| y percent of automobile crashes happen because at | | | | to skyrocket. |
| least one of the parties involved was not paying | | | | * Being late to somewhere. The temptation to speed |
| attention. Below we look at five common mistakes | | | | when running late is powerful, but your desire to |
| made by drivers that lead to collisions, and therefore | | | | avoid an accident should be more powerful still. Don't |
| to expensive repairs, increased insurance costs, | | | | drive recklessly or speed past stop signs or red lights. |
| injury, and even death. As you will see, there are | | | | No appointment is worth risking your life and the lives |
| often simple, commonsense ways to correct such | | | | of other drivers. Next time, be sure to leave a little |
| behavior and avoid those consequences. | | | | earlier. |
| * Driving while on the phone. Everybody complains | | | | * Driving quickly in the wet or limited visibility |
| about people who talk on the phone while they drive, | | | | conditions. Unlike the previous items on this list, |
| until they themselves get a call. Then, suddenly, it | | | | weather is out of your control. The first piece of |
| doesn't seem so bad anymore. How dangerous is | | | | advice is to avoid driving such conditions if you can. |
| talking on a cell phone while driving? According to a | | | | Of course, often you have no choice. If Mother |
| study by the University of Utah, it's as bad as driving | | | | Nature has decided to make your drive a little more |
| drunk, if not slightly worse. Thousands die and | | | | perilous, all you can do is drive more carefully. Turn |
| hundreds of thousands are injured every year as a | | | | on your headlights and drive more slowly than you |
| result of phone-induced negligent driving. Hands-free | | | | would under ideal conditions. If it's wet, break a bit |
| sets are no safer than standard phones. The solution | | | | earlier than you otherwise would, and try to avoid |
| is simple: don't talk and drive. Turn the ringer off | | | | driving through puddles. Give other vehicles a little |
| while on the road to avoid temptation. Most calls can | | | | extra space. |
| wait until you've parked. If it's an important call, tell | | | | * Distractions. Many distractions threaten to draw our |
| the other person you'll call back in a second, and then | | | | attention away from where it should be, on the road. |
| pull off the road to continue the conversation. | | | | Perhaps you spot a flashy sign, or some other |
| * Eating and drinking. Eating and drinking during a drive | | | | strange sight. Or maybe there are distractions coming |
| are common activities, but they're also common | | | | from within the car itself, such as unruly children. |
| causes of accidents. If you're hungry, the smart thing | | | | Always remember the first rule of driving: keep your |
| to do is to stop and grab a bite to eat. At the very | | | | eyes on the road. While you're at it, keep your mind |
| least, steer clear of foods that are greasy, hot, or | | | | on it, too. Don't try to multitask while driving. |
| liable to drip or stick to your hands. If you must have | | | | In conclusion, remember that driving is a serious and |
| a beverage while you drive, make sure it is stored in | | | | potentially dangerous activity. All your attention |
| a secure container. Drivers who spill hot coffee or | | | | should be on the road. It's better to pull over for a |
| cold soda on themselves will surely lose their | | | | minute or two and be late than to wind up in one of |
| concentration, and possibly also their grip on the | | | | the hundreds of thousands of avoidable accidents |
| steering wheel, causing the likelihood of an accident | | | | that happens every year. |