Sharing the road with drivers who show little or no regard for the safety of others is no fun.
You might find yourself shaking your head and wondering how some of them earned a license in the first place. Bad drivers make things difficult for everyone. That’s particularly true for good drivers who obey the rules of the road and treat other motorists with common courtesy.
Here are 16 things terrible drivers all have in common. Hopefully, you’re not one of them.
They Think Traffic and Road Signs Are a Suggestion
It’s common knowledge that drivers and pedestrians should observe the traffic and road signs. Doing otherwise will increase the risks of accidents and injuries that can be life-changing. But bad drivers prefer to do whatever’s convenient. The rules? What rules?
They Drive Too Fast
Terrible drivers ignore the memo requiring motorists to respect posted speed limits. They’re also allergic to driving according to the road and weather conditions. Whether it’s raining cats and dogs or the roads are covered with black ice, bad drivers will still speed.
They Tailgate
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that rear-end collisions account for around one in four vehicle accidents. It can be maddening if someone is so close to your rear bumper that it looks like you’re towing them. That’s way too close. Do yourself a favor and switch lanes or pull over on the shoulder of the highway to avoid such bad drivers.
They Don’t Use Turn Signals
Another thing terrible drivers do is ignore their turn signals. They have no use for turn signals. That’s one reason you need to give yourself enough space. Don’t drive too close to anyone. You’ll have room for evasive maneuvers if necessary.
They Ignore Their Blind Spots
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, blind spot collisions account for north of 800,000 accidents in the U.S. every year. But terrible drivers tend to think only about themselves. They’ll think nothing of pulling out into a lane of live traffic without checking their blind spots. It’ll be up to the other drivers to take appropriate measures to avoid an accident.
They Get Distracted
Good drivers focus on driving when operating a vehicle. It’s not rocket science…if you’re a good driver. But terrible drivers believe multi-tasking behind the steering wheel is okay. So, they might divert attention from the road to send or check text messages, reach into the back seat to play with their dog, tuck into a meal, or fix their hair.
They Leave Their High Beams On
Some drivers lack proper etiquette when using high beams. You need to know when to use them and when to shut them off. But a bad driver will turn them on and leave them on even when other drivers are virtually blinded by the high beams overwhelming their eyes.
They Brake Check When Not Getting Their Way
Brake checking is dangerous. It’s about suddenly slamming on the brakes to force the driver traveling behind to reciprocate., A brake-checker might do this as a retaliatory measure if the driver behind them upset them in some way.
They Make Right-of-Way Mistakes
Drivers need to know who gets the right of way in different situations. But whether they don’t know or don’t care, terrible drivers do whatever they wish. And if someone toots their horn to signify displeasure, terrible drivers might retaliate rather than take it on the chin and move on.
They Drive Too Slow
Terrible drivers have a Jekyll and Hyde personality. Sometimes they drive like they’re ripping around a NASCAR track. And sometimes they drive like slow-poke turtles. When bad drivers move in slow motion, there’s often a method to the madness. They do so to punish other drivers for perceived or real indiscretions.
They Use Unfriendly Hand Gestures
Another behavior that unites horrible drivers is acting like a spoiled brat. It doesn’t take much to provoke their wrath. And they might respond with unfriendly hand gestures.
They Hide in Other Drivers’ Blind Spots
Bad drivers live in a state of unawareness. They don’t only fail to exercise caution with their own blind spots. But they also enjoy driving in other drivers’ blind spots, which can cause problems. You must be extra vigilant and angle your side mirrors, rearview mirror, and neck. That’s the only way to see who might be in one of your car’s blind spots.
They Infringe on Other People’s Lanes
Some people don’t want to stay in their lane and will drift into lanes occupied by others. That can be terrifying if you see someone’s car creeping into your lane. How hard is it to stay between the white lines?
They Don’t Wear Seatbelts
According to one source, 25,420 passenger vehicle occupants were killed in 2022. Around half of those weren’t wearing seatbelts. It’s hard to imagine any responsible driver refusing to wear a seatbelt. Yet so many drivers do just that. The consequences can be tragic if there’s an accident.
They Cut Cars Off
Good drivers hate it when bad drivers cut them off. Even bad drivers hate it when on the receiving end of this naughty behavior. Some people believe that the end justifies the means. So, if they speed up and force their way into a lane, so be it. The problem is that such on-the-road behavior can lead to accidents. It’s better to be late than never.
They Drive When They’re in No Condition to Do So
Terrible drivers operate their vehicles when they’re in no condition to. If someone is angry, tired, or agitated, that’s no time to get behind the wheel. Someone who is not in the right head space might overreact or underreact. Neither is good. Don’t drive when you shouldn’t.
Don’t Be One of These Drivers
If you drive, you’ve probably seen motorists with these 16 bad behaviors. Perhaps you’ve made a mistake or two in your past. But a mistake doesn’t have to become a lingering bad habit. When you know better, you do better. No one, after all, wants to be dubbed a terrible driver.
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