Talking or texting
Nearly 80 percent of crashes involve driver inattention, and one of the primary causes is—you guessed it—using a cell phone. Texting while driving is also a deadly trend, especially among teens.
Letting the sun shine in
Sunglasses reduce glare and prevent your eyes from tiring. Keep an extra pair in the car, or don a cap with a bill (like racing pros do) to block direct sunlight.
Speeding
Driving over the speed limit nearly triples your risk of being involved in a crash. Speeding is also a factor in almost one-third of all fatal car accidents.
Wearing bad shoes
Forget spiked heels (the heel can slide under pedals) and flip-flops and clogs (they fall off easily). Shoes should stay on your feet and offer good traction on pedals. ?Low-top shoes with pliable, thin soles and smooth, rounded heels give you the best control,? says Mark Cox, director of the Bridgestone Winter Driving School in Steam�boat Springs, Colorado.
Not buckling up
No matter the length of the trip or what you?re wearing (your linen jacket will survive a few wrinkles), buckling up is a must if you want to stay alive in an accident. In 2006, more than 50 percent of passengers killed in car crashes were not wearing seat belts; 31 percent of all drivers killed also didn?t buckle up.
Driving while drowsy
Getting behind the wheel when you?re sleep deprived or driving long distances nonstop puts you at risk: Some 100,000 accidents are linked to driver fatigue, killing an estimated 1,550 people each year.
Not paying attention
Giving yourself a makeup check, yelling at the kids, eating those French fries, changing a CD—they all take your eyes off of the road. All it takes is just two seconds of distraction to double your risk of crashing or having a close call.
