Do not make the fools list this month! This Fools Day, we are exposing the foolish things that people do when driving. Bad drivers are the difference between a peaceful and stressful ride. They are what turns your relaxing Sunday trip into a road rage-filled afternoon.
Here are some foolish habits to avoid when driving:
- Tailgating - Driving too close to another driver is very dangerous, especially at high speeds. This gives you a small space to get out of danger should something happen to the vehicle in front of you. Also, if the vehicle in front of you is a learner driver, should their car roll, you will not have enough space and time to react.
- Failure to signal – The great thing about vehicles these days is that they are designed with indicators that tell the other drivers where you are going to reduce accidents. If a person does not indicate it makes it hard for other drivers to know where they are going or if he is going to turn, which can cause an accident.
- Texting – Texting while driving is another problem that many drivers have. We are living in a connected generation so staying away from your phone has become difficult. But is checking that text or taking that phone call more important than your life or the life of another person? Do not let a temporary decision create a permanent situation in your life.
- Speeding – When you are running late it is very tempting to speed when driving. However, the potential cost of damages or even lives lost is not worth it. Rather be late than cause an accident or a speeding ticket.
- Road Rage – Road rage has been the cause of many deaths in South Africa. According to the Crime Statistics of the third-quarter figures for 2021-2022, arguments and misunderstandings related to road rage and/or provocation accounted for 1,151 murders. There were also 1,215 attempted murder cases, including road rage incidents, along with 21,188 grievous bodily harm cases for the three months. Therefore, it is important to stay calm when driving or not entertain anyone trying to cause trouble to avoid being a victim. Your life is more important than a moment of anger.
- Eating - You overslept, you must rush to work, and you do not have time to sit down and eat breakfast; your best option is to grab something and eat while you drive to work. This is tempting for many but very dangerous when focusing on the road. Fumbling with napkins, wrappers, and beverages means you’re not watching the road.
- Putting on make-up – This one is for you make-up lovers. We understand the struggle! You’re running late, and you know there’s a bit of congestion at that one traffic light in the mornings, so you decide to take your vanity bag along and put your face on while driving to work. This means you are not watching the road, and should something happen, you will not be able to react on time. Rather wait until you get to your destination parking lot and apply your makeup there.
- Drinking and driving – This one you should never even consider doing it. Having even a little bit to drink before driving will severely impair your ability to control a vehicle and make smart decisions.
- Constantly changing lanes – There is nothing more frustrating than a driver who is constantly change lanes and can’t decide whether they want to be in the slow lane or fast lane. This disturbs the peace of other drivers and can cause accidents.
- Driving With High Beams On – Driving with your bright lights on is a huge recipe for disaster. Blinding other drivers is never a smart move, especially since vehicle lights are brighter than ever and can make it extremely hard for other drivers to see. When another car is driving in the opposite lane, the bright lights need to be turned off.
Which foolish habit are you guilty of? As drivers, we all have committed 1 or 2 offenses mentioned above but it is important to drive responsibly to protect ourselves and other drivers.
Article credit : Defensive Driving
