Being a good driver doesn’t just mean knowing how to change a tire or how to back up safely. It also means knowing what to do at all times while behind the wheel, so you don’t do anything stupid. At least, that’s how it should be. Unfortunately, there are many people out there who don’t know the first thing about the rules of the road.
We all know the importance of being careful when driving, but plenty of people still do stupid things behind the wheel, to the point where they are endangering other people. It’s understandable that you sometimes forget to do things like putting your blinker on or that your hands are still on the steering wheel, but you should never do the following as a motorist:
- Texting While Driving
Texting while driving is a serious danger to everyone who shares the roads with a smartphone user. New drivers especially have a tendency to get distracted from the road by their phones, and then they get into automobile crashes, which have been known to kill.
Texting and driving is a serious problem and one that shouldn’t be taken lightly. Research has shown that distractions of texting and driving lead to an increase in accidents and injuries, as well as an increase in deaths.
- Going Over The Speed Limit
A recent survey found that nearly half of Americans admit to speeding at least once in the last six months. So, let’s get this straight: speeding is always bad. Even when you’re just passing through a 30-mph zone, it’s risky-and that’s before you factor in the dangers of illegal tailgating, distracted driving, and other risky behaviors you engage in while speeding.
Many people don’t think twice about driving over the speed limit, but it is a serious crime, and you could go to jail for it. As a driver, you control your vehicle, and you can decide what speed to drive at. What is the point of speeding, then? The reason that you should never speed is that it is not necessary. There is no difference between driving at 60 mph and driving at 70 mph, except for the fact that the latter has an immediate and severe consequence.
- Driving Under The Influence Of Alcohol
Driving under the influence of alcohol is one of the things you should never do. Many people think that drinking while driving is something that only happens to other people. However, this is very deceptive. Many people have died because of drinking while driving. If you drink while driving, it can be very dangerous. Many drivers also get severely injured because someone is under the influence of alcohol. In such a situation, they might even have to take the assistance of a legal representative such as a drunk driving attorney or another one to get settlement money as well as an insurance claim for the accident.
It’s no secret that drunk driving is one of the most dangerous types of car accidents, so the fact that it’s something you should never do is something you should always keep in mind. That said, if you are found to be driving under the influence of alcohol, you could be charged with DUI and face fines depending on whether it is your first offence or second. Note that the penalties for a DUI are different for a first offense, as compared to a second offense (to learn more about it, you can look on the Internet for resourceful blogs). Anyway, besides getting fined, you could also lose your license and face jail time.
- Driving Under The Influence Of Drugs
You may not know this, but you can get convicted of a DUI in most states for a number of reasons. One of them is driving under the influence of drugs. And the same would apply to carrying drugs while driving. Local authorities may conduct drug testing for vehicles and property in California (and other places too) when they’re informed about or see any suspicious activity. As you know, driving under the influence of drugs has a number of negative effects, ranging from the immediate effects of having a DUI conviction to the long-term consequences of your actions.
- Driving While Tired
There is a certain way to drive a vehicle so as to not be drowsy behind the wheel. You should not drive when you are drowsy as drowsiness can lead you to miss important events on the road, be a danger to others as drowsiness impairs your judgment, and possibly end your life if you drive while feeling drowsy.
It’s no secret that driving is one of the most dangerous things that you can do. Even when you’re sober and in a controlled environment that you know and trust, there are still ample opportunities for things to go wrong that you can’t control.
So, as you can see, there are many things never to do when driving. We hope this list was helpful, and we wish you a safe drive.
