5 Tips for Bad Drivers You Might Need to Give a Try

By  //  April 28, 2021

Sometimes the worst drivers are the most critical of other motorists around them. If you’ve had an accident or two in the past, or if you’ve had a few recent near-misses, it may be time to take a look at your own driving habits and style. 

Although you might be good at negotiating sharp corners or traveling at high speeds, this doesn’t necessarily mean that your daily driving techniques are the safest. Here are five tips for bad drivers that are well worth a try. 

Leave Earlier 

Bad drivers are often in a rush. These are people who can get where they need to be quick, but only because they weave in and out of lanes, barely make their way through yellow lights, and regularly exceed speed limits. Don’t conflate steering skills and your ability to confidently travel at high speeds with good driving. 

Rather than rushing during your commute, make an effort to leave home 20 to 30 minutes earlier than you normally do. You won’t have to make high-risk maneuvers, and you won’t upset other motorists around you. Leaving early enough to get where you need to go without speeding will also make you a lot less emotionally frazzled, especially when you encounter unexpected delays. 

Get Rid of Distractions 

Distracted driving is responsible for numerous accidents every day. People who drive while eating breakfast, putting on makeup, styling their hair, or taking care of personal responsibilities can’t really pay full attention to the road. 

Texting or talking on the phone while driving is obviously dangerous as well. In fact, even using hands-free technologies can be a huge distraction for motorists on the go. 

One of the best ways to avoid accidents and near-misses is by eliminating or limiting as many distractions as you can before heading out. You should always:

Read and respond to emails and text messages before pulling out of your driveway.

■ Start your day early enough to finish all your grooming at home.

■ Pull over if you absolutely need to make a call. 

Find Other Ways to Channel Your Rage 

Expressing your anger with other drivers using vulgar hand signals and equally vulgar words doesn’t make you a good driver, even if those around you have an undeniable lack of skill. 

Whenever you get too emotional behind the wheel, you run the risk of overlooking critical developments until it’s too late to take evasive action. Almost everyone has seen at least one motorist who winds up crashing because they’ve gotten carried away in a fit of rage. 

If you frequently get angry during your current commute, you could:

Leave work earlier or later to avoid traffic congestion

■ Hit the gym before or after work for stress relief

■ Play relaxing music while driving

■ Pull off the road until you get your emotions under control.

■ Try alternative means of transportation every once in a while. 

Flying off the handle when other motorists make bad decisions won’t improve your circumstances. Try to keep your distance from erratic, aggressive drivers and avoid becoming one yourself. 

Don’t Rely Too Heavily on Automatic Safety Features 

Most modern automobiles come equipped with a dynamic range of safety technologies. From automatic emergency braking and lane-keeping features to innovative parking assist systems, these tech advances are meant to work seamlessly with drivers to prevent accidents, make challenging tasks easier, and enhance overall driver enjoyment. 

However, even having the most comprehensive suite of smart safety features does not mean that you own a self-driving car. It’s important to note that these features aren’t always perfect when issuing responses. Try not to become too reliant on these features when driving. 

Always stay focused and be ready to take evasive actions of your own, rather than counting on your vehicle to do everything for you. It has been proven that the more technologically advanced the car is, the less skilled the driver. 

Take Good Care of Your Vehicle 

Sometimes being a bad driver has less to do with your skills behind the wheel and more to do with your automobile’s condition. Never take your vehicle out when your tire treads are visibly worn out, your engine is overheating, or your car has other mechanical problems that may impact its performance and safety. 

With faulty brakes, worn tires, or steering problems, even the best driving skills won’t help you avoid collisions. But far too many motorists are under the impression that their vehicles’ skillful handling will make up for any non-critical mechanical issues.

Conclusion

If you’re prone to experiencing bouts of road rage, often leave home with just minutes spare, or routinely drive distracted, you may become an additional source of commute stress for both you and other drivers. 

With the tips above, you can limit your likelihood of accidents, avoid near-misses, and spend less time engaging in angry exchanges with other motorists. Being a bad driver is not a life sentence, as with a bit of self-awareness, goodwill, and perseverance, anyone can mend their ways. 

But when the bad driver is operating a large vehicle like a bus or semi-truck, their misbehavior could prove fatal to other motorists on the road. Unfortunately, when injured by such drivers, your only recourse is to hire an experienced attorney like this Atlanta truck accident lawyer and wait for the chips to fall where they may.

About the Author

Samantha Alvord

Samantha Alvord is a legal expert and a passionate writer who works tirelessly to inform people about the field of personal injury, her area of specialty. She has a talent for making complex legal concepts accessible to the public. It is Samantha’s goal to present a clear and structured piece to the reader, which can easily be used as a guide to solving legal matters.