The most dangerous behaviours behind the wheel
Road safety is everyone's responsibility. There is no doubt that the condition of the roads is of great importance. If it is bad, more accidents will occur, and it must be dealt with by the competent authorities. But drivers also have to get involved to reduce accidents by applying prudence and respecting the rules when using our car.
The most common mistakes and recklessness among drivers
However, whether due to distraction or ignorance, many drivers commit dangerous reckless driving, which can lead to dire consequences. Below you can find some examples:
1) Driving above speed limits Various surveys conducted among drivers result in more than fifty percent acknowledging ever (or frequently) exceeding speed limits. And this despite being one of the most dangerous offenses, because in doing so we run the risk of not being able to control the car. The result could be, for example, the invasion of the opposite lane and the collision with the vehicle coming from the front. Speeding can be a serious or very serious fault.
2) Not stopping every two hours on long trips No less than 44% of drivers state that they do not usually rest every two hours during a long-haul trip. However, it is very important to do it because scientific studies indicate that drowsiness and tiredness begin to occur when this time limit is reached while driving and are one of the main causes of traffic accidents. Despite this, there is no penalty for this cause, except for professional drivers.
3) Using the mobile phone while driving One of the main causes of distraction behind the wheel is the use of the mobile phone and 27% of drivers admit to doing so. It goes without saying that an accident can happen in a matter of tenths of a second and that you should not take your eyes off the road at any time.
4) Failure to respect the safe distance between vehicles 21% of motorists report driving without respecting the safety distance with the car in front. However, range accidents are very common on our roads. For example, taking data from 2013, there were a total of 2,000 accidents caused by not respecting that distance with a balance of 150 deceased people.
5) Do not use the seat belt on short trips 18% of drivers acknowledge that, on their short trips, they do not wear a seat belt. It is a serious recklessness since we already know the effects of a collision of not wearing it. And many accidents occur on short trips. This is precisely because we rely on these short journeys.
6) Do not use the mandatory child seats No less than 14% of the surveyed drivers confessed not to use the child seats that are mandatory by law. It is quite irresponsible behaviour even if you are going to do a short trip. If an accident occurs, the child will not be properly restrained and could suffer very serious injuries.
7) Stress and tiredness 7% of drivers say they hit the road with high levels of stress. And it is a bad ally for driving since it makes us commit precipitation. And the same can be said of fatigue, related to the second point on our list. When driving tired, the ability to react to unexpected events slows down and it is not difficult to fall asleep at the wheel.
8) Ignorance of some traffic regulations 35% of the participants stated that they did not know what an amber traffic light means. And 14% do not know who has priority when leaving a roundabout. These are circumstances that must be very clear since we are going to meet them every day.
9) Car maintenance Finally, there is another point that we have left for last: review of our vehicle. A total of 16% of those surveyed state that they do not check wheel pressure with sufficient frequency. But that is not enough. It is essential that our vehicle is ready in many other fundamental aspects for road safety. Thus, the general condition of the car, the brakes, the lighting and even the engine. For our safety and that of other road users, it is necessary to keep the vehicle in good condition, even if it causes discomfort and money.
In conclusion, the three most dangerous behaviours behind the wheel are speeding, not getting enough rest on long journeys and using the phone while driving. All of them are very serious recklessness that can lead to serious accidents. Therefore, it is necessary to stop these bad habits as soon as possible!
Have a safe trip!