THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BAD DRIVING AND CAR OWNER HABITS: The Everyday Behaviors That Make Our Roads Worse

If you've never been involved in an accident or seen flashing lights behind the wheel, you might feel like you have perfected driving. Perhaps even you judge others when they make mistakes behind the wheel, but with every privilege comes specific responsibilities.

Sure, you've perfected sipping your latte, jamming to your favorite '80s hits, texting your mom, and negotiating a work deal—all at once—but odds are, your bad habits are piling up like your car's overdue oil changes.

Let's face it, most of us have driving habits we're blissfully unaware of. And those habits aren't just bad for your car—they're potentially fatal. Driving might feel like freedom, but it comes with risks we conveniently ignore. Over time, we all get a little too comfortable behind the wheel.

It's our car, our space, and who will call us out? Well, reality might, and it's not subtle. The Federal Highway Administration reports 42,000 deaths from car crashes every year. That's 42,000 lives gone—not because of bad luck, but because of bad decisions.

Bad habits thrive on autopilot. Driving emotionally? That's a national pastime. Someone cuts you off, and suddenly it's personal. You're gripping the wheel like it's their throat, plotting revenge via tailgating or an angry honk symphony. But here's a thought: you know nothing about them. That "idiot" might be a surgeon rushing to save a life or a parent distracted by a sick child. Not everyone is out to ruin your day—sometimes, people are just human.

Emotions and driving don't mix. Your feelings, whether frustration, stress, or bad news, can hit the gas harder than your foot. When you're upset, your focus narrows, your foot gets heavy, and your compassion vanishes like your patience in traffic. The faster you drive, the more fear kicks in. And fear? It's selfish. It makes you think only about yourself, turning everyone else into obstacles rather than people.

Here's the cold truth: the more stressed or rushed you are, the less you notice the simple magic of life—like a sunset, a good song, or, I don't know, staying alive. You miss out not just on what's around you but on driving responsibly.

If you need more convincing, let's take a spin through the types of drives and their driving habits and what makes them so dangerous:

The 6 Types of Drivers on the Road: Let's Dissect The Road Zoo, Shall We?

Safe Drivers (41.2%) These are the unicorns of the asphalt jungle. They follow the rules, rarely take risks, and, surprise, most are women! Kudos, ladies—saving lives while multitasking since forever.

Speeding Drivers (22.7%) treat speed limits like polite suggestions. Flying 15 mph over the limit on highways or 10 mph faster in your neighborhood, they believe they're auditioning for Fast & Furious: Suburban Drift. At least they keep the recklessness primarily to the speedometer.

Distracted and Aggressive Drivers (17.3%) A special breed, these drivers juggle texting, tailgating, and treating every red light like an optional challenge. Add rapid lane-switching, and voilà—you've got the highway's version of a caffeinated toddler.

Distracted Drivers (15.0%) If their eyes are on the road, it's an accident. Reading texts, replying, and probably drafting their memoirs while behind the wheel, these drivers make you wonder if they got their license or a library card.

Most Dangerous Drivers (10.4%) This elite squad hits the trifecta: speeding, texting, running red lights, and maybe even performing circus tricks. If danger were an Olympic sport, they'd take the gold, the silver, and the crash statistics. Avoid these adrenaline junkies like the last slice of pizza at a family dinner.

Impaired Drivers (1.3%) The smallest group but perhaps the loudest impact. Mostly from rural areas, they are often over-represented without still needing a bachelor's degree. Their driving is like their college career: they started off okay but quickly veered off-course.

The 7 Deadly Driving Sins: Let's Buckle up and take a crash course through the worse driving habits

Driving Under the Influence: Every day, 30 people in the U.S. lose their lives to alcohol-related crashes. That's one tragic outcome every 48 minutes, thanks to drivers who think "buzzed" means "totally fine to drive." Newsflash: your reflexes don't improve after three margaritas. Pro tip: plan ahead. Designate a sober driver, call a cab, or embrace the modern miracle of rideshare apps. Save lives—and your dignity.

Distracted Driving: Distracted driving has evolved from changing the radio station to full-blown Netflix marathons behind the wheel. Smartphones are the reigning champions of distraction, causing 3,142 deaths in 2019 alone. Texting, scrolling Instagram, or snapping a selfie while driving might land you in a viral video—but probably not the kind you want. Seriously, your TikTok can wait. Eyes on the road, thumbs off the screen.

Speeding: Speed limits? Suggestions for some. Speeding causes 26% of traffic fatalities because people believe the faster you drive, the sooner you win at life. Spoiler alert: you don't. Combine speeding with other bad habits like texting or tailgating, and you've unlocked a real-life game of Crash Bandicoot. Slow down—you'll get there when you get there.

