3 Unsafe Driving Maneuvers That’ll Cost You

The perfect motorist does not exist. At one time or another, every driver, licensed or otherwise, has made a mistake behind the wheel. You might be thinking, Hey, I’ve never gotten a ticket and the only accident I’ve been in was the other driver’s fault. I’m pretty near being a perfect driver!

Hats off to you, never being cited for a traffic violation and only being involved in a single accident given the 10+ years you’ve been driving is admirable. However, it doesn’t mean that you’ve never made a risky decision in the driver’s seat. Ever slurp on the last bits of a Frappuccino on your way to work? Applied mascara to your eyelashes on the way to meeting your friends for dinner? Have you answered a phone call? If your answer is yes to any of these questions, then you are guilty of having made unsafe driving maneuvers.

As a responsible motorist, you’re going to want to make sure that you have a car insurance policy that will back you up should you back up into a pole while playing with the radio. For a great car insurance plan, look for car insurance quotes with CoverHound.

Munching on a Big Mac

You’ve been on the road for a couple of hours and you’re starving. You see a fast food stop, pull in and make your order. To-go bag in hand, you make your way back onto the interstate, French fries in hand, steering wheel controlled by the other.

According to USA Today College, 70 percent of motorists admit to eating while driving. As eating behind the wheel is not illegal, it’s not frowned on. The reason more motorists don’t see eating while driving as dangerous is because they don’t know the crash statistics associated with it. In a study published in the Traffic Injury Prevention Journal, it was learned that eating while driving impairs drivers almost as severely as texting and driving. In 2014 (most recent available data) distracted driving killed 3,719 people, injuring another half million. Eating behind the wheel is just as much a distraction as talking on the phone or texting. If your attention is anywhere else but the road, you’re distracted.

Quick Stop Manicure

You’re stuck in gridlock traffic and you have a formal work event to get to. You’re never going to be able to get home and ready on time, so you opt to get ready in the car. Because the traffic is barely moving, you think it’s safe to take a nail polish vial out of your bag and freshen up your manicure. Wrong! It doesn’t matter how slow traffic is moving, it doesn’t matter if traffic is at a complete dead stop. If you’re distracted, you could cause an accident. It only takes 3 seconds for a motorist’s attention to be off the road for a traffic accident to occur. How many seconds does it take to paint one nail?

Getting Rid of 5 O’ Clock Shadow

When you’re running late, you’ll do just about anything to get in the car and get going, even if that means finishing your grooming at the wheel. Shaving, brushing your hair or applying hair gel is just another form of distracted driving. Having a clean-shaven face is not worth getting in an accident that could hurt you or someone else. If you’re going to be late, contact whomever you’re meeting and let them know. They can wait.

Driving is a very big responsibility and something everyone needs to take seriously. To make sure your car insurance policy is up to snuff, compare car insurance quotes with CoverHound.