When you turn on your motor vehicle, and before even placing the car into gear, you should make a commitment to yourself and others that you will operate the vehicle safely and as best so of your ability. Many people assume that driving drunk or under the influence of other substances is the only dangerous actions you can take part of while behind the wheel: however, the fact is that there are multiple more actions that can severely hamper your ability to make rational, quick, and accurate decisions on the road. Listed below are some of the most problematic reasons for car accidents on the road. Keep in mind that all of these listed decisions are up to you and can keep stopped at any time. The first and most controversial reason for accidents on the road is the use of a cell phone. Some states have even gone so far to ban the use of cell phones, enforceable by a hefty fine and even possible points on your license. Another distraction on the road is eating or smoking. As tempting as the thousands of fast food chains are lining many of the major roadways, you should make use of the inside seating area. Smoking is a habit that a sizable portion of anyone over the legal driving age partakes in. When smoking is listed as a distraction, it is more reaching for and lighting of the cigarettes that present a problem. Slowing down and diverting your precious attention from the road to another accident is also not only an enormous annoyance, but also very dangerous. The fact is that many people do it, and when you have multiple cars looking at the same spot, usually to the left or the right, breaking and accelerating takes a back seat and fender benders become extremely common. Conversations with passengers within the vehicle can often present problems as well. Studies have shown that conversations with only one individual will often result in slower driving, while an engaging conversation with several passengers tends to result in accelerated driving. Even though your eyes may be on the road, your mind is elsewhere impacting reaction time, attention span, and common sense on the clogged roadways. All of these distractions do nothing but increase the chance of an accident. Even if you are a good driver with no past experience of being in an accident, there are always the other millions of individuals driving on the road that could become a problem with you nearby. All of these decisions also come into play when you are driving other passengers such as family, close friends, or even your children. Placing yourself in danger while driving is dumb, but placing others in danger by your actions is selfish. When it comes to driving on the road, make sure that you remember that you're not the only one of the road. There are women, children, and men of all ages, so just when you think it's you that rules the earth, you better think again and drive safe! About the author: Find gas cards and more of Charles' work at FINDgascards. See All articles From Author Tags:

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Word Count Appx. : 517 | Article Views 290 Published 15-03-2008