Home - auto - 8 Common Driving Mistakes To Avoid At All Costs
8 common driving mistakes to avoid at all costs

8 common driving mistakes to avoid at all costs

Embarking on a journey behind the wheel is a liberating and empowering experience. The open road lets one explore new horizons, visit loved ones, or simply enjoy the pleasure of driving. However, with this freedom comes great responsibility—to oneself, the passengers, and fellow road users. To drive safely and responsibly, avoiding common mistakes that may lead to accidents, injuries, or worse is essential. Below are some common driving mistakes to avoid.

Distracted driving
Distracted driving is a norm that most drivers fall prey to. The need to check a text message, scroll through social media, or adjust the GPS might look more important. However, this should not be the case. Failing to pay road attention is increasingly dangerous and can claim the lives of numerous people. It is imperative always to pay attention on the road to avoid accidents and injuries.

Speeding
Speeding can be a problem despite being a thrilling experience. It is a great contributor to road mishaps. When drivers exceed the posted speed limits or drive too fast, not caring about the road and weather conditions drastically reduces the reaction time and increases the severity of collisions.

Tailgating
Tailgating, or following the vehicle in front too closely, is one of the most common driving mistakes. Not only does it escalate stress and anxiety for both drivers, but it also leaves minimal room for error. In the event of sudden braking or unexpected obstacles, a tailgating driver has very little time to react.

Ignoring traffic and stop signs
Disregarding traffic signals and stop signs is a dangerous violation that often leads to fatal outcomes. It’s important to obey these signals strictly, even when the road appears clear. Running a red light or failing to halt at a stop sign can result in T-bone collisions, side-impact crashes, or deadly pedestrian accidents.

Failing to signal
Proper communication on the road is essential to prevent misunderstandings and accidents. Neglecting turn signals or changing lanes without indicating can confuse other drivers and lead to sideswipes or rear-end collisions.

Overlooking blind spots
Every vehicle has blind spots—areas around the car that aren’t visible in mirrors. Failing to check blind spots before changing lanes or merging onto highways can result in dangerous accidents. Proper mirror adjustment and shoulder checks are essential.

Fatigue and drowsy driving
Fatigue can be impairing when it comes to driving. Drowsy drivers are more likely to make errors in judgment, have slower reaction times, and may even fall asleep at the wheel. Long road trips without regular breaks and inadequate sleep can contribute to drowsy driving.

Disregarding weather conditions
Driving in adverse weather conditions, such as heavy rain, snow, or fog, requires special attention and adjustments to the driving style. Failing to adapt to these conditions can lead to skidding, hydroplaning, or reduced visibility. It can also pose a considerable driving hazard for fellow drivers on the road.

Latest Articles

5 mistakes to avoid when investing in a high dividend ETF
finance

5 mistakes to avoid when investing in a high dividend ETF

Exchange-traded funds (ETF) have been gaining popularity in the investment sector for some time now. Along with mutual funds, they have been one of the most preferred investment options among investors. With investors having pumped in billions of dollars in ETFs by now, these funds sure seem like a lucrative investment avenue. However, financial experts suggest treading this path carefully so as to avoid unforeseeable losses. Here are a few mistakes that you can avoid while investing in high dividend ETFs: Overlooking long-term investment Looking at long-term goals is the golden rule when it comes to any type of investment. However, seasoned investors invest in ETFs on a short-term basis through a type of trading called intraday trade. This type of trading allows the investors to buy and sell stocks and other investments on the same day. However, if not thought out carefully, investing in high dividend ETFs through intraday trading can result in lower returns and higher trading costs. Buying an ETF simply based on its name This is one of the most common mistakes people make when investing in high dividend ETFs. Investors may think that an ETF’s name provides an insight into its investment reach, i.e., whether the ETF has local or/and global investors. However, this is a ploy that ETF issuers often use to lure investors. Investing in an ETF based solely on its name can lead to disastrous investments. So understand an ETF’s underlying holdings and market objectives before making an investment. Investing in the wrong ETF Like every investment, almost every ETF is vulnerable to market trends and economic slowdowns. However, this does not mean that the particular ETF has failed. When an ETF liquidates, you might still receive some money (termination and other fees might be levied). But this may take a while and you may lose out on the time that could have otherwise been utilized to make other investments.
How to qualify for a reverse mortgage
finance

How to qualify for a reverse mortgage

A reverse mortgage provides the elderly access to equity in their homes and supplements their income. With its flexible repayment option, it gives homeowners more control over their money. However, the government has laid out strict rules and guidelines concerning reverse mortgage eligibility criteria. So, if you’re considering a reverse mortgage, read on to know the reverse mortgage eligibility criteria and the types of reverse mortgages. Reverse mortgage eligibility criteria The first criterion for a reverse mortgage is that the primary homeowner must be at least 62 years of age. If your spouse is under the age of 62, you might still be eligible if you meet other reverse mortgage eligibility criteria. If you’re not 62 or older than 62, then you won’t qualify for a reverse mortgage even if you satisfy the criteria mentioned below. You must be the primary resident of the home you’re seeking a reverse mortgage for. Note that vacation homes or rental properties do not qualify. You must either entirely own the house or have at least 50% equity in it. If you have any mortgage balance remaining while applying for a reverse mortgage, you must be in a financial position to pay off that balance. You must not be late or overdue on any debt from the federal government. This includes income taxes and federal student loans. If you have to pay off such debts, you may very well use the money from the reverse mortgage loan to settle these debts. You must already have enough money, or be willing to use the money from the reverse mortgage loan to pay property taxes, insurance, and home maintenance and repair costs. You must meet a Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)-approved reverse mortgage counselor to understand how a reverse mortgage works. During the counseling, the counselor will review your eligibility for a reverse mortgage loan and inform you of the financial ramifications associated with a reverse mortgage.
5 benefits of opting for debt settlement
finance

5 benefits of opting for debt settlement

Debt settlement can be a financial lifesaver for many. Managing debt is quite a difficult task. With every advancing payment due date, one may feel their finances getting tighter and tighter. Between paying for a house mortgage, student loans, credit card debt, personal loans, and many other debts, it is quite common to miss out on paying one payment. Although it may not seem like a big problem initially, this is not good for financial health in the long term. This is where debt settlement comes in. There are multiple benefits to availing debt settlement offered by some of the top 10 debt settlement companies. No more bills With debt settlement, no more bills will be incoming in the mailbox. Debt settlement results in the closure of a debt account by the creditor. In such cases, one will not be able to use their credit cards again. However, this can be beneficial since it will prevent further debt in the future. With debt settlement, there is a permanent erasure of debt. No more collection calls With mounting debt, the calls of creditors are always incessant. If one if falling behind on too many bills, they are bound to be subjected to creditor calls throughout the day. This can add to the stress of not being able to clear away all the dues. Plus, many collection departments are not known to be kind on calls. When a debt settlement is opted for, it will stop the incessant calls from the various collection departments. No bankruptcy risk Rather than filing for bankruptcy, debt settlement is a better option. With the bankruptcy filing, credit score can deteriorate quite significantly. In some cases, the credit score has slid down by nearly 200 points, taking a good credit score to bad credit score. The credit score lowers with debt settlement too.