Five bad driving habits that need to stop for the sake of your passengers
It’s not me, it’s you. Nobody wants to be the bearer of bad news, but if your safety depends on it – go for your life (literally)!When was the last time you felt a little, shall we say, uncomfortable as a passenger? Perhaps your best mate, a family member or a less-familiar work colleague was driving? So how do you tell them that they have some poor driving habits? Just be blunt.
As a driver, it’s not only your job to manoeuvre the vehicle to abide by the road rules and to be courteous to other drivers, but it is your duty to keep your passengers safe. Here are five bad driving habits that need to be stopped for the sake of your passengers, immediately!
The steering wheel tug
A driving sin more common than you might expect. When the driver tugs at the inside of the steering wheel to turn a corner, it’s all downhill from there. In the event of an accident, how on earth do you think you’re going to pull off an emergency manoeuvre? You should always keep your hands as close as possible to the ‘three and nine’ position. Yep, that’s both hands on the wheel.
Cutting corners
Finding the apex on your way to the supermarket, it’s like a right of passage in suburban streets because we’re all in such a hurry to whip out our reusable shopping bags, right? A great percentage of accidents happen close to home – when people are more relaxed and less focused on good driving habits, it seems. Even when you’re driving in speed-restricted zones of 40km/h, obey the rules – and stay on the correct side of the white lines. You're not Daniel Ricciardo flying around the F1 tracks.
The "cool guy" driving pose
The seat reclined all the way back and one-handed driving is just unsafe and you certainly don’t look cool... One-handed steering is a common trait of the less-experienced driver, you should always have two hands on the wheel (refer to point one). Even if you drive a manual car, change gear and get your hand back on the wheel, and put your seat in a proper position. Save your TikTok music video clip homage for the driveway.
Tailgating
This is such a simple one, but we still see it constantly on the roads. The time and distance equation is proven. The closer you are to the car in front, the more chance you’ll hit them if they have to stop suddenly. It can also put unnecessary pressure on the driver of the car in front – so just stop it. Be kind.
No phone zone
This one’s a little more simple than addressing questionable habits – it’s illegal and it can end in tragedy. Phones are a significant driver distraction with even a quick glance at your phone meaning you are driving blind. If you have a modern car, use the connectivity technology to allow hands-free control to limit distractions, put your phone on Do Not Disturb every time you get in the car. If you have zero self-control, put your phone out of reach while driving. Do not touch your phone.
How about you tag a few friends – for their reference.
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