When it comes to Common driving errors, most of us believe someone else is always to blame.
The truth, however, is that we’re all guilty of driving misdemeanours.
From sloppy road craft to scraping alloys on the kerbside and more serious problems such as driving while tired or misfuelling, we all see them or do them every day
Specialist broker Adrian Flux presents its 10 most infuriating Common driving errors.
Common driving errors 1
Leaving headlamps on full beam: We’ve all had that moment where we’ve been blinded by an oncoming vehicle driven by someone who has forgotten to dip their headlights. Equally, we’ve all done it ourselves. Remember that in fog, rain and snow, high beams can actually decrease your visible reach. Also remember that the big bright blue warning light that illuminates when you flick your lights to high beam is there to remind you that you’re potentially about to dazzle another driver.
Common driving errors 2
Inattentive driving: The use of mobile phones are now banned so that is a distraction you should no longer have to worry about. But what about retuning the radio, touching up your make-up, or checking out the view as you drive… Never underestimate how much such distractions can add to your overall risk on the road.
Common driving errors 3
Forgetting which side the petrol cap is on: Petrol Cap Blindness can attack at any time, particularly if you regularly drive more than one car. If you’re lucky, you’ll have a passenger who can check the wing mirror for the petrol cap, if you’re unlucky you’ll have to wrestle the pump hose across the rear of the car and into position.
Common driving errors 4
Misfuelling: More than 400 people in the UK misfuel every day with the cost to drain petrol, repair parts and replace diesel fuel costing up to an eye-watering £3,000. As unleaded petrol pump nozzles are smaller than diesel nozzles, they fit into fuel tanks without resistance, meaning that a moment’s inattention can lead to a very costly mistake. You can protect against this by taking out Misfuelling Insurance cover with Adrian Flux.
Common driving errors 5
Tail-gating: If someone tail-gates us, we feel affronted, angry and aggrieved. How many times, however, have you found yourself practically bumper-to-bumper with the car in front of you after deeming that the owner is driving “too slowly”? This is one of the biggest causes of traffic accidents and one of the most easily preventable: remember the two second rule and then add a little bit of extra space between you and the car in front.
Common driving errors 6
Forgetting to use the handbrake: The majority of seasoned drivers sit at traffic lights and junctions without their handbrake on because they know they’re safe drivers that don’t need to take extra precautions. What they don’t know is how good the driver behind them is – for the want of a matter of seconds to apply and release a handbrake is it worth risking a nudge that jolts you forward into the car in front of you?
The common driving errors 7
Forgetting you’re still in gear when parking: This is either (a) very embarrassing if someone is watching you start up your car or (b) very expensive when you smack into the car in front of you because you parked too close in the first place.
Common driving errors 8
Driving while tired: Driving to work while still half asleep is something a lot of us do without a second thought – but driving while tired results in thousands of motoring accidents every year. If you’re too tired to drive, no amount of coffee, cold air or loud music will help. Put off your journey, take alternative transport of, if you are already on the road, pull over and take a nap.
Common driving errors 9
Damaging your alloy wheels by scraping them into kerbs: There are few noises more painful than the sound of your beautiful new alloy wheels scraping against a kerb. Lots of today’s alloy wheels protrude beyond the edge of the tyre which makes “kerb rash” difficult to avoid. Don’t forget to read our article, top 10 car modifications to personalise your wheels.
Common driving errors 10
Spending too much time obsessing about other people’s bad driving: Most of us would have to admit that our response to other people’s bad driving is disproportionate to the “crime” that person has committed. With aggressive driving accounting for a huge proportion of traffic accidents, this is the time to turn the other cheek and show good humour. Remember, to err is human; to forgive, divine.
What is your pet hate when it comes to other motorists’ Common driving errors? Let us know below.
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