Breaking the Top 5 Bad Driving Habits

Florida sees a lot of car accidents- there are almost 500,000 crashes per year. (Even scarier when you factor in that 20% of Florida drivers don’t have car insurance!)

Did you know about 90% of car crashes are caused by human error? In fact, there are a few bad habits people have on the road that if broken, could prevent many accidents. The attorneys at Mickey Keenan, P.A. want to help keep you safe, so we have put together a list of five bad driving habits you should always avoid doing.

While most of these will seem obvious, it’s easy to get complacent & comfortable when driving. If you are involved in an accident, call our team here at Mickey Keenan, P.A. for a consultation. Our attorneys will help get you the settlement needed to make you whole again.

Speeding

Florida drivers— both residents and tourists —are notorious for ignoring the posted speed limits and driving too quickly on busy roads. When you speed, it makes the road dangerous for everyone. It has been found that 22% of all fatal accidents occur because of driving more than the posted speed limit.

Driving too fast is the number one cause of traffic fatalities in the United States according to the National Highway and Traffic Administration.

Next time you leave home or the office, make sure you give yourself in enough time to account for traffic, poor weather, and construction; all these things can slow down your route and make you want to speed when you have the opportunity. It’s important to remember that the way you drive affects not only you but other drivers as well.

Driving Under the Influence

You should never drink and drive—it is never a good idea.

Driving under the influence ranks just below speeding as the second most common cause of fatal accidents. Every driver knows not to drink and drive, but it still happens.

Next time you go out and you know you will have a drink make sure to have a plan in place. Though car crashes can still happen, having a designated driver or plan to take a rideshare home, such as Lyft or Uber, is a good plan.

Tailgating

Florida is home to a lot of “snowbirds” who may be inclined to drive slower. Anxious drivers may tailgate the car in front of them, but in reality, tailgating will not make the car move any faster.

Tailgating is an extremely common way to cause a fender bender. Make sure you are always being a defensive driver and maintaining enough distance between you and the car in front of you. It will be your fault if they stop too suddenly, and you hit them from behind.

If a car is tailgating you, play it safe and move out of the way and let them pass. There is no need to play games and aggravate the tailgating car and potentially cause road rage and an accident.

Road Raging

Between traffic, construction, and other annoying drivers, driving can be frustrating. It is easy to lose your temper and develop road rage. Road rage prompts you to engage in unsafe driving behaviors that you otherwise may not do if you were calm.

The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety has found that aggressive driving, such as road rage, contributes to up to 56% of all fatal car accidents in the United States. The next time you become frustrated with another driver or the traffic conditions, take a deep breath and compose yourself, and remind yourself that it is not worth getting in an accident over.

Distracted Driving

Being a distracted driver, or even a careless driver, is something you should never do while driving. There are many ways to be distracted, but our attorneys at Mickey Keenan, P.A. wanted to remind drivers of a few things they can stop doing while driving, so they can pay attention to the road better.

Drivers should never be:

• Texting and driving
• Putting on makeup
• Scrolling through your phone or looking at social media
• Eating and drinking
• Changing clothes

Some of these may seem obvious, but they are still done by drivers every day. The smallest action can cause the driver to take their eyes off the road for more than a second, which can be all that is needed to quickly press on the break to avoid an accident.

Involved in a Car Accident?

Have you been hit by a negligent driver that has engaged in any of these above activities? If so, you may be eligible for damages and compensation.

The car accident and personal injury attorneys at Mickey Keenan, P.A. are ready to work with you. It’s our goal to make you whole again. Call us today at 813-871-1300 for a free consultation.