Defensive driving is a great way to help keep yourself and your passengers safe on the road. Obeying traffic laws, avoiding distractions, and focusing on the road can all help ensure that you get to your destination safely and securely. Unfortunately, not everyone practices these habits.
There are more than 30,000 fatal accidents each year in the United States. There is very little a safe driver can do to stop someone from driving recklessly, but there is another way to prevent car accidents with negligent drivers. By identifying these drivers before something happens, you can help keep the roads safer for everyone. Here are four telltale signs of a dangerous driver:
Not facing the road
If a driver is clearly looking down at their lap or away from the road, they cannot effectively survey what is around them. Someone looking downward is a common sign of someone using their phone while they are driving. When a driver is not looking at the road, they are not able to stay safe.
Drifting
When a driver chooses to focus their attention on something other than the task of driving, they may even become as reckless as to take one or both hands off the wheel of their vehicle. Without both hands on the wheel and their full attention on the road, this can result in a negligent driver drifting into another lane or off the road.
Swerving
If a driver is regularly swerving wholly or partially into other lanes, they may have difficulty driving in a straight line. Their swerving may result from them driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol and can be a signal for an impending accident.
Neglecting traffic laws
A driver who chooses to drive on the shoulder, in between lanes, or at excessive speeds makes it very difficult for others to know what to expect from them. An erratic driver is not something that other drivers often look out for, which is a classic recipe for catastrophic car accident injuries.
Do not ignore the signs
If you suspect someone driving near you is a reckless or negligent driver, do not take a chance with your safety. Allow the other driver to pull ahead of you to maintain a watchful eye on them so you can avoid any accident they may cause with their dangerous habits.
