7 Things You Must Never Do While Driving

The National Safety Council of India organises National Road Safety Week in India each January (NSC). The NSC is an autonomous body established by the Indian government to engage the public on issues of safety, health, and the environment. Road safety is a major public health concern for Indian authorities, with over 139,000 road deaths in 2012. Road fatalities in India account for approximately 10% of all road fatalities worldwide. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways of India encourages regional governments to lead Road Safety Week initiatives and provides a list of suggested activities to promote road safety rules in their region. Each state is given a budget by the Ministry to help them organise these activities and engage the public. The theme for this year’s campaign, observed from January 11–17, 2022, is ‘Sadak Suraksha Jeevan Raksha.’

In the light of National Road Safety Week, let us refresh our memories regarding 7 things we must never do while driving!

1. Driving Barefoot

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You're probably aware that driving barefoot is not the safest option. When you're used to driving in shoes, driving without them can feel strange, which isn't what you want when driving a car. “ According to Laura Adams, a safety and education analyst at Driver'sEd.com, it requires you to apply more pressure to the pedals than you normally would when wearing shoes. "That could have an impact on your braking time, putting you in danger." However, Tehrani admits that driving barefoot is preferable to driving in some of these other dangerous shoe options, especially if the shoes are particularly uncomfortable. Driving barefoot, she explains, "allows one to have more control of the pedals and a direct feel for any deviations while applying pressure to the brake or gas pedal." However, its other disadvantages make it risky enough to avoid.

2. Not Wearing Your Seatbelt

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Not wearing seat belt is against traffic rules. Putting on a seat belt is such a simple task. Seat belts saved more than 75,000 lives between 2004 and 2008, according to the NHTSA. Airbags make cars safer, but they're meant to be used in tandem with seat belts, which help prevent passenger ejection during high-speed collisions and rollovers.

3. Using headphones

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While listening to music on road trips and long commutes isn't a problem, wearing headphones while driving isn't the best idea. "Headphones decrease your awareness even more by filtering out other noises than just your car's speakers," says Richard Reina, product training director at aftermarket auto retailer CARiD.com. Although using headphones rather than taking one's hands off the wheel is safer, Reina advises being extra cautious because outside sounds will be harder to hear.

4. Tailgating

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Driving too close to the car in front of you is dangerous, and if they suddenly stop, you are at fault. However, if the car in front of you is tailgating and honking, pull over and let it pass; it could be a genuine emergency. If a vehicle is tailgating you on the highway for no apparent reason, pull over to the right lane as soon as it is safe to do so and allow the driver to pass. Even if it is not your "fault," travelling with another vehicle in such close proximity is dangerous.

5. Driving Under the Influence

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We've all heard about the dangers of drunk driving or driving while under the influence, so let's just say it: don't do it. If you intend to drink alcohol, follow common-sense guidelines such as taking a Lyft or Uber or using a designated driver.

6. Driving with Your Seat too Far Back

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Drivers should be in the best possible position to control their vehicle, and people who are too far away from the wheel don't have that same control. "Aside from your ability to reach the pedals and react quickly to road events," Reina says, "you may need to control your lights, wipers, or other systems at a moment's notice and have a difficult time doing so if you're seated too far back."

7. Distracted Driving

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This is another no-no, and keeping your eyes on the road is really just common sense. Despite being aware of the dangers of texting and driving, many people continue to do so. If the temptation to use your phone for anything other than directions while driving arises, simply turn it off. That way, when you hear the notification ding or phone call ring, you won't feel obligated to pick it up and respond to a text or answer a call.

Some of the other things you must avoid doing include 

When driving, never place the seatbelt shoulder strap behind your back.

Seatbelts are uncomfortably tight, but if you don't wear them correctly, you might as well not wear them at all. While it may seem simple, knowing how to properly wear a seatbelt could save your life, so taking the 2 minutes to read this guide isn't a bad idea.

In most places, having the shoulder strap behind your back is illegal and will result in the same citation as not wearing a seatbelt at all. You must wear the seatbelt as it was designed.

If the shoulder strap is bothering you, there are many accessories you can buy to make it more comfortable, such as locking the seatbelt in a looser position (not recommended, but better than having the shoulder strap behind your back) or specially designed cushions.

You should never wave someone through traffic.

Most of us strive to be courteous drivers, but there are times when being too nice can lead to a dangerous situation.

When stopped in traffic, it is polite to give way if there is a driveway, side street, or business entrance. This gives people enough space to turn into or out of that area without having to wait for traffic to move and unblock the area they need to go to.

While leaving that gap is a good idea (and often required by law), you should never, ever, ever direct anyone through it. Many car accidents happen at these intersections because someone was waved through traffic only to be hit by a vehicle driving down another lane or on the shoulder of the road.

You don't want to be held accountable for the actions of others. Allow them to proceed when they believe it is safe to do so, not when you say so. Follow the driving rules, always!