Bad Driving Habits You Need to Stop | Hebert’s Town & Country

January 31st, 2017 by

Let’s face it, multitasking has become a way of life for a lot of us. It’s not uncommon to eat breakfast in the car on the way to work while making a phone call, or helping the kids with homework while cooking dinner and paying bills. A lot of us multitask while driving when we shouldn’t and have other bad habits while both hands should be on the wheel. We’re bad at this too, so we’ve at Hebert's Town And Country Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram have put together a list of things you should stop doing immediately to be a better driver.

1. Being on your phone while driving
If you’re like us, you’re always on your phone checking email, sending texts, reading a news story or scrolling through your social media feed while doing mundane things. But doing this while driving is such a big no-no! Everybody does this every once in a while, whether you’re at a stop light or actually driving and it’s just not a good idea. According to the National Safety Council, cell phone use while driving leads to 1.6 million crashes every year.
Besides being nearly run off the road by a driver on their phone, or running off the road themselves, a lot of traffic backs up at stop lights as a result of someone who is on their phone and didn’t see when the light switched from red to green. Don’t be that person. Put the phone in a cup holder, on a mount or in your bag and don’t look at it until you’re at your destination.

2. Not using turn signals
There’s this misconception that using a turn signal is a courtesy to other drivers, not a necessity. Yes, it depends on the situation whether you are legally required to use a signal in Louisiana, but you should do it anyway. Signaling lets drivers around you know your intentions. That way, if you’re moving into the middle lane, the car behind you will know not to try that at the same time.

3. Speeding 
Just don’t do it unless you’re passing someone. There are posted limits for a reason.

4. Running red and yellow lights
Along with multitasking, it seems like everyone is in a rush these days. When you see a yellow light do you speed up and try to get through it or actually slow down to a stop like you’re supposed to? Most of us probably are guilty of trying to beat the red, but it’s dangerous. In addition to being unsafe, if you’re still in the intersection while another lane is supposed to be crossing, it backs up traffic.

5. Come to a complete stop
Not coming to a complete stop at a stop sign is illegal. At first glance it may look like no one is around, but most crashes are a surprise. We can’t tell you how many people have said the phrase, “They came out of nowhere,” when telling the story of how they were hit. Rolling through a stop sign can cause you and others harm and even get you a ticket if you’re not careful.
Let’s make a pact this year to implement safe driving practices to keep everyone on the road safe, not just ourselves.

Want more tips on how to drive safely? Give us a shout and we’d be glad to speak with you.