The vast majority of people are well aware of the risks out there on the road – so they do their best to be conscientious drivers who prioritize safety.
But, there are always a few drivers who seem to think that they’re exceptions to the rules of the road. They either simply don’t see their behavior as dangerous – or they simply don’t care. Who are they? These are some of the biggest offenders.
The Multitasker
Whether they’re doing something clearly outrageous, like fixing their makeup or shaving while driving, or engaging in more common actions, like sipping coffee or adjusting the radio while they’re in motion, distracted drivers are a significant problem. The problem is that multitasking isn’t actually possible because the human brain simply isn’t wired to handle two different tasks at the same time. Instead of multitasking, drivers are actually just rapidly switching their attention between one task (driving) and another (whatever else they’re doing). That can cause them to overlook important information, slow their reaction times and easily lead to wrecks.
The Angry Driver
Believe it or not, a 2019 study indicated that a whopping 82% of U.S. drivers admitted to at least one aggressive driving incident or an act of road rage in the prior year – so the odds are very high that you’ve encountered one or two of these drivers on your travels. The angry, aggressive driver honks, yells, curses, gestures obscenely, tailgates and changes lanes without signaling, all of which can startle and intimidate other drivers. Because aggressive driving often involves speeding and ignoring the rules about safe following distances, their actions can lead to tragic consequences.
The Sleepyhead
There are a lot of sleep-deprived drivers out there, and a drowsy driver can be just as dangerous as a drunk driver. About 1 out of every 25 drivers will admit that they’ve actually fallen asleep behind the wheel – and fatigue-related wrecks are estimated to cost more than $100 billion in losses every year. This makes them one of the biggest dangers out there.
Knowing more about the hazards you face can help you be a more effective defensive driver, but nothing can totally protect you from a crash. If you’re injured because of another driver’s mistakes, find out more about what it takes to get fair compensation for your losses.