When our bad habits are related to driving, they go from being innocent weaknesses to public safety hazards.

1. 7 BAD HABITS
OF DRIVERS
...and how they endanger
other motorists.

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BAD DRIVING HABITSARESERIOUS
BUSINESS
Most people have bad habits. Whether we have a
sweet tooth for chocolate or a tendency to skip
that scheduled ab workout, our personal
“shortcomings” typically have little impact on
those around us. However, when our bad habits
are related to driving, they go from being
innocent weaknesses to public safety hazards.

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THECONSEQUENCESOF BAD DRIVING
HABITS
 The National HighwayTraffic Safety Administration
estimates that 94% of crashes stem from human
error.This means that drivers’ mistakes lead to
thousands of deaths and many more serious injuries
every year in the United States.We make these
mistakes for several reasons, from distraction to
fatigue.
 Let’s look at seven of the worst habits drivers have
and how we might overcome them.

4. BAD HABIT #1 - DISTRACTED DRIVING
 Many drivers are constantly tempted to sneak a glance
at their mobile devices. But this common habit results
in 1,000 crashes every day in the United States.
Distracted driving can also occur while drivers eat,
drink, smoke, use the radio or look in the mirror.
 Breaking the habit: Put away your phone before you
put your car in drive. Build the habit of pulling over to
perform any activities that take your eyes and
attention off the road.
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BAD HABIT #2 -SPEEDING
 Whether drivers are late to a meeting or simply have a
heavy foot, speeding is one of the most common bad
habits. It’s also one of the most dangerous. Speeding
contributes to almost one-third of all traffic deaths in
the U.S.
 Breaking the habit: Purging speeding from your
driving routine takes a concerted effort, but it’s worth
the time. Pay close attention to your speedometer, use
cruise control when it’s safe to do so and remember to
slow down when weather is bad and traffic is heavy.
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BAD HABIT #3 - FOLLOWINGOTHER
VEHICLESTOOCLOSELY
 Drivers who follow other vehicles too closely leave a
small margin of error if sudden braking is required. A
study from the Federal Motor Carrier Administration
found that 5% of large truck crashes happened when
the truck driver was following another vehicle too
closely.
 Breaking the habit: Establish the habit of leaving a 3-
second following distance between your vehicle and
the one in front of you. In bad weather, double that
distance.
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BAD HABIT #4 - FAILINGTOUSETURN
SIGNALS
 When a driver needs to wedge their vehicle between two
other cars in an adjacent lane, they use their turn signal to
let the other drivers know their intentions. But drivers may
not be as likely to use their signals when they assume
vehicles aren’t nearby.This is a big mistake, one that the
Society of Automotive Engineers says causes nearly 2
million crashes every year in the U.S.
 Breaking the habit: Every time you turn, use your signal.
Even if you think there is no vehicle nearby, establish a habit
of always using your turn signal before turning your wheel.
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BAD HABIT #5 - DRIVINGWHILE
SLEEPY
 If you miss just one to two hours of sleep in a given
night, you are doubling your risk of being involved in a
crash.That risk increases exponentially with each hour
of sleep we miss. Drivers who travel long distances over
long periods also face a greater risk of fatigue, which is
a big reason fatigued driving is a concern among truck
drivers.
 Breaking the habit: Make sleep a priority, especially if
you know you’ll be driving the next day. If you’re on a
long trip and notice you’re losing focus, pull over and
take a nap.
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BAD HABIT #6 - FAILINGTOACCOUNT
FORWEATHERCONDITIONS
 Around 22% of all crashes are related to weather
conditions, and three-fourths of those crashes occur on
wet pavement. While weather is a contributing factor, a
driver’s failure to adjust their habits is often the
primary cause of these crashes.
 Breaking the habit: When it rains, remember that
you’ll need to brake sooner than you would otherwise.
Leave extra distance between your vehicle and the one
in front of you. If weather is particularly nasty, wait
until it has passed before getting back on the road.
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BAD HABIT #7 - IMPAIRED DRIVING
 Last - but certainly not least - on our list, drunk driving
kills 29 people every day in the United States. If you
believe that you can drive safely after a drink or two,
you should think again. One landmark study found that
just one beer can increase a driver’s chances of being
solely blamed for a crash by 46 percent.
 Breaking the habit: Never drive after drinking, even if
it was only one drink. Designate a driver before
attending a party or arrange other transportation
beforehand.
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WHENANOTHER DRIVERCAUSESUS
HARM
While we can all find ways to improve our own driving
performance, we can’t fix the bad habits of other
drivers. If a negligent driver causes you harm in a
vehicle accident, you deserve compensation for the
injuries you’ve suffered.A personal injury claim offers
injured people a chance to get payment that covers
all the costs associated with their injuries, including
medical bills, lost income, diminished quality of life
and pain and suffering.

12. WAPNER NEWMANCAN HELP
If you or a loved one has been injured in a crash
with a negligent driver, contact the Philadelphia
personal injury attorneys at Wapner Newman
Wigrizer Brecher & Miller to schedule a free
consultation with our legal team. We assist clients
throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey to
make sure they get the compensation they
deserve.
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