Bad Driving Habits You Should Fix ASAP

 In our minds we're the best driver on the road. We always follow directions and do nothing wrong. Unfortunately we're being super biased and we're very much thinking incorrectly. Mistakes happen and being behind the wheel doesn't prevent us from making them. But, being behind the wheel and driving does mean that your mistakes can be far more consequential if you're not careful. 

If you've become blind to your bad driving habits, don't stress! Toyota of Orlando is here with an easy guide for identifying these issues and fixing them ASAP. 

Most Common Bad Driving Habits and Solutions

1) Distracted Driving

This Orlando bad driving habit takes many forms. Eating, texting, talking on the phone, adjusting your seat or mirror, picking music, bird watching, whatever. It's easy to get distracted while driving, especially if you're a driver with plenty of self-proclaimed confidence. This is a bad habit that you need to nip in the bud and fast. Driving distracted can lead to accidents and it's very dangerous to engage in this behavior when behind the wheel. Put your phone down, eat before driving, keep your eyes forward, and stay distraction free. 

2) Driving without a Seatbelt

One of the worst bad driving habits you can have is not wearing a seatbelt. This, other than your brakes, are one of the most quintessential and important safety features of your car and it's important you always wear one. Going without wearing your Orlando Toyota seatbelt can leave you prone to being ejected from your vehicle in a collision which almost always proves to be fatal. Do yourself a favor, wear a seatbelt. 

3) Tailgating

If your mind jumped to images of football and barbecue, you're not on the right track (wahh wahh). Tailgating is common on the road and you may have likely engaged in or have been annoyed by it at one point or another. Following a vehicle too closely is a bad driving habit that spells an accident waiting to happen. If the driver in front of you decides to come to a stop you'll likely wind up with a nice fender bender to grace your finances with. The solution? Be patient, don't drive aggressively, and give yourself about 4-5 seconds worth of moving distance between you and the car in front of you. 

4) Not Using Yah Blinkah!

This may sound harsh, but your Orlando Toyota vehicle is equipped with turn signals for a reason and you should just use them. Always alert drivers to your movements so they can react accordingly. 

5) Driving Aggressively

Frustration is a human emotion and sometimes it can get the better of us. If you're frustrated behind the wheel, take a chill pill, relax, and drive calmly. This will prevent you or someone else from getting into an accident. 

6) Speeding or Driving Too Slowly

Speed limits may seem more like guidelines than actual rules (really, again?), but they're there for a reason. They're the safest determined travel speed on a roadway and you should always obey them. This means no speeding and no driving super slow. Both are terribly dangerous, one can wind up getting you into an accident, while the other will surely make other drivers mad. 

Still need help breaking your bad driving habits? Toyota of Orlando is here to help! Chat with us online or visit the dealership at 3575 Vineland Road today.