Driving in the UK can be very confusing. On the one hand, many drivers use their turn signals and stay in lanes to avoid accidents. On the other hand, some drivers do not follow these road rules, which confuses other drivers.
We all have our driving habits; some of them turn out to be not-so-good for other drivers on the road. With the UK’s streets being notoriously busy and congested, it can be hard to avoid British people’s five crazy driving habits. But fear not! We’ve compiled a list for you to go over these bad habits and how you can avoid them to keep your fellow motorists happy. So buckle up and get ready because here comes the ultimate guide on avoiding UK drivers’ five bad driving habits.
1. Tailgating
If you have ever been a passenger in a car or driven on UK roads, the chances are that you’ve seen drivers who drive too close to your rear bumper. While other people might think of this as “racing,” tailgating is one of the worst forms of aggressive driving, and it can lead to road rage incidents and accidents.
Driving with enough space between yourself and other vehicles will ensure maximum safety. So remember, leave plenty of room when following behind another motorist.
2. Speeding
Speeding is one of the most common causes of accidents in the UK, and there’s a good reason for that! When you speed up while behind another vehicle or when approaching it from behind, this can cause traffic pile-ups because cars cannot stop fast enough to avoid collisions with others ahead who are going faster than they should be.
If you’re driving, remember that you MUST NOT go above the maximum speeds for the road and your car. There is usually a 30 mph (48 km/h) speed limit for street lights.
Suppose you don’t want to risk being given a penalty notice and the significant speeding fines and penalty points on your license, it’s essential to understand the consequences of getting caught speeding, how speed tickets are prosecuted, and how you may appeal them if you believe there has been an error.
3. Driving without headlights on at night
Driving without headlights on at night might seem like an easy no-brainer, but you’d be surprised how many drivers still do this and put themselves and other people in danger. That is deemed valid if you’re driving during times of low visibility, such as fog or rain.
Turn your lights on even when it’s not pitch black outside because that way, other cars can see where you are from a reasonable distance away! That way, when they see your lights, they’ll move out or stop, and there isn’t any risk of crashes occurring.
4. Using your phone while driving
Using your phone while driving is pretty much the worst thing you can do. This habit not only makes people completely forget about what’s happening around them but also puts everybody else on the street at risk.
Since using mobile phones when driving has become very common nowadays, many drivers tend to ignore other cars and pedestrians, which may cause harm.
5. Driving with an expired licence or no licence at all
Driving with an expired license or no driver’s licence at all in the UK is not worth it. If you get caught, you could end up paying a very expensive fine and having points on your record – which will make insurance more inaccessible for when we need to use our cars again later!
Plus, there’s another potential consequence; if you don’t have legal permission to drive (like, say you never passed your test), then sometimes the police can take away your vehicle because of this reason.
In fact, it’s actually been reported that around 20% of all car crashes in the UK are caused by people driving without proper licenses! And those who have had their license revoked for serious reasons (such as being caught with too many points) might not be able to get a new one until they pass both practical and written tests again.
4 Ways To Avoid Bad Driving Habits
1. Be responsible!
It is imperative to understand that it is up to individuals who drive on public roads to act responsibly. At the same time, behind the wheel – no one else can be held accountable for our actions except ourselves!
Therefore, taking responsibility for our own road behavior before anything will help tremendously when dealing with these situations later down the line and potentially saving other drivers from harm!
2. Be aware of your surroundings
One of the best things to do is be aware of our surroundings and make sure we are executing safe driving techniques at all times. That will reduce the chance of having an accident with other cars or pedestrians on the road.
3. Be patient
Being patient is another way to avoid accidents while driving. If we are not impatient and take our time, it will reduce the likelihood of getting into an accident. Driving slowly reduces the chances of getting into a crash, which is why it’s essential to always pay attention while on the road!
4. Be a defensive driver
That means that we need always to expect the unexpected and drive as if everyone else on the road is trying to cause us harm or prevent us from reaching our destination. That will help reduce accidents because it forces all drivers to be more careful while behind the wheel!
So, what does this all imply for a driver like you? To put it simply, the next time you’re out on the road, and someone has one of these bad habits, take a deep breath and remind yourself that it’s best to avoid accidents. If we can keep our cool while driving around people who do things like this, then we will be able to spare ourselves from an awful lot of stress and frustration over small bumps in the road (or off-road). By making just a small change to your behavior, you can cut down on accidents, keeping everyone safer.
