In the summer, the roads see a considerable increase in drivers. Many students who have the summer off from college or high school are in the streets, as well as families enjoying road trips for summer vacations. Regardless of why people are on the road, more people on the road results in more reckless drivers. Being able to spot dangerous drivers before an accident can help you avoid a collision, so how do you spot them?
Between Memorial Day and Labor Day, there has been a steady increase in accidents, which has been a trend for several years. This trend has earned the name of “the 100 deadliest days of summer.” Defensive driving needs to step up a notch during the summer, so what are signs of reckless driving that anyone can spot?
Swerving
When a driver is not paying attention to their driving, there is a good chance that they will not notice that they are drifting into another lane or off the road. Once a negligent driver is aware of their mistake, they may overcorrect their behavior, resulting in an accident. If you spot another driver wandering outside of their lane, allow them to gain considerable distance from you to give you more time to react to their actions.
Erratic passengers
The driver is not the only person in a vehicle that can cause an accident. If passengers are producing too much of a distraction for the driver, it can spell disaster. Crying children, panicking pets, or drunk adults can all create a deadly situation for their driver and anyone else around them. If a passenger’s behavior catches your attention from another car, imagine how distracting it is for the driver of their vehicle.
Using a cell phone
No one thinks it is acceptable to drink and drive, yet so many people drive while using their cell phone, despite reports that using a phone is as dangerous as drunk driving. When a driver appears to be talking on the phone, looking down at their phone or texting while driving, you can be sure they are not focusing on the road ahead of them.
Stay vigilant
Unruly passengers, cell phones, and other distractions like eating or drinking while driving can all be the spark that causes severe catastrophic injuries for many innocent people. If you spot someone driving recklessly, stay back and keep them in your sights to avoid being a victim of their poor driving.