Bad driving habits are, unfortunately, behaviors that many drivers acquire. These behaviors don’t make driving easier. They make it more dangerous, can damage your car, or can result in you receiving a ticket. For your safety, these are some bad habits that you should avoid when you’re driving in Frederick, MD.
Driving Without a Seat Belt
Seat belts have been installed on all vehicles in the US since the 1960s. It’s also been a legal requirement in Maryland to wear a seat belt since the 1980s. Your seat belt serves to protect you from being thrown around in your car. It also keeps you in the right spot when the airbag deploys. Statistics show that people who wear a seat belt are less likely to sustain injury than those who don’t.
Despite the known safety benefits of wearing a seat belt, you will often see drivers who abstain from wearing one. This is a dangerous practice, and it’s also illegal. If you don’t wear a seat belt, it’s a primary offense. A traffic officer can automatically stop and fine you. To keep yourself safe, it’s important to always wear your seat belt. Your passengers should also wear their belts.
Riding Your Brakes
This habit is very common with new or nervous drivers. When you ride the brakes, you keep your foot resting on the brake pedal. If you do this, you partially engage the brakes. The brake calipers are pushed by hydraulic pressure from the brake fluid against the wheel rotors. By keeping the brakes engaged, you’ll cause the brake pads to continually rub against the rotors.
It’s normal to ride the brakes if you’re driving on a winding road downhill, as it allows you to control your speed. If you usually ride the brakes when you drive, you can damage the braking system. The close contact between the brake pad and the rotor causes the brake pad to glaze. It also creates excess wear on the rotor. A glazed brake pad will make it more difficult to stop as quickly as you may need to.
Accelerating Through a Yellow Light
The yellow light is a sign that you need to slow down and prepare to stop before the light turns red. Some drivers, however, choose to speed up to get through the light before it turns red. This is dangerous, as your increased speed will make it more difficult to stop if you need to.
If you drive through a yellow light, you can cause a collision if other vehicles have already started to move. Not stopping at a yellow light could result in an insurance claim or a lawsuit from another driver or injured pedestrian. You could also face a ticket from a traffic officer for dangerous driving.
We hope these tips help keep you and your passengers safe here in Frederick, MD! For more helpful advice or fun things to do around town, be sure to visit our DARCARS Toyota of Frederick blog today!
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