Let\u2019s take a look at what these bad driving habits are that could put you in legal hot water at the same time. You can see if any of them apply to your own driving and make a few changes if needed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Even though most drivers are fully aware that parking areas tend to be monitored all day long, it doesn\u2019t always stop them from parking in areas that are off-limits to them. This isn\u2019t just parking in handicapped spaces. It also applies to parking outside of the marked legal parking areas, parking in red zones, and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is a decidedly bad habit and if you end up being caught, you could have your car towed, which can be extremely expensive. Sure, there may be times when you don\u2019t get caught and feel like you\u2019ve gotten away with it, but it\u2019s better to cut this habit off and park where you are supposed to, even if it means a slightly longer walk to your destination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here is another bad habit that far too many drivers have and which can be illegal depending on where you live. It might seem like you\u2019re winning some kind of contest when you get to a light that is yellow and slip through, but it\u2019s not something you should turn into a habit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The problem is that you may not fully make it through the light<\/a> before it changes. This leads to those who are waiting on a green light having to wait even longer. It can also lead to worse issues like potential collisions. It\u2019s better to be responsible and slow down as soon as the light turns yellow if you have room to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is a big one and probably less common but no less dangerous. If you\u2019re the kind of person who flies through stop signs or ignores the requirement to yield, this is a habit you want to stop sooner rather than later. It doesn\u2019t matter if you see nobody else around, traffic signs are there for a reason.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The worst thing that could happen isn\u2019t being stopped by a police officer, although this is something that can occur. Imagine what would happen if you were to blow through a stop sign and collide with a pedestrian or car that you didn’t see. You could end up injured, injuring someone else, or in a horrible accident.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is sadly more common than you might expect. It\u2019s also illegal in most locations. Many people automatically click on their seatbelt when entering the car, but those who don\u2019t often have a habit of avoiding it. One study done by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration shows that more than 25 million Americans ignore the seatbelt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On the other hand, seatbelts saved almost 14,000 lives in 2015. If you tent to forget to click your seatbelt<\/a>, that\u2019s something you should change. It can not only get you out of a ticket if a police officer pulls you over, but it can also save you from injury or death if you get into an accident.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Everyone has been there. Traffic is heavy<\/a> and you\u2019re late getting to a job interview or other important meeting so you figure it wouldn\u2019t hurt to speed up and go over the limit when you get the chance. The problem is that going faster than the limit makes it more likely you\u2019ll end up in a crash because stopping takes longer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Beyond that, even if you don\u2019t end up in some sort of accident, you can be pulled over and end up in trouble with the cops. The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety notes that more than 25% of crash fatalities relate to speed in some way. While you might have an important appointment to get to, it\u2019s not important enough to risk anyone\u2019s life. Slow down a bit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Distracted driving is a serious problem and talking, texting, or otherwise using your cellphone is one of the top forms of distracted driving. Not only can it lead to an accident, but in most states, texting while driving is illegal. Some states also have laws that make it illegal to drive with a phone in your hand for any reason.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One option is to use a hands-free device, but even that should be avoided whenever possible. Even talking or texting hands-free can take your attention away from the road. Instead, save the calls for after your drive. If there\u2019s an emergency, pull over so you can take the call.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s courteous to other drivers to use your turn signal so they know where your vehicle is going. It lets people act based on the action you are planning to take. It\u2019s not uncommon for a collision to occur due to sudden turning, changing lanes, or slowing down when other vehicles aren\u2019t expecting it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While you might or might not get pulled over by the police for not using your turn signal, it\u2019s important to remember to do so to prevent accidents. Nobody wants to end up in a situation like that and hitting the turn signal is simple to add to your driving habits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tailgating is a common occurrence and is considered to be a form of aggressive driving. Based on a survey by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, about 20% of people have been tailgated by another driver while only 10% admit to doing it themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When you tailgate another car, you have less distance to stop if an emergency happens. Instead of staying that close to another car, it\u2019s best to keep a distance of about three seconds between you. In some cases, you may even want to stay further away. This can prevent you from a ticket or even a collision that leads to you or someone else being injured.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The truth is that we all have bad habits, whether those pertain to driving a vehicle or not. It just so happens that those negative habits during driving can lead to tickets, accidents, or even worse. By making a few changes to the way you drive and avoiding distractions<\/a>, you can prevent problems on the road.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You can also prevent yourself from seeing those flashing lights behind you and spending time talking to a police officer by doing the right thing on the road. So the next time you buckle up, think about what you\u2019re doing in the car and work to erase those bad habits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Want to see how affordable auto insurance can be? Click here<\/a> to use our online quote form to see your savings today.![\"Image](\"https:\/\/freedomgeneral.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/adam-griffith-XXuVUrnpi8M-unsplash-1024x683.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nParking in Illegal Spaces<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Pushing Through Yellow Lights<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Not Paying Attention to Traffic Signs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Not Putting On Your Seatbelt<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Driving Over the Speed Limit<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Talking on a Cellphone<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"Image](\"https:\/\/freedomgeneral.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/distracted-driving.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nNot Hitting the Turn Signal<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Following Another Vehicle Too Closely<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n