We all have them. Whether it’s texting while driving, speeding, ignoring stop signs or failing to use turn signals, everyone has developed bad driving habits. The problem is how to get rid of them.
While some of these may seem inconsequential, even the smallest lapses in concentration and judgement while driving can have fatal results. In 2022, 3,308 people in the U.S. were killed in distracted driving incidents, according to the most recent statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
The most recent AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety’s annual Traffic Safety Culture Index revealed that more than half of the 2,499 online survey respondents engaged in some form of risky behavior behind the wheel in 2022. This included 22.7% who reported speeding; 17.3% who were engaged in aggressive and distracted driving and 15% who engaged in all distracted driving behaviors. Another 1.3% admitted to impaired driving and 2.4% to all the risky driving behaviors.
The best way to avoid bad driving habits, of course, is not to start them. Arnie Kinsler, a AAA Driving School behind-the-wheel instructor in Danbury, Conn., said he has noticed an increase in bad driving habits over the past few years and does his best to impress upon his young students the importance of following all the rules of the road.
“People act as though speed limits and stop signs are suggestions,” Kinsler said. “I’ve seen people eating full meals while driving 65 miles per hour.” He tells his students, most of whom are new drivers between 16 and 22 years old, to ignore drivers who honk when they come to a complete stop at a stop sign and reminds them that driving the speed limit keeps everyone safer.
For more seasoned drivers, who may be getting a little lax when it comes to traffic rules, Kinsler urges them to remain vigilant and not slip into dangerous habits, like accelerating at a yellow light. Drivers who want to refresh their skills can sign up for AAA’s Defensive Driving Course.
“One of the best ways to instill good driving habits is to explain why a regulation is important, and what can happen if you don’t follow it,” said Gary Driscoll, a AAA behind-the-wheel driving instructor in Cranston, R.I., and former police officer. “I stress situational awareness when driving.” Failure to pay attention even for a second could result in a life-or-death situation.
Distracted Driving
This is one of the most common bad driving habits, with more than half of drivers in the AAA survey admitting to it. Texting, talking on the phone, even talking to passengers, eating or listening to music are all distractions that could take your eyes of the road or cause you to lose focus.
One of the newest, and most dangerous, trends is shooting video while driving, especially with younger drivers trying to capture clips for social media. This takes your concentration almost completely off the road and your hands off the wheel. If you want to shoot a video from your car, do it while parked in a parking lot.
How to fix: Put your phone on do not disturb and out of reach, said Barbara Ward, a longtime traffic safety specialist with AAA Northeast. Texting while driving is one of the top bad habits to break. It raises the possibility of a crash because it creates a “triple threat,” according to Ward. “It takes a driver’s eyes off the road, hands off the wheel and mind off driving more than any other potentially distracting activity.”
Impaired Driving
Impaired driving includes getting behind the wheel after drinking alcohol or using marijuana. Driving while under the influence not only has serious legal repercussions, but puts the driver, passengers and everyone on the road in danger.
How to fix: Don’t do it. Designate a sober driver ahead of time or call a taxi or ride-sharing service.
Drowsy Driving
Drowsy driving can be just as dangerous as impaired driving, yet 18% of respondents reported engaging in that behavior in the past 30 days.
How to Fix: AAA recommends stopping for a break every two hours or 100 miles while you are driving. If you start to nod off, have trouble keeping your eyes open or can’t recall the last few miles driven, pull over and let someone else take the wheel.
Speeding
While many drivers do not consider speeding risky behavior, speeding is a factor in one-third of vehicle fatalities. “Speeding gives you less time to react and increases the distance you need to stop,” Ward said.
How to Fix: Slow down. “Always know the posted speed limit and use cruise control, if possible, to keep the vehicle at a safe and reasonable speed,” added Ward.
Aggressive Driving
The NHTSA defines aggressive driving as a combination of moving traffic offenses that can endanger other people or property, often sparked by road rage. This includes one of the most infuriating bad driving habits, tailgating.
How to Fix: Avoid being a tailgater by staying calm if someone ahead of you is driving more slowly and keep a lighter foot on the gas pedal. If someone is tailgating you, continue driving the speed limit, remain calm and obey traffic signals.
