The 20 Most Common Mistakes Made by Drivers

Overconfidence and routine cause changes in the way we drive and many of these changes become errors, which if not changed can distort the perception of risk that we have about certain actions behind the wheel, which are more dangerous than expected. what we actually believe.

20 most common mistakes made by drivers are brought together , which in the worst case can end up causing a serious accident.

Have we forgotten the rules or over the years are we unconsciously acquiring bad habits? Do we remember all the basic principles and rules that we learned in order to obtain a driver's license?

Would it be convenient to recycle our knowledge periodically? Next, we are going to analyze the most frequent vices among drivers, as well as the risk that each of them entails and the correct way to proceed in each case.

1.- Not keeping the safety distance

Respecting the safety distance is essential to reduce the risk of reaching, since otherwise the braking distance decreases.

The advice proposed by the DGT to know if we maintain an adequate safety distance is to look for a reference point and count "one thousand one hundred one, one thousand one hundred two", from the moment the car in front of us passes through that point. point. If we have finished counting and our vehicle has not yet reached that point, the distance is correct. Otherwise, we will have to increase the safety distance since it will not be enough.

2.- Not respecting the pedestrian crossings

If a driver is not careful when approaching a pedestrian crossing, an accident can occur due to the confidence that pedestrians feel when walking through a place where they have right of way.

As drivers, we must respect the priority of the pedestrian. However, as pedestrians we also need to make sure, before crossing, that the approaching driver has seen us and is slowing down to stop.

3.- Not signaling our maneuvers

Not using the indicators properly can pose a risk of collision with other drivers, who ignore our intentions behind the wheel.

Maneuvers must always be signaled well in advance. In addition, it is essential to remember and respect the following safety rule: observe, signal and then execute.

4.- Improper posture behind the wheel

Poor posture behind the wheel not only poses a risk to the driver since, in many cases, they also influence our reaction time.

To find out how to adopt a correct posture, we recommend you read our post and see the infographic that we published on this same blog some time ago.

5.- Get distracted looking at an accident

The distraction of drivers who stare at a road accident can cause delays and, therefore, new rear-end collisions. You must always keep your eyes in the direction of traffic and pay attention to the rear-view mirrors. If the authorities and health services are already doing their job, the worst thing we can do is hinder it.

6.- Drive in the central lane

Driving in the center lane is usually an act of unsafe drivers. In addition, it can lead other drivers to incorrect maneuvers such as overtaking on the right or double lane changes, with the risk of collision or range.

On roads with more than one lane, we must always drive on the right and use the following ones, only to carry out overtaking manoeuvres.

7.- Do not look in the rear-view mirrors

Forgetting to check your rearview mirrors or not doing so at the right time can lead to collisions when making turns or lane changes.

It is convenient, every time we get into a vehicle, to check and adjust the position of the mirrors. We must also look at them before carrying out any maneuver and control dead spots.

8.- Brake abruptly

Sudden braking is very dangerous as it can cause overshoots, wheel lock-up and even run off the road.

The DGT, in this sense, recommends driving while maintaining attention, keeping safety distances, anticipating any danger and warning the stop with the emergency lights of our vehicle.

If you want to know how to keep your vehicle's brake system in good condition, you can review these 5 useful tips that we have published on our blog

9.- Merge abruptly onto the road

Sudden additions pose a risk of collision for those vehicles already circulating on the main road.

To avoid this, we must evaluate the position, trajectory and speed of the vehicles that circulate on the preferential route, in order to accelerate and insert ourselves between them. In addition, when we circulate on the main road, as far as possible, we will have to facilitate the incorporation. It is also important to remember at this point that turning on the blinker does not give us any kind of preference when joining any road.

10.- Manipulate the mobile phone, the GPS, the on-board computer or the radio

It has already been talked about on numerous occasions how dangerous it is to manipulate any of these devices while driving, as there is a distraction that diverts our gaze from the road while we travel enough meters not to see a curve, a car braking ahead us, a traffic light turning red or a pedestrian crossing.

