My Bad Driving Habits and Their Effects

In our fast-paced modern world, it’s all too easy to succumb to various bad habits that may seem insignificant at first, but the reality of it is that they can have far-reaching consequences. From indulging in unhealthy eating and smoking to wasting money on trinkets that do nothing but collect dust on a shelf, we all have bad habits that primarily affect only ourselves. However, there’s a realm of bad habits that extends beyond personal repercussions and into the dangerous territory of the road. A single moment of distraction while driving can cause a catastrophic collision, resulting in devastating injuries or, tragically, the loss of a precious life. Reflecting on this unfortunate truth, I’ve realized that I am not immune to having bad habits behind the wheel. Among them, the most dangerous are my tendencies to speed and look at my phone to change my music while driving, both of which I need to focus on to break so I can be safer on the road.

My tendency to speed is primarily rooted in the fact that, amidst the hustle and bustle of life, I often find myself neglecting to monitor my speedometer, especially when I’m short on the time needed to reach a destination. This frequently results in me exceeding the speed limit by a margin of 10 MPH or even more, a behavior that I am aware is neither safe nor responsible on the roads. According to the National Safety Council, “Speeding was a factor in 29% of all traffic fatalities in 2021, killing 12,330, or an average of over 33 people per day,” which is quite high in my mind and not a good number at all (1). The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration also states that “There were an estimated 328,946 people injured (13% of total people injured) in speeding-related traffic crashes in 2021,” and along with that they stated “Thirty-five percent of male drivers and 21 percent of female drivers in the 15- to 20-year-old age group involved in fatal traffic crashes in 2021 were speeding, the highest among the age groups,” I’m an 18-year-old female driver, so I don’t want to do something that causes me to become part of that statistic (2). Speeding reduces the ability to steer around unexpected curbs, other vehicles, or hazardous objects, and increases the time it takes for your vehicle to stop, making crashes harder to avoid. Not only could this potentially kill another person, but it could also kill you too.

In addition to my habit of speeding, I also struggle with the tendency to handle my phone while driving. My car, which is an old 2004 model, cannot connect to my phone, forcing me to rely on playing playlists directly from my phone. Consequently, I find myself frequently picking it up to skip songs, which I tend to do quite often based on my mood and current music preferences. This presents a significant issue, as the traffic conditions outside my car can change in the blink of an eye. Even a glance at my phone to tap the skip button can result in me missing sudden changes on the road, which can lead to dangerous situations where unexpected obstacles, cars, or pedestrians may emerge suddenly. This habit requires immediate attention and corrective action to ensure my safety and that of others on the road. According to the CDC, “In the United States, over 3,100 people were killed and about 424,000 were injured in crashes involving a distracted driver in 2019,” and “About 1 in 5 of the people who died in crashes involving a distracted driver in 2019 were not in vehicles―they were walking, riding their bikes, or otherwise outside a vehicle,” that’s about 20% of the total casualties from distracted driving (3). At only 30 mph, you will cover about 44 feet in a single second; therefore, in that single second of viewing your phone, you will have traveled a significant distance without fully paying attention to the road ahead. This increases the potential for accidents and shows the importance of staying focused while driving to ensure the safety of yourself and everyone else on the road.

To overcome these habits, I can adopt some practical strategies. Firstly, I’ll commit to being more mindful of my speedometer by making a conscious effort to check it more frequently, aiming for at least once every minute. Moreover, I can improve my driving safety by utilizing voice commands through Siri to manage my music, removing the need to pick up my phone and divert my attention away from the road. By using these simple yet effective approaches, I can work towards breaking these bad habits which will make me a much more responsible and attentive driver.

In conclusion, it’s crucial to recognize the impact of bad habits as they can have far-reaching consequences. While some habits may only affect us, there’s a dangerous realm of bad habits that extend to the roads and can affect other people besides ourselves, where even a short distraction can lead to devastating outcomes. I’ve come to realize that I need to address my bad habits behind the wheel. One of which is speeding, due to its potential to cause accidents and fatalities. The other is handling my phone while driving as it also poses those same serious risks. I need to focus on breaking these habits and becoming a safer driver. By being more mindful of my speedometer and using Siri’s voice commands to manage my music, I can take steps toward creating responsible and attentive driving habits. Through these efforts, I hope to contribute to safer roads for everyone and avoid becoming a part of the concerning statistics surrounding these risky behaviors.

1. Speeding – Injury Facts (nsc.org)

2. 2021 Data: Speeding (dot.gov)

3. Distracted Driving | Transportation Safety | Injury Center | CDC