Driving is the main form of transportation for many people, but that doesn’t mean that it is a safe thing all the time. While you may practice defensive driving most of the time, there are some choices that people make on a regular basis that put others in danger and can cause severe problems. While they may be commonplace, these dangerous driving practices must be avoided whenever possible.
Drinking and Driving
The warning to not drink and drive is probably the most common warning given to drivers, but people still choose to get behind the wheel after drinking anyway. If you have consumed alcohol, your judgment will be impaired, even if you think you are just fine. Alcohol works as a depressant, which means your cognitive processes and reflexes slow down.
Even if you handle your alcohol well, it will impact your ability to drive safely, and it puts you and everyone else on the road in serious danger. There is a reason that driving under the influence or while intoxicated can carry such serious penalties. It is one of the most deadly things you can do in a car.
Texting While Driving
Texting or otherwise using smartphones while driving is one of the most common driving behaviors, despite being both dangerous and illegal. You may think that you can send a quick text or divert your attention for a short time, but in just 5 seconds, you can travel the length of a football field, and a lot can happen in that distance.
You are actually 23 times more likely to get in a car accident if you are texting while driving. Car accident injuries can be severe and debilitating. And even if you are unscathed, you may cause a lot of pain and problems for anyone you hit while driving.
Driving While Tired
Driving while tired isn’t something that many people think of as a problem. After all, for many people, tiredness is their constant state. However, driving while drowsy is almost as dangerous as driving while drunk. Around 5000 people die every year in accidents related to driving while drowsy. Drowsy driving accidents often occur at high speeds and with little to no breaking, which means that the consequences can be severe. If you are too tired to drive, pull over and take a nap or find someone else who can drive you. Nothing is so important that you should risk your life.
When you are driving, it is important that your focus remains on operating your vehicle and that you aren’t doing anything that might distract you from doing so safely. Driving requires you to pay attention and have your cognitive abilities at top-notch. While some people can get away with bad driving habits, you don’t want to risk the fact that it can easily catch up to you and ruin your life and the lives of other people around you.
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