5 Things That Can Affect Your Driving – With 1 You May Not Have Thought About

Image of woman driving in winter weather

1. Inexperience

Are you new to driving? This is especially prevalent for teens but is also a factor that any new driver – including adults – need to be wary of as well. While inexperience is nothing to feel ashamed about, it is something that should be taken seriously. When you get behind the wheel as a new driver, you lack the experience, confidence, and knowledge that vetted drivers acquire over time. This means you need to be acutely aware of yourself and others on the road while maintaining a safe speed. Limit distractions, including zero cell phone use, little to no music, and don’t drive passengers around who are detrimental to your concentration.

2. Impatience

A lack of patience is one of the most common driving errors you can make. Humans are an impatient species by nature, however, put them behind a wheel and this seems to quadruple in relevancy. If you find yourself getting easily frustrated on the road, take a deep breath, recenter yourself, and focus on getting to your destination safely.

If you’re operating a motor vehicle, this is no place to lose your patience. So, do what you can to set yourself up for success. Oftentimes, impatience stems from a lack of preparation. For example, leaving late, not planning your route, forgetting to check the local traffic forecast, etc.  Therefore, if you can minimize these factors, you’ll set yourself up for a smoother, more positive drive. Both mentally and physically.

3. Impairment

Driving under the influence is not only a bad idea, but it’s also highly illegal. It’s a sure-fire way to compromise your safety and the safety of those around you. From passengers and fellow drivers to pedestrians and bystanders, impaired driving is never an option.

Impairment comes in many forms and is not exclusive to drugs and alcohol consumption. Other forms of impaired driving include fatigue, stress, emotions, illness, injury, and physical distractions. All of these can affect your reaction time and level of attentiveness, which is a recipe for disaster when navigating busy streets.

4. Distraction

This generation is flooded with distractions. Whether you’re fussing with your cell phone or playing with the radio, concentrating on anything other than the road can lead to an accident. Even technology that is meant to help drivers on the road, like a GPS system, can be a source of distraction.

In some parts of Canada, fatalities caused by distracted driving have surpassed the numbers related to impaired driving. Many drivers believe they’re better at multi-tasking than they really are; this overconfident mindset can cost drivers their life, while also endangering the lives of those around them. Here are some tips for safe cell-phone use while operating a motor vehicle:

  • No call, text, or email is worth risking your life.
  • Keep your phone on silent and out of sight.
  • If you have passengers in the car, assign a designated texter.
  • Plan ahead, for example you can make a playlist before driving so you’re not fiddling with your phone or radio trying to find a song.
  • Pull the car over if you need to call or text someone.
  • Avoid looking at screens while driving, including navigation and stereo systems.

5. Daylight Savings

Here’s the one you may not have expected. While it ties in with impairment, many people don’t realize how much daylight savings can impact their level of alertness. If you’re in the majority, you may notice that your timeline feels out of sync the morning of a time change. It could be down to a few factors, from messing with your hours of sleep to affecting your body’s natural clock, you may need more adjustment time than you expected.

If you don’t feel equipped to drive, whether from fatigue, distraction, illness, drugs or alcohol, or perhaps you’re feeling more agitated than normal, pass the keys to someone who’s in the position to drive safely. With Safe Designated Drivers, you and your vehicle can get to your destination without compromising anyone’s safety. 7 days a week, 24 hours a day, your Vancouver designated driver service is here to help! Reserve your driver today.

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