Have you let these lazy driving habits sneak up on you? | PEMCO

​Remember those first months of driving when you thought about Every Little Thing, like how soon to turn on your blinker? But, with time, driving became more and more like second nature. Before you knew it, you found yourself jamming the car into reverse, tossing a toaster waffle over the seat for the child seated behind you, mentally rehearsing a conversation you needed to have with your boss . . . the list goes on. Sometimes, it might even feel like you think about everything else, *except* driving!

Yeah, you've slipped when it comes to driving best practices (and safety considerations). And you're not alone.

Experienced drivers often rely on muscle memory while their minds are occupied with other things. And although more years behind the wheel correlate with safety, inattentive or sloppy driving remains a top cause of accidents. Test yourself – how many of these lazy driving habits  do you commit somewhere between Drive and Park?

1. Distracted driving

According to the NHTSA, over 3,300 people were involved in fatal crashes caused by distracted driving in 2022 alone. Whether it was a cell phone, reaching for something, or just looking away for too long, distraction factored prominently into the accident circumstances i nsome way.

The fix: Set up entertainment (including the radio station, your audiobook, or the kids' backseat movie) and navigation aids before leaving the driveway. Put your phone on silent and tuck it into a bag or your glovebox.

2. Speeding

Going too fast for conditions or traveling well above the posted limit increases accident rates. According to the NHTSA, speeding was a factor in nearly a third of traffic fatalities in 2022. It's enough to make you think twice before pushing down that gas pedal a little too hard.

The fix: Consider using cruise control more often in dry, low- to moderate- traffic density conditions. Also, remind yourself that getting somewhere a few moments (or a few seconds) sooner is not worth risking anyone's safety.

3. Rolling stops

Whether at a stop sign or turning right at a red light, you must come to a full stop before continuing. Adhere to this, even when you don't think anyone's around. That second or two delay allows you to react to pedestrians and other drivers who may be entering the intersection.

The fix: Keep your foot on the brake until you feel yourself sit back slightly in your seat, showing you've lost all forward momentum.

4. One-handed driving

Automatic transmission cars make it possible to drive while resting your hand in your lap and gripping the steering wheel at the bottom. However, that comfy position compromises your ability to react in an accident. The safest position is both hands on the wheel at 9 and 3 o'clock. (That's a change from the old 10 and 2 o'clock advice, putting your hands in a safer position if the airbags deploy in an accident.)

The fix: If it's possible in your car, adjust arm rests and seat heights to make it more natural and comfortable to keep both hands on the wheel.

5. Tailgating

It's easy to get lulled into following the car in front of you too closely. The old three-second following-distance rule still holds true. But in dark, rainy or icy conditions, you'll want to leave even more space.

The fix: Revisit the "one thousand one, one thousand two, one thousand three" counting habit you learned in driver's ed to pace your following distance against a stationary landmark.

6. Failing to use high beams 

High beams double the distance a driver can see ahead of them, yet most drivers use them much less often than they should, according to an Insurance Institute for Highway Safety study.

The fix: Use high beams unless you're within 300 feet of a driver in front of you, 500 feet (about a block) of an oncoming driver, going around a curve, or driving in fog, heavy rain, or snow (too much light reflects off the moisture, reducing visibility). When car shopping, choose a model with high-beam assist, which automatically switches them on and off for you.

7. Relying too much on driver-assist features

 Over time, they tend to make drivers less attentive, according to a study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. The IIHS states that crash records and insurance date offer little evidence that partial automation systems are preventing collisions. In fact, IIHS President David Harkey believes that "Partial automation is a convenience factor like power windows . . . rather than a safety technology."

The fix: While it's important to prioritize crash-avoidance features when car shopping, know that autonomous features have not developed to the point where they're anything more than an assist.

8. Driving too slowly in the left lane

Not only do slower drivers hanging out in the left lane clog traffic, but "left lane campers" are a leading trigger for road rage.

The fix: Use the left lane only to pass or exit from a (rare) left-lane off-ramp.

9. Blocking the intersection when the light changes

In jammed downtown streets, it's tempting to bend the rules a bit and creep into the intersection in hopes the traffic will clear and let you pass before the light changes. But all too often, these drivers just end up blocking the intersection.

The fix: Consider altering your route or timing to avoid peak traffic hours if you find yourself blocking or being frustrated by those who do.

10. Meek merging

Like driving too slowly in the left lane, merging errors tie up traffic and are high on the road-rage scale.

The fix: Learn to zipper merge and always abide by it. It's common in other parts of the United States, but many oh-so-polite Northwesterners seem reluctant to try it.

Have a lazy driving habit you'd like to break (or see your fellow drivers improve)? Let us know in the comments!