Earning a driver’s license doesn’t necessarily mean someone can drive well. While many will pass their road tests with flying colors, their on-the-road driving behavior suggests they need more seasoning.
Passengers know this all too well. After getting into cars, buckling in, and preparing for the ride, they feel like life and limb are in jeopardy because some drivers are too cavalier.
Are you that kind of driver? If you are, perhaps your passengers wish you would take a refresher course to eliminate these 17 driver behaviors.
Sudden Braking
Screeching to a halt will ensure you have the attention of your passengers. Doing so will also have them questioning your ability to operate a motor vehicle safely. If you pay attention while driving, you won’t have to slam on the brakes.
Tailgating
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says rear-end accidents account for around 23% of all motor vehicle collisions. If you’re so close to the rear bumper of another car that it appears you’re being towed, you’re too close. That’ll frighten your passengers and upset the occupants in the vehicle you’re tailgating.
Excessive Speeding
If you’re taking family or colleagues to work, doctor appointments, or school, you can bet they don’t want to feel like they’re roaring down a race track.
The National Safety Council reports that speeding contributed to around three in 10 traffic fatalities in 2022, resulting in 12,151 deaths. That works out to over 33 individuals on a typical day. Speeding increases the risk for everyone on the road, so stop it.
Do you always find yourself running late? If so, the answer is to leave earlier so you don’t treat roads and highways like race tracks.
Distracted Driving
Distracted driving is another driver behavior that instills fear in passengers’ hearts. Leave texting, phone calls, and messaging to your passengers. As a driver, your sole focus should be the road.
In 2022, distracted driving caused the deaths of 3,308 people, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration adds that motorists are distracted by their smartphones at least 10% of the time on the road.
It takes about 4.6 seconds to read the average text message. When driving 55 miles per hour, you can clear the length of a football field in 4.6 seconds. Imagine covering that distance without paying attention to the road—it’s a recipe for disaster.
Unnecessary Lane Changes
Another driver behavior that passengers don’t appreciate is frequent, and often unnecessary, lane changes. If you weave in and out of traffic, you’ll frustrate your passengers and other drivers. You won’t get where you’re going faster by driving irresponsibly.
Aggressive Driving
Aggressive driving is an on-the-road behavior plaguing roads across the country. One source notes that around 92% of Americans—nine in 10—saw a road rage incident at least once in the past year. Passengers hate road rage since they typically have no control over the situation. So, if you easily get hot under the collar when driving, calm down and think before you act.
Talking on the Phone
Far too many people overestimate their multi-tasking skills. Most people can’t focus on more than one thing at a time. If you’re behind the wheel, wait until you pull over to get on the phone. Your response time may decline if you’re jibber-jabbering, which can get you into trouble.
Ignoring Passenger Comfort
Passengers don’t take kindly to drivers who pay little or no attention to passenger comfort. While some drivers might use the heater sparingly to improve fuel efficiency, passengers might freeze their buns off because of the chilly interior temperature. It doesn’t hurt to ensure your vehicle’s interior is comfortable for yourself and your passengers.
Driving in Unsafe Conditions
While some drivers are gung-ho and drive through just about anything to get where they’re going, their passengers sometimes wish they’d pull over and wait a while. Instead of slipping through the snow before the plow clears the road or driving through heavy rain before things lighten up, passengers wish drivers would pull over and wait it out.
Messy Cars
It’s understood that some drivers are more tidy than others. But some motorists exert no effort to clean their cars. Passengers, while grateful for the ride, wish they didn’t feel like they were in a mobile dumpster bin.
Ignoring Rules of the Road
Another driver behavior that upsets passengers is willfully ignoring the rules of the road. This can take the form of driving the wrong way on a one-way street for convenience, making left turns when signs prohibit doing so, and committing other infractions.
Playing Overly Loud Music
Blaring music can be annoying, especially for passengers along for the ride. If you like your music loud, that’s fine. But keeping the volume to a respectable level doesn’t take much.
Refusing to Allow Passengers to Control Windows or Vents
While some passengers will take a yard if you give them an inch, giving them some control over their windows or vents is fine. Unless you have a good reason to control the windows and vents, give passengers some autonomy.
Accelerating and Decelerating Without Rhyme or Reason
Another thing that concerns passengers is accelerating and decelerating unexpectedly. It’s best to pay attention to road conditions to avoid excessive actions that frighten passengers. No one wants to feel like they’re on a roller coaster from hell.
Ignoring Seatbelt Reminders
Everyone knows the importance of using seatbelts—even small children. If you ignore seatbelt reminders, passengers may question your commitment to safety, including your ability to get them where they’re headed. Everyone should buckle up.
Skipping Gas Stations
If you’re going on a long trip with passengers, they may get nervous if you let the fuel tank get too low. No one wants to get stuck on the side of the road or, even worse, in a live lane. Just because you like to throw caution to the wind and fill up at the last second doesn’t mean your passengers do.
Avoid These 16 Driver Behaviors That Frustrate Passengers
While you have the right to set the rules for anyone traveling in your car, it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t consider how passengers feel. The driver behaviors mentioned above are things you should avoid, even if you technically have the right to do them. Your passengers will thank you.
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