1. Driving when medicated
When people talk about driving under the influence, alcohol springs to mind immediately. But what about painkillers with codeine, certain cough medicines, hay fever tablets and other medications that can make you drowsy? Be very careful of topping up on meds before you get behind the wheel - the side effects can be just as detrimental as driving under the influence. Avoid smoking anything but cigarettes - marijuana is a huge no-no as it can impair your vision and reaction time, and can make you drowsy as well.
2. Fiddling with your car’s radio or infotainment system/touchscreen
Pull over and rather do this while stationary, or let one of your passengers take care of it if your car doesn't allow for this functionality via Siri or your Google Assistant.
Today’s new touchscreen systems can be very distracting. Looking for music, entering navigation details, or searching for phone numbers while you drive is dangerous and irresponsible.
3. Eating behind the wheel
When you’re concentrating on not having that piping hot garage pie filling falling down the front of your shirt, your focus isn’t entirely on the road. The same goes for that Cappuccino. Reaction time will be slower with only one hand on the steering wheel. If you can't live without nicotine, vaping is probably a better idea if you have to get your fix while you drive.
4. Young kids in the front seat
We see countless kids in cars not wearing seatbelts or a child on an adult’s lap in the front seat. When that airbag explodes, that child will be seriously injured, or dead. The same goes for toddlers standing in the second row. It's downright dangerous, not just for the toddler, but everyone else on board!
5. Driving with unrestrained passengers
Did you know that in many accidents, unsecured passengers are responsible for the deaths of the ones belted in? Your chances of death or serious injury increase by as much as 25 percent when another person in the vehicle is not buckled up. This is because that ‘loose’ passenger becomes a deadly projectile, crashing into others on impact.
6. Driving with unrestrained pets
Even if you’ve trained your pets to sit absolutely motionless for the duration of the trip, a sudden stop can make your pet go flying through the windshield, or into you. Rather restrain your pet safely in the car, or use a pet carrier (also safely secured).
7. Driving with unsecured objects
Any object, from a cooler box to a cellphone, is capable of killing you if it hits you hard enough. Make sure objects are buckled down properly, or flat on the floor. We have seen crash-test footage of luggage becoming airborne and severing arms / crushing skulls. Not nice!
8. Applying make-up while driving
Us ladies are under constant pressure to look good, but please save the make-up application for the restroom bathroom if there’s no time to do it at home, and refrain from doing it while you're behind the wheel.
9. Driving tired
Driving when you’re sleep-deprived is as potentially harmful as driving under the influence. Your reaction time is poor, and worst-case scenario: you can fall asleep behind the wheel and cause a fatal accident.
10. Driving when you're emotionally upset
If you’ve just had a terrible fight with your significant other or received terrible news, stay put until you have calmed down, or ask someone else to drive you, if possible. Now is not the time to get onto the highway.
11. Not switching on your headlamps
South Africans have a love of neutral and pale-coloured cars. These are the first colours to disappear as it gets cloudy or dark. Just because you can still see other road users, doesn’t mean they can see you. Keeping your headlamps on at all times is advised if your car doesn’t have daytime running lamps. Another terrible habit is dazzling oncoming traffic with your ‘brights’, or putting them back on high beam too soon once you think the oncoming vehicle has already passed.
12. Speeding
Speed does indeed kill because it takes so much longer to stop. Imagine living with the guilt of killing someone’s child or spouse, because you were driving like a hooligan. And you’ll be reliving the nightmare in jail, every day. Goodbye to life as you know it! Just stick to the speed limit - and save fuel while doing so. It's also advised to adjust your speed to the driving conditions and the condition of the road. You shouldn't drive 120 km/h in the dead of night or in thick fog or heavy rain, for example, even if the road sign says that it's the going rate.
13. Texting while driving, checking email / social media
Do you want to die or go to jail for manslaughter if you accidentally run over a pedestrian or cause a serious accident? Lock your phone in the boot if you are too tempted, or get your co-pilot to answer the phone or text back if needed. If the traffic cops catch you using your phone while you drive, it will be confiscated and you'll get fined a hefty sum.