Driving Without a Seatbelt: Seatbelts: the unsung heroes of crash survival. Yet, some people still refuse to buckle up. Why? Do they think airbags are magic pillows? Young adults (ages 18–34) and men are the biggest offenders. FYI, your seatbelt cuts crash injuries in half, so buckle up whether you're driving across town or just to the next driveway. It's not rocket science—it's common sense.

Driving While Tired: Drowsy driving: like drunk driving, but with yawns instead of slurred words. Nearly 700 deaths in 2019 came from drivers who thought a quick nap behind the wheel was a genius move. Pro tip: coffee is cheaper than a hospital bill. Pull over, rest, and keep your eyes and eyelids open if you're tired.

Driving in Bad Weather: Mother Nature doesn't care about your plans. Rain, snow, sleet—lousy weather makes good drivers bad and bad drivers unbearable. Wet pavement causes most weather-related crashes, and snow isn't far behind. Solution? Slow down, check your tires, and don't treat your car like a sled. Winter is for hot chocolate, not spinouts.

Road Rage: Road rage may swiftly turn tiny annoyances into large-scale disasters. While tailgating, honking, or cutting someone off may appear to be the ideal form of vengeance, do yourself a favor and avoid it: it simply invites additional traffic accidents (and possibly jail time!). Instead, be calm: chances are, the individual who cut you off has no idea who you are; don't take this personally.

Frustrating Driving Habits: Demonstrating That Common Sense is Rare

No matter where they drive—whether in parking lots or on highways—drivers have an uncanny ability to engage in irresponsible, harmful, and downright bizarre behaviors that make us question humanity. From blocking walkways as if they were building personal fortifications to double parking as though their car deserved VIP treatment, these actions create chaos. It's as if the written rules no longer apply, and common courtesy has become extinct! Allow me to share a database of common offenses that we can all relate to.

The Sidewalk-Creeper Pullout: We've all seen someone pulling out of a parking lot who thinks they're at the Indy 500. Instead of stopping where they're supposed to, they roll right onto the sidewalk, blocking pedestrians and cyclists as their convenience matters more than someone's safety. Newsflash: sidewalks aren't staging areas for your car—they're for people not looking to get run over.

The Parking Lot Hog: Ah, the masterpiece of inconsideration: drivers who park over two spots like they're protecting a priceless artifact. Spoiler: your 10-year-old sedan isn't a Lamborghini. Taking more than one space in a crowded shopping mall or airport lot isn't just selfish—it's a flashing neon sign that says, "I think I'm special."

Tailgating Tyrants: You're going the speed limit, minding your business, and suddenly, there's a car so close to your bumper that you can count their nose hairs. Tailgating doesn't get you there faster—it stresses everyone out and increases the chances of a rear-end collision. Back off. Nobody's impressed by how close you can drive.

The Lane Drift: These drivers treat lane markings like vague suggestions. Whether texting, daydreaming, or incompetent, they hover between lanes like a drunk squirrel. Guess what? Other people use those lanes. Pick one and stay in it.

The Blinker-Free Turners: What's that? Your turn signal isn't working? Or is it just too much effort to flick the lever? These drivers love to turn without warning, keeping everyone behind them on edge. Pro tip: your blinker exists for a reason—use it.

The Left-Lane Hogs: You're cruising in the left lane—the passing lane—at an incredible 10 mph under the speed limit. Behind you, a line of cars forms, but do you care? Nope. If you're not passing, move over. The left lane isn't your personal sightseeing tour.

The "My Music is Your Music" Crowd: These drivers blast their music so loudly it's like a mobile concert you didn't ask for. Whether it's bass-heavy EDM or a questionable '90s playlist, not everyone shares your taste in tunes—or appreciates their eardrums vibrating.

Stop-Sign Creepers: Some drivers treat stop signs like they're optional, rolling through them as if a complete stop would ruin their day. Others creep forward inch by inch, making pedestrians wonder if they're about to become roadkill. Here's a hint: stop

The Curb-Jumper Parkers: These are the drivers who believe that "close to the store" means "halfway into the flowerbed" or "right over the curb." They'll park on sidewalks, grass, or even block entrances, leaving everyone else to wonder if they've mistaken their car for an off-road vehicle.

The Last-Minute Lane Servers: These geniuses wait until they're practically on top of their freeway exit before darting across three lanes of traffic. Bonus points if they don't signal, and extra rage points if they nearly cause an accident.