We must always maintain our own freedom of movement, the necessary field of vision, permanent attention to driving and a proper posture at the wheel.

11.- Sound the horn as a protest

Beeping the car or making bursts with the long-range lights as a protest against the acts of other drivers, can cause shocks, nerves or the blockage of the person who is not circulating as he should, making the situation worse due to a unexpected reaction.

As far as possible and for our own safety, it is preferable to facilitate the maneuvers of other drivers, be friendly and polite behind the wheel.

12.- Continuous lane changes

Continuous lane changes and aggressive driving cause heavy braking, overtaking and side collisions. When traffic is heavy, we must choose the lane based on our destination and stay in it.

13.- Do not increase the separation in the tunnels

Not increasing the gap with the vehicle in front of us while driving through a tunnel means that there is a greater risk of overshoot and greater severity in the event of an accident, due to the access difficulties that the emergency services will have.

The correct thing is to maintain a safety distance of at least 100 meters or an interval of 4 seconds. In the case of vehicles over 3,500 kg, increase to 150 meters or 6 seconds. In addition, it will always be necessary to circulate with the dipped lighting.

14.- Not knowing the maximum speed on each road or section

Driving above the speed limits, in addition to being fined, also increases the risk of an accident.

Generic speed limits depend on the type of road, but also on the type of vehicle.

Driving mistakes to avoid

15.- Get on the curbs

Air leaks can occur in the tires, the well-known "slap" or deformations in the wheel that dangerously alter the steering geometry. To avoid this, when parking, we will have to prevent the wheels from hitting the curb or from staying partially on it.

This fact is also part of the 12 driving vices that we published some time ago on our blog and where you can also see other bad habits of drivers that compromise the proper functioning of the vehicle.

16.- Not periodically checking the condition of the tires

If a vehicle circulates with worn tires, with inadequate pressure, or with deteriorated rubber, the braking distance increases. In addition, in case of rain there is more risk of aquaplaning and even a blowout could occur.

To avoid this, it is advisable to periodically check the condition and pressure of the tires. In this way, we will be able to detect in advance if there are malformations, the rubber is in poor condition or irregular wear has occurred.

17.- Advance in long gears

On roads with only one lane in each direction, there is a risk of collision if the maneuver is started at a low speed. In addition, on roads with more than one lane for each direction, the circulation of other drivers can be hindered, if overtaking is not carried out properly.

It is always advisable, when overtaking, to choose suitable places with good visibility. The march and speed must be in accordance with the slope and the layout of the road. Overtaking must always be done decisively and always using the turn signals to indicate the maneuver to other drivers.

18.- Hasten the reservation of the deposit

Rushing the fuel from the tank can produce a greater absorption of its impurities and as it passes through the injection system, it can cause breakdowns. In addition, circulating rushing the reserve can make us stay stranded in the least opportune place and time, assuming a risk and an obstacle to circulation.

To prevent this from happening, it is advisable to fill the tank before you arrive at the reserve and travel with a full tank on long trips.

19.- Not properly placing the triangles

Not placing the triangles correctly increases the risk of an accident, since other drivers will not be able to notice so easily the presence of a vehicle stopped on the side of the road.

On two-way roads, you must place a triangle 50 meters in front of the vehicle and another 50 meters behind. This makes it easier for us to be seen from a distance of at least 100 meters. On one-way roads, we will have to place a single triangle 50 meters behind our vehicle.

20.- Abusing the brake going down a slope

This action can cause an accident since, throwing the car downhill, forces hard braking in curves, causing the brakes to heat up and a loss of performance.

To avoid this, the DGT recommends applying the old rule of lowering a port in the same gear that you would raise it, without allowing the vehicle to launch. If we notice hardness in the brake pedal and less than optimal performance, we will have to use lower gears that help you hold the car and momentarily lift your foot off the brake pedal to cool discs and pads.