The reality is that with time, the double-handed grip that we acquired while in driving school slip. But our experience of driving becomes better as we drive daily. Many experienced drivers have acquired poor habits behind the wheels. You gradually learn these practices, but you must break. In America, most people spend roughly one or two hours behind the steering wheel driving an automobile. Moreover, car accidents are the leading cause of injuries in America. So then, have you ever asked yourself if you are an instigator of road rage?

If you have visited hospitals and seen the number of people affected by road accidents, you should break these habits. People are groaning in pain. Some people are on life support machines, others on wheelchairs just because they did not break their poor driving habits. Here are some poor driving habits we see on our roads that you SHOULD avoid.

Using your mobile phone while driving or on stationary traffic

Most states ban the use of mobile phone while driving. You should not receive or make phone calls while driving. Whenever you are obliged to do so, park the car and switch off the engine first. Moreover, some people develop a tendency of texting while driving. Such are attention grabbers that might make you finally bumping into someone’s car. According to National Safety Council of the US, 21% of traffic accidents are due to drivers using phones while driving.

Some people think you can use your phone when you are in stationary traffic. Try to avoid such habits. You might incur fines and penalties for using your phone even if the traffic signals you to stop for 5 minutes. Moreover, your safety will be jeopardized. Other electronic gadgets such as radio might also contribute to accidents.

Fixing Satnav while driving

We sometimes drive in areas that are new to us and require the help of satnav. You may need to adjust it, and as a driver, you might be tempted to take your eyes off the road to program the device. You might try to do this and try to control the car at the same time. However, this may risk your life and life of passengers. You need to break from such poor habits despite your driving experience. Replace this habit by developing a tendency of parking and stopping the car engine first then adjust the satnav.

Applying brake force when tire blows

When your tire blows, you will think of a way to slow down. Slamming the brakes is never the best option. However, in most cases, a driver will opt for the brakes. Furthermore, slamming the brakes when your car develops mechanical problems may make the situation worse. This is because slamming destabilizes the car hence increasing the risk of fishtail or spinning. Instead, you should accelerate the vehicle then ease off it slowly for a few seconds.

Moreover, you should continue driving in a straight line until you reach a speed of 30 mph or less. You can then opt to steer out of the lane. Take caution that if the rare tires blow and you maneuver out of the lane at high speed. You might spin out. Besides, the blown tires cause extra drag which usually decreases the speed of the car. Therefore, the vehicle stops without the application of brake force.

Loading the vehicle with unnecessary items

The luggage in the vehicle increases the fuel consumption. Moreover, this contributes to more air pollution as carbon dioxide is released. When your car has a spacious boot, you may develop the habit of leaving unnecessary items. Such items you may not need during your journey. Do not turn your boot into a temporary storage unit!

Some people also load the roof rack with luggage. Do you know that each additional weight dents your pocket? Your fuel consumption will increase by approximately 2% for an extra 50kg added. We recommend that you remove any item you may not need for the journey either in the boot or the roof rack.

Poor hand positioning on the wheels

We advise drivers to hold the wheels with the hands at nine and three o’clock positions. This may sound contrary to what many people know. Many drivers hold the wheel at ten and two o’clock positions. However, since many latest car models have power steering, you do not require extra lavage by placing your hands high up on the wheel. Moreover, in case of an accident, you the probability of being injured by an inflating airbag is minimized.

Besides, your hands should be placed on the opposite sides of a wheel for a better grasp. The grip that a driver uses depends on one’s choice, but you need to ensure you are safe all the time.

Before starting your journey, it is advisable you check your tires. The tire pressure should be adequate to avoid common mistakes especially. We recommend that you perform regular car checks for your safety.