The Driveway Blockers: They park just enough to block your driveway, but you need more to legally tow them. These drivers believe the world is their parking lot and your driveway is just a coincidence.

The Overachieving Honkers: These people think their horn is a magic wand that fixes all problems. Someone hesitates at a green light for half a second? Honk. Pedestrian crossing the street? Honk. Weather isn't to their liking? Honk. Spoiler: the horn doesn't make you the main character.

The Flashers (No, Not That Kind): Some drivers use their high beams like they're running a lighthouse. Whether they forget to dim them for oncoming traffic or just love blinding everyone in front of them, they ensure no one else can see the road.

The Red-Light Scofflaws treat red lights like optional suggestions, speeding through intersections with a "meh, I'll make it" attitude. They're also shocked when they T-boned someone.

The Crosswalk Ignorers: These drivers cruise right through crosswalks, ignoring pedestrians who clearly have the right of way. The worst offenders speed up to "beat" someone crossing. Spoiler alert: it's not a race.

The Gas Guzzlers in the EV Spot: You know the ones—they roll their big, gas-powered SUVs into electric vehicle charging spots because they are closer. Never mind that someone with an EV is stranded because of their inconsiderate parking.

The Door Dingers: The ones who fling their car doors open with reckless abandon, leaving your pristine paint job with a new dent to remember them by. They don't even bother leaving a note if you're lucky.

The Backwards Exit Drivers: These drivers think reversing out of a parking spot into traffic is a great idea. Instead of waiting for a precise moment, they inch backward while everyone else on the road slams their brakes. Pro tip: rethink your life choices if you're causing a traffic jam.

The Intersection Blockers: These drivers who enter an intersection clearly can't get through, trapping themselves and everyone else when the light changes. Congratulations, you've turned rush hour into gridlock.

The Brake Tappers on the Highway: These drivers think their brake pedal is a fun toy. They tap it repeatedly for no apparent reason, making everyone behind them panic and creating a domino effect of unnecessary braking.

The Space Stealers: You spot the perfect parking space, signal, and start turning in—only for another driver to swoop in out of nowhere. You stare in disbelief as they smugly steal the spot you clearly claimed.

The Reverse Too Far Drivers: They back out of their parking spot and keep going... and going... and going. Suddenly, their rear bumper is halfway into the aisle, blocking the path for everyone trying to get by.

The Endless Waiters: These drivers hold up traffic by waiting forever for someone to load groceries or leave their parking spot, even when other spaces are nearby. Their patience is unmatched, but yours isn't.

The Left-Turn Daredevils: Instead of waiting for a clear opening to make a left turn, they gamble with everyone's lives by pulling out at the last second, forcing oncoming traffic to slam on their brakes.

The obnoxious Parallel Parkers block an entire traffic lane and spend five minutes trying to wedge their car into a spot. If it's taking that long, maybe it's time to find a bigger space—or learn to park.

The Merge-Free-for-All: These drivers treat merging like a contact sport. Instead of taking turns like civilized humans, they speed up to cut in front of everyone else, leaving you to slam on your brakes to avoid a collision.

The Phone-Obsessed Crawlers: These drivers crawl at 10 mph because they're glued to their phones. Whether texting, checking social media, or sending emails, their slow-motion driving turns the road into a parking lot.

The Passenger Drop-Off Chaos Creators: At airports, schools, or malls, they stop in the middle of the road to drop someone off, oblivious to the line of cars forming behind them. They could pull over to a designated spot, but why do that when they can cause a traffic jam?

The U-Turn Mavericks: These drivers decide to make a U-turn in the most inappropriate places—busy intersections, narrow roads, or directly in front of oncoming traffic. Bonus points if they don't signal first.

The Perma-Parkers: They park their cars in front of businesses, fire hydrants, or loading zones like they own the place. Apparently, they think parking laws are suggestions meant for other people.

The Rush-Hour Lane Blockers: During rush hour, these drivers sit in the exit lane for five minutes, blocking traffic while deciding where to go. Don't sit in the middle of a busy road for clarification.

If all this sounds overwhelming, it's because it should be. Every decision behind the wheel could save a life—or end one. AAA research confirms what we already know: most drivers engage in risky behaviors, even if they acknowledge the dangers.

Driving isn't just about getting somewhere—it's about how you get there. So, take a breath, slow down, and pay attention. Embracing lousy driving habits is as simple as biting into a slice of pizza, but letting go of them takes serious willpower. Start small: resist the urge to text, ease off the gas, and maybe—just maybe—show a little patience. Your habits define how you drive. Make them count!