There can be several factors that are the cause of a driving accident. Being under the influence is one cause, however, in 2021, only 20% of vehicle accidents were related to alcohol. A big number of serious vehicle accidents, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation are related to driver error.
Getting in a hurry while driving is often the number one mistake drivers make. Ways to prevent or at least decrease our chance of a serious accident is to adhere to the cautions provided to us. Paying attention to the warning signs--stopping at red lights and stop signs, or pulling over to allow an emergency vehicle to pass are obvious ways to avoid driving errors.

Common Driver Mistakes

Here are some of the most common mistakes drivers make while driving:

• Driving too fast during inclement weather.
• Distracted driving. Avoid all distractions including cell phones, car radios, even passengers.
• Not driving in one lane at a time. Often, this happens when a driver is over tired or the sun is in their eyes. Distracted driving can also cause this to happen. One of the primary causes of an auto accident is when one car drifts in front of another unexpectedly.
• Changing lanes haphazardly. Before changing lanes ensure to check all mirrors and blindspots.
• Tailgating or following the vehicle in front of you too close. When driving, you should maintain a distance of one car length for every six miles per hour of speed. For example, there should be 5 car lengths between cars when traveling at 30 miles per hour.
• Impeding traffic by driving too slow. Although speeding is unsafe, driving too slow can be illegal and dangerous. You disrupt the traffic's flow when you are not driving at the appropriate speed.
• Not know how to drive defensively. The main reason to remain alert while driving is so you can react when something unexpected happens. What if a kid suddenly appears on their big wheel in front of your car? If you aren't driving defensively, the result could be a tragic one.

If you are the victim of a driver mistake or need vehicle service, call German Car Depot today!