The Most Common Driver Errors

1. Speeding

The only place speeding will get you faster is trouble.

Excessive speed causes problems for everyone. We have all been on the road when another driver is swerving in and out of traffic and exceeding the speed limit. Eventually something will happen. Another driver may pull out in front, someone may stop suddenly or, in the worst case, the speeder will kill or injure someone.

Speeding and carelessness can be fatal - and frequently are! The best way to determine the safest speed to drive is to …

• Know the speed limit
   
• Assess the driving conditions and adjust your speed to those conditions.

In adverse driving conditions even the posed speed limit may be too fast. Just because the speed limit is 65 miles per hour doesn't mean it is safe or wise to drive at 65!

2. Right-of-Way Violations

Using the right of way the wrong way can kill you

More than half of all urban collisions occur at intersections. In rural areas intersection collisions can be more serious because speeds are higher there. Intersection collisions are usually a result of right-of-way violations. Someone thought he or she had the right of way

Avoiding Collisions at Intersections

Many preventable collisions occur at intersections.

Delayed Acceleration

When you are stopped at a traffic light, you will be in or of two minds.

• Yours will be the first vehicle.
   
• There will be other vehicles ahead of you.

If you are in the first car, when the light turns green, scan the intersection before you accelerate. Look left, right, straight ahead and left again. This scanning technique will delay your acceleration by two seconds and will help ensure that the intersection is clear before you enter it. Never mind the honkers behind you, they are not the ones going through the intersection first!

If there are other vehicles ahead of you, stop where you can see the back tires of the vehicle ahead touching the pavement. When the traffic light turns green, look at the tires of the vehicle ahead. As soon as they begin to move, count, "one thousand and one, one thousand and two" before accelerating.

Sometimes drivers cut the “corner during a left turn.  You can defend yourself from getting hit by one of these drivers by staying back from the stop line, up to six feet, especially on two-lane roads.  This also leaves plenty of room for buses and other large vehicles that may need more room to turn left.

3. Rule of Third

When you are approaching any intersection, the "rule of thirds" technique can ensure your safety.

• In the first third of the block, accelerate to a safe and legal speed.
   
• In the second third of the block, maintain speed. Signal, if making a turn, and get into the proper lane.
   
• In the final third of the block, cover the brake with your right foot.
   
• When you see a traffic sign or signal, obey it.
   
• When approaching an intersection lacking a traffic sign or signal, remember to scan ahead and behind. Don't uncover the brake until you can see that the intersection is clear of traffic.

4. Driving Left of Center

Driving Left of center is not driving; it's more aiming!

There are many reasons drivers cross the center line. If we maintain a safe speed, scan the road ahead using the "what-if" strategy, use a safe like following distance, and drive slightly to the right in our lane, our chances of facing a hazardous situation are greatly reduced.

5. Passing or Overtaking Improperly.

Passing takes Equal parts Prudence and Patience!

When we are thinking about passing another vehicle, we should ask ourselves, "Is this pass necessary?" If we decide that the pass is necessary, we need to follow these three steps.

6. Following Too Closely

Tailgating is a fast gate to disaster!

We all have seen drivers who, either out of habit or ignorance of the hazard, perpetually ride the bumper of the vehicle ahead of them. For some drivers tailgating is a thoughtless habit! Clearly there are hazards involved in following another vehicle too closely. The biggest hazard is a rear-end collision.

Stopping distances for passenger vehicles depend on a variety of factors: the weight of the vehicle, the road, the driver, the weather. When we understand how long it actually take to stop our vehicle, we know enough to not tailgate.

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