March 16, 2011 by OnStar
6 Common Driving Mistakes
By Jonathan Mahalak
For many drivers, being behind the wheel is second nature — but that doesn’t excuse errors in judgment. Sometimes you may not even recognize how bad driving decisions can actually put yourself — and others — at risk. Here are six common driving errors and why you should not make these decisions behind the wheel:
Speeding
Many of us have broken the speed limit at one time or another, but here’s the truth: It’s the cause of most crashes. Nearly one in three fatal collisions involved speeding vehicles, at a cost of some 13,000 lives a year, according to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) statistics. Speeding doesn’t just mean exceeding the posted limit; driving too fast for conditions accounts for about 45 percent of speeding-related fatal crashes.
Tailgating
Following another vehicle too closely dramatically reduces driver reaction time and the vehicle’s stopping distance, creating near-perfect conditions for disaster. The NHTSA considers this “aggressive driving,” and says that it factors into a substantial number of the more than 6 million crashes that occur each year. It’s recommended that drivers employ the “three-second rule” to estimate the proper following distance — that way, there’s plenty of time to react to dangers ahead.
Running a Red Light
If you’ve ever been in a hurry and tempted to beat a changing light, you may want to reconsider: One in three people personally know someone killed in a crash related to this driving mistake. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) reports that in 2009, 676 people died and an estimated 113,000 were injured as a result of running red lights.
Failing to Yield
While the potential dangers of entering a road with faster-moving traffic or passing through a railroad crossing can’t be overstated, failing to yield to pedestrians at crosswalks or other places where people are present is especially hazardous. The IIHS reports that in 2008 alone, 69,000 pedestrians were injured by motor vehicles and more than 4,300 were killed.
Overcorrecting
Overcorrecting — returning the steering wheel too far after an evasive swerve — is a leading cause of rollover collisions, and, according to 2009 NHTSA numbers, a major factor in so-called run-off-road crashes. Near-miss situations can cause adrenaline to surge and panic to set in, but try to keep calm and avoid this common mistake — it may be vital to keeping everyone on the road safe.
Not Wearing a Safety Belt
We’ve all heard the lousy excuses: “It’s uncomfortable,” or “I’m not going very far.” And still, 17 percent of drivers don’t buckle up despite the fact that the NHTSA says wearing your safety belt is 45 percent more effective in preventing death by collision. This common driving mistake is by far the most simple to avoid — just strap it on and click it in every time you get in your car.
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Tags: Driving Safety, Safety
DUI. The statistics are astronomical and I occasionally see someone swerving or erratically driving.