More tips for dealing with an aggressive driver:
- Avoid eye contact with angry drivers.
- Don’t respond to aggression with aggression.
- If you feel you are at risk, drive to a public place such as a police station, hospital or fire station.
- When you park, allow room so you can pull out safely if someone approaches you aggressively.
- Use your horn to attract attention but remain in your locked vehicle.
- If you feel threatened, call 911.
More Bad Driving Habits
- Rolling through stop signs or not knowing when to stop for a school bus.
- Not slowing down and moving over for emergency vehicles – or any vehicle stopped at the roadside.
- Failing to wear a seat belt or use turn signals.
And there may be a few bad driving habits you might not even know you have, based on this story about bizarre state driving laws.
Learn more about at AAA Driver Training.
What bad driving habit drives you crazy? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
This article has been updated and republished from a previous version.
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How about those roads that allow travel in the breakdown lane during peak commuting times? Drivers who use them are often speeding, driving even faster than cars in left lane. Those breakdown lanes should have lower speed limits when travel is allowed.
The most important action to prevent accidents is to keep plenty of distance to the car ahead. This will avoid most accidents caused by other bad drivers giving you enough time to react.
I just finished a round trip to TN and back to Long Island. I found the worse speeder were trucks. Most couldnt bother slowing down in construction zones
Drivers that pull to the right hand side of the lane to make a left turn and vice versa.
RI has more than their share of bad drivers. Tailgating is the number 1 complaint if you’re trying to follow the speed limit posted. Lane switching on the interstates is out of control and people still text or hold their phone to there ear while driving.
I just love to see someone driving with a dog in his or her lap, looking out the window. How can you drive with a dog in your lap???
When driving, be your own biggest critic. Road rage is a two part problem – those who cause it and those who exhibit it. Don’t be the person who causes it by going too slow in the left lane. Keep to the right except to pass and the second part of the problem never happens.
Thanks for asking! Something I learned in Driver’s Ed nearly 60 years ago (in Tenafly, NJ, where my family has had a car agency since 1932, where my father spent his entire career, so I grew up loving cars and excitedly waiting until I got my license!) that “drives me” to this day: When you’re making a left turn, NEVER TURN YOUR WHEEL TO THE LEFT; ALWAYS KEEP IT STRAIGHT, since if someone hits you from the rear and your wheel is turned, you’ll go smack into the car that’s legally coming straight across the road or intersection. Presumably, if your wheel is straight, your car is the only one that will be damaged – or people hurt.
Thanks for that tip! Being a Jersey girl from Paramus, I may have bought a car or 2 from your dad!
The left lane is NOT the fast lane. It’s the lane for passing traffic in the right lane not for speeding.
What drives me crazy is people not using their directional signals. I NEED to have an idea of what you’re planning on doing. It’s not that hard to flip a lever.
I just got home after driving from NJ over the Tappan Zee Bridge into NY … TWO trucks and One car literally almost killed me! I was in the middle lane – and was horrified when they just pulled in my lane without seeing me???
Now I know why there are so many crashes in that area….
Folks pulling out – and going nowhere.
Crawling in the Travel Lane, forcing speed limit drivers into the Passing Lanes.
Taking rights on Red when not safe to do so…
My phone automatically shuts off when I’m in a car so no need to put on do not disturb.
Not signaling turns and lane changes. Not getting out of the left lane to allow faster vehicles to go by.
Stopped while waiting to make a left turn with the wheels already turned. A car hitting from the rear would send you right into oncoming traffic, causing a head-on collision.
How many times have you seen someone make a LEFT HAND turn through a light that has turned red!? What is wrong with these people!? I am amazed that I don’t see an accident every time I venture out onto the roads.
Don’t know if this is a bad driving habit or just a pet peeve of mine. Not “hugging” the center line when taking a left turn. To often others can’t go by on the right of them because of this.
Tailgating, Aggressive drivers are the worst.States could erase whatever deficit they have by just ticketing those drivers and make the roadways a lot safer .
The problem with these recommendations is that too many people are ignorant to their own behaviors.