limits are implemented to help control traffic flows and keep pedestrians safe.
Traveling faster than the posted speed can increase the chance of a crash.
To avoid speeding, leave early to dodge tardiness.
Rolling through or ignoring stop signs – another form of traffic control is a stop sign. Failure to stop at the sign runs a higher risk for accidents.
Some drivers ignore stop signs. This is extremely dangerous in residential areas, where pedestrians may cross the street.
Be sure to stop at all signs, and check all directions for other vehicles and pedestrians.
Changing lanes without signaling – your turn signal helps notify other drivers of your intentions when switching lanes. Your signal can help another driver slow down to let you over, or even give you the space to move if you are in a traffic jam.
Without the signal, a driver may continue at their regular speed, which can increase the risk of the accident.
Be sure to always signal when changing lanes. It doesn’t take much effort, and can help future headaches from an accident.
Not wearing a seatbelt – seatbelts have been proven to save lives. According to the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration, 51 percent of passenger vehicle occupants killed in 2020 were not wearing their seatbelt.
Buckling up is a simple task that can protect you in a car accident. Make sure you and all other passengers have their seatbelt clicked in before you head out on the road.
Bad driving habits can lead to even worse injuries. Some common injuries resulting from car crashes include:
- Neck problems like chronic pain or a broken neck
- Back issues like lower back pain or a pinched nerve
- Head injuries like a concussion
- Broken bones
- Cosmetic issues that include cuts, scars, disfigurement
- Internal injuries like hemorrhaging or damage to vital organs
- Spinal Cord problems that may lead to paralysis
- Vision issues from eye injuries
- Hand injuries like damaged nerves or broken fingers
- Foot problems like a broken toe
- Wrongful death
Breaking bad driving habits is hard. Car accident injuries are even harder.
If you were injured in a car accident, let our LA personal injury attorneys assist you.
At C&B Law Group, we’ve built a firm of Southern California car accident attorneys who are dedicated to client success. Our attorneys have helped recover millions of dollars, with a 99 percent success rate on personal injury cases.
Just because you are working on bad driving habits does not mean others on the road are doing the same. It’s not a rarity to see someone devouring a burger on the 101 or flying past the speed limit on Ventura Boulevard.
If you were injured in an accident because of another drivers’ negligence from bad driving habits, you may be eligible to recover compensation including economic damages.
This may include medical bills or lost wages, as well as non-economic damages including pain and suffering.
Don’t hesitate. We help clients all across LA and Southern California, such as:
- Burbank
- Glendale
- Van Nuys
- North Hollywood
- Sun Valley
- Panorama City
- Orange County
- Inland Empire
Reach out to the Los Angeles car accident attorneys at C&B Law Group today about a free consultation.
