7 factors that negatively influence your driving

Driving requires you to use all your senses. You must follow several written and unwritten rules to ensure you get from point A to point B in one piece. In this article, the Certified Auto Repair team lists several elements, including some lesser-known ones, which can impact the quality of your driving. If you can relate to any of these conditions, take the necessary steps to keep yourself and other road users safe.

• Distractions in the cabin. People who drive while talking on the phone, eating, smoking or programming their GPS, for example, are more likely to have an accident than those who stay focused on the road.

• Strong emotions. It can be difficult to drive safely when you’re experiencing extreme emotions, like those you feel after losing your job or learning about the death of a loved one.

• Desire to break the rules. Individuals who give themselves permission to follow their own rules, like rarely using their turn signal, making illegal U-turns or overtaking on the right, are more likely to get tickets and cause accidents.

• Lack of empathy. Irritable drivers often make sudden and dangerous manoeuvres to express their displeasure. They usually have difficulty giving other road users the benefit of the doubt and instead consider their behaviour provocative.

• Substance use. Unsurprisingly, taking medications that cause drowsiness or dizziness and using drugs or alcohol, even small amounts, can negatively affect your driving.

• Lack of sleep. Falling asleep at the wheel causes more road deaths than you think. Fatigued drivers usually have poor reflexes and difficulty maintaining their trajectory, among other things.

• Being late or in a hurry. Trying to save a few minutes or seconds to reach your destination faster can lead to speeding, excessive passing and breaking traffic laws.

Of course, unexpected mechanical failures or neglecting regular maintenance, such as worn brakes or misaligned wheels, can also affect your driving performance. Don’t play with fire! Make an appointment at your nearest Certified Auto Repair today for expert maintenance.