We all have bad habits that cause torment and distress in our lives. Some people pick their nose; some bite their fingernails, while others struggle with cursing like a sailor. These are all very common minuscule recurring activities that seem to plague our daily routines, but they don’t necessarily affect you financially. However, sometimes we tend to develop bad habits while driving, which can slowly inflict damage on your car over time. Cars are a big long-term investment and you want to keep yours running as long as you possibly can. The more bad habits you’re guilty of when driving, the more money it could eventually cost you in the long run. Check out these popular bad driving habits and see how you can break yours!
Bad Driving Habits to Avoid
Running on Empty – Most people wait to fill up their car until their gas tank is running on fumes, which is not ideal for your fuel system. Your car’s fuel pumps are kept cool when they’re immersed in fuel in your tank, so make sure that you avoid letting your gas meter drop below a quarter full.
Flooring and Braking – Driving can be a very mundane task, especially if you spend a lot of time in the car. Movies like Fast and the Furious help glamorize this undertaking and we sometimes tend to transfer these high-octane techniques to our own driving style. This includes flooring your gas pedal, which burns a ton of fuel and puts unnecessary pressure on certain components of your vehicle. If you floor your car then you’re going to have to slam on the brake to come to a full force stop. This can cause extreme wear and tear on your rotors and brake pads, so take it smooth and easy when you’re behind the wheel. Resisting the urge to drive like Vin Diesel will make you a smarter and safer driver.
Shifter Mistakes – People tend to get trigger-happy when it comes to using their shifter. When you’re shifting from reverse to drive or drive to park, make sure that you’re at a complete stop before flicking the shifter. Flicking the shifter while still in motion can inflict damage to your axle and transmission. Also, try to refrain from resting your hand on the shifter at all times. This can also put pressure on your transmission, which can lead to premature wear.
Weighing Your Car Down – People tend to store up a bunch of junk in their trunk, which can weigh down your car significantly. This results in added stress to your brakes and suspension and it burns fuel at a much faster rate. Make sure you go through your car and clean out all of the unnecessary clutter so that you can make your ride as light as possible.
Ignoring Warning Signs – People are naturally lazy procrastinators who only take care of something at the absolute last second. However, this is a very bad habit when it comes to potential warning signs for your vehicle. If you hear strange noises, feel weird vibrations or detect anything else out of the ordinary, then get your car inspected pronto. Usually, the longer you wait the more the problem can grow and it can end up costing you more than you’re able to spend to fix it.
Before breaking these bad driving habits now is a great time to make sure that all of your insurance needs are up-to-date. Give us a call at 1-800-Thanks-Al to have an agent review your policy to confirm that your auto insurance has the right amount of coverage for your family and your needs. We can also ensure that you are getting the best rate for your policy. You might even qualify for additional discounts, especially if you have your home insured through us!