8 Bad Driving Habits Ranked

1. Using your phone while driving

Now that most of us are almost permanently attached to our mobile phones, it can be hard to resist temptation and not use your phone while driving. You could get bored when stopped at a junction or see a notification pop-up from the corner of your eye and think, what’s the harm in a quick glance? But even a small distraction could cause an accident. In the UK, it’s illegal to use a mobile phone to text, make a call, take a photo, play a game, or scroll through your playlist, and anyone caught doing so faces a £200 fixed penalty fine and six points on their licence. The only exception to this rule is when it’s secured in a cradle to use ‘hands-free’ as a SatNav.

2. Not indicating

How to indicate is one of the first things we learn when getting behind the wheel. It’s an essential part of driving responsibly, other drivers aren’t mind readers, after all! Not indicating is a bad driving habit that’s both dangerous and inconsiderate. While you might think choosing the right-hand lane on a roundabout or moving towards the lane markings are a clear enough signal, there’s no guarantee that other drivers will guess what you’re thinking and react. And it’s not just drivers that you put at risk by not indicating, you could end up harming a pedestrian if they aren’t expecting you to turn in their direction. The penalty for not indicating is three points on your licence and a fine of up to £2500.

3. Tailgating

Not only is tailgating rude and intimidating, but it’s dangerous too! There’s no upside to this bad driving habit; failing to leave enough space between you and the car in front is a recipe for disaster. Even lightning quick reactions can’t make up for a lack of braking room and any sudden stops could cause an accident. Tailgating is classified as careless driving and could lead to a £100 fine and three points on your licence. If you cause an accident by tailgating, then the penalties are more severe, and you could end up with a driving ban or prison sentence. If you’re a victim of tailgating, it’s best to take the high road and let them pass when it’s safe to do so. Trying to antagonise someone driving recklessly could make them even more unpredictable.

4. Leaving your car running unattended while ice melts

On a cold winter morning, it’s tempting to leave the engine running and pop back inside to finish your cup of coffee while you wait for your car to heat up. But leaving your car running on the road unattended could land you with a fine under section 42 of the Road Traffic Act 1998. Not only could you end up paying a £20 fixed penalty fine, but your vehicle will also be left vulnerable to opportunistic thieves and could even invalidate your insurance if the worst were to happen. While it’s not an offence to do this on a private driveway, the risk of theft still applies.

5. Splashing pedestrians in wet weather

If there’s one thing UK drivers know well, it’s wet weather! It’s important to change how you drive in wet weather, but one of the most inconsiderate habits on a rainy day is speeding through surface water and splashing pedestrians. It’s not just about manners; accidentally or intentionally splashing pedestrians is against the law and could lead to a fixed penalty notice of £100. Under the Road Traffic Act 1988, if you’re found to be driving in a way that’s a clear act of incompetence, selfishness, impatience, and aggressiveness that could rise to £5,000.

6. Hogging the middle lane

Motorways arguably offer some of the most hazardous driving conditions due to the speed cars reach and the way they could change lane with no warning. Even so, being nervous about motorway driving is no excuse to hog the middle lane. According to the Highway Code, you should always drive in the left-hand lane and only move into the right-hand lane to overtake slower vehicles. Once you’ve safely overtaken, you should move back over. Staying in the middle lane can cause traffic to build up and could even be considered careless driving, incurring a fine.

7. Driving with one hand on the wheel

While there’s no law against driving with only one hand on the wheel, it’s a bad habit that could affect the quality of your driving. It’s best to keep both hands on the steering wheel, either at a ten and two or four and eight position as this gives you full control and helps you avoid distractions. The only time a hand should leave the wheel is to change gear or adjust a control like the windscreen wipers. An incorrect driving position could also put you more at risk of injury if you do end up in an accident, especially if the airbag deploys.

8. Riding the clutch

One bad driving habit that could damage your car over time is riding the clutch. This is when you rest your foot on the clutch for longer than necessary when changing gear. While letting the clutch slip slight is necessary in some situations like a hill start, this habit can cause excess wear on the clutch plates and mean you’ll have to replace them earlier. Not sure if you’re a culprit? Look out for the tell-tale burning smell caused by the clutch plates slipping on the gearbox shaft and make sure you’re not sitting so close to the pedals that you can’t remove your foot from the clutch cleanly.