Break Up With Bad Driving Habits

February is the month of love and I find myself very fortunate that I have a lot to love like my family, my boyfriend, my job, my classes, etc. I used to love driving too but lately I find that cruising around town is more frustrating than pleasant. It’s not the act of driving itself that I find aggravating, but the selfishness and lack of consideration of other motorists that irks me. So, in honor of the month of love, I’ve compiled a list of driving pet peeves in hopes that people will recognize and break up with poor habits they weren’t aware of which may lead to others rekindling their love of driving... Maybe. 

1) Changing lanes in an intersection.

Most car crashes happen in intersections than any other parts of the road. This is largely a result of motorists speeding up to make it through a yellow light but is also caused by inappropriate lane changing in the intersection. There aren’t lines in an intersection so it’s difficult to determine how far to move over. It is easy to overshoot your target lane and end up too far into the next lane which can lead to an accident. Also, it’s just not courteous and it’s illegal so be prepared to hear an angry honk or the sound of a siren behind you.

2)  Not using blinkers.

OK, I’m a turn signal enthusiast. I’ve actually been teased for using my turn signal at 2 a.m. to get into my driveway in a cul-de-sac when nobody is out! But all kidding aside, turn signals are extremely important. You can’t assume that other motorists will predict your actions and if you take into consideration that most drivers are distracted, changing lanes without warning can result in a rear-end collision. Now consider that the lane you are moving into has a motorcyclist. If you didn’t notice the motorcycle then using your blinkers would give the rider enough time to slow down and let you enter safely.

3)   Speeding in parking lots.

This should be a no-brainer but how many times have you started backing out of a parking spot only to slam on your brakes because another vehicle sped by behind you? Speeding in a parking lot isn’t smart because first off, it’s speeding and second, so much happens in parking lots that you need to be aware of! You have pedestrians crossing lanes without crosswalks, people pushing shopping carts, cars backing out, etc. I can only assume parking lot speeders are in a rush to get somewhere but honestly, given the size of a lot, the amount of time they save is inconsequential, maybe 15 to 30 seconds? However, if their actions cause a fender bender they will be taking more time to exchange information and wait for a police report, not to mention all of the time they will use later on to make sure everything is taken care of.

4) Rolling stops.

Rolling stops refer to when a vehicle never comes to a complete stop. The driver may slow down and look around before advancing but their tires are constantly in motion. When you truly stop it takes additional time for you to start moving again, whereas with a rolling stop you are able to speed up much more quickly. Say you want to turn right at an intersection. You look left and determine you are able to go so you start moving but, as you’re turning,  you realize there was a bicyclist coming from the right. The difference between a rolling stop and a complete stop is you’re less likely to hit the cyclist if you were at a dead stop and if you do hit them there will be less harm done.

5)  Last minute lane changing.

Have you ever seen a car try to cross three lanes on a busy street to make a turn? It’s pretty scary to witness because it affects all of the surrounding vehicles and involves a lot of slamming on brakes and quick reaction times. Instead of taking a huge risk on the off chance you will make it across the street in time to make a turn just stay in your lane and continue driving until you can make a legal U-turn. It’s safer for your vehicle, its inhabitants and all of the surrounding vehicles and their passengers.

So these are just a few of my driving pet peeves, feel free to list some of your own in the comment section below! And remember, each of the items discussed above can not only result in an accident but may lead to a traffic ticket and fine. Sometimes relationships can be difficult but you need to know when to end them. Breaking up with bad driving habits could be the best decision you make.