Resolve to Change These Bad Driving Habits in 2017

The New Year is here! Now is the time of year for resolutions – things that you’d like to change for 2017. Many resolve to lose weight, eat better, maybe save more money, but resolutions can cover all aspects of everyday life – like every time you get behind the wheel! We have some suggestions on bad driving habits we’d like to see resolved in 2017. Check them out:

Tailgating

Tailgating, or driving too close to other cars on the road, is a common bad driving habit. It can be hard to avoid, we know, as other cars can get in front of you even if you’re maintaining a safe distance, but it’s a dangerous driving habit. If you’re too close to the vehicle in front of you and they slam on their brakes to avoid something in the road, you may not have enough time to quickly react and avoid an accident. Check out these safe driving distances to help you resolve this habit in 2017!

Speeding

Speeding is another very common driving habit, but it’s one that can be deadly. In fact, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 9,557 drivers died due to speed-related accidents. This year, vow to slow down on the roads and follow all posted speed limits.

Not Wearing a Seat Belt

Do you not wear a seat belt when driving? Not only is that a bad driving habit, it is against the law in many states! Seat belts can save lives during accidents, and if you’re caught not wearing one, you may face a ticket and fines. Check your local laws for seat belt restrictions in your area and what possible fines are.

Driving with a Chipped or Cracked Windshield

This is a bad driving habit we can help resolve! Did you know that driving with a chipped or cracked windshield is not just annoying, it can be dangerous? It can be distracting to the road in front of you, preventing you from driving safely, and can even lower the integrity of the overall stability of your vehicle. Trust us to help you achieve this resolution!

Not Using Turn Signals

Not using your turn signal when changing lanes or making a turn? It might be more common than you think. A study found that drivers don’t use their turn signals just about half of the time when changing lanes, and a quarter of the time when making a turn. Failure to use a turn signal can also result in a ticket, not to mention it’s pretty dangerous for other drivers on the road. Luckily, this resolution is easily solved with just a flip of the wrist!

Driving While Drowsy

Don’t think driving while drowsy is an issue? About 60% of adult drivers say they have driven while feeling drowsy, and 37% of drivers have actually fallen asleep at the wheel. Driving while drowsy can be a very dangerous activity, so before you get behind the wheel, consider these risk factors via the National Sleep Foundation:

• Sleep-deprived or fatigued (6 hours of sleep or less triples your risk)
• Suffering from sleep loss (insomnia), poor quality sleep, or a sleep debt
• Driving long distances without proper rest breaks
• Driving through the night, mid-afternoon or when you would normally be asleep
• Taking sedating medications (antidepressants, cold tablets, antihistamines)
• Working more than 60 hours a week (increases your risk by 40%)
• Working more than one job and your main job involves shift work
• Drinking even small amounts of alcohol
• Driving alone or on a long, rural, dark or boring road

With all these great suggestions, finding a New Year’s resolution should be easy. Together, we can make the roads safer in 2017! Happy New Year!