Habits are unthinking and automatic behavior. They are extremely useful because they free up the mind when doing routine activities. They also make complex behavior possible. Our daily routines are highly complex affairs, and without consigning these routines to habit, getting through the day would be mentally taxing and perhaps impossible. However, bad habits associated with dangerous activities such as driving can be lethal to both the person with the habit and to other motorists on the road.
Here’s a question to consider. Which driver is most likely to cause an accident: the driver who aggressively tailgates, runs red lights, and weaves in and out of traffic lanes to get to a job interview on time, or the driver who calmly does the same things out of habit? The answer is the habitual driver. The reason is that he commits these traffic violations on an ongoing basis in an unthinking manner without weighing the risks. It’s the constant, ongoing exposure to risk as well as his careless and unthinking way of going about it that guarantees that a car accident is in his future.
In contrast, the driver going to the job interview is committing these traffic violations in a deliberate way. He does this for a specific reason that (hopefully) doesn’t come up very often. His exposure to risk is less and therefore his chances of getting into an accident are less. We are not condoning this person’s actions but are just doing a risk comparison.
The point of this is that whatever your bad driving habit happens to be, there’s a good chance it will get you involved in a car accident someday. If you never use your turn signal or check your blind spot before changing lanes, a high-speed accident on an interstate highway could very well be in your future. Some of the most dangerous driving habits include:
- Speeding
- Aggressive driving
- Tailgating
- Reckless driving
- Distracted driving
- Daydreaming
- Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
If you were involved in an accident because of another driver’s negligence or recklessness, you have a right to fair compensation for the damages and the injuries that you have suffered. Contact us today for a free consultation.