I’ve been studying for my driver’s test, and I just started learning about common risks. I feel like these lessons are really important to know well. What are the risks of driving?
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
Risk is a broad category when we’re talking about driving—and for good reason. There’s a lot that can go wrong and a lot that a good driver has to be aware of. While some examples of risks while driving are obvious—like pedestrians and accidents—others are not, so let’s discuss several of the most common.
There are two different categories of risks that should be considered, which we’ve outlined below, along with some examples. But basically, any action that takes your attention away from driving is a risky behavior that
Immediate risk: These are risks that you can literally see and require immediate action to avoid.
A pedestrian darting onto the road
A crash or disabled car on the freeway
A vehicle driving too slowly on the freeway or too quickly approaching an intersection
An inebriated driver weaving through traffic
Potential risk: These are risks that you should assume come with the territory. Remain alert to avoid an incident.
Residential areas have more likelihood of children and distracted pedestrians
Rural highways with heavy wildlife populations
Dark country roads with few street lights and plenty of winding turns
Any road after a severe storm or natural event that results in standing water, ice, and/or debris
In addition, there are also risky behaviors that you, the driver, may commit either consciously or unconsciously while driving. That includes:
Texting or calling
Dozing off
Eating or drinking
Applying makeup
There’s no such thing as driving without risk, so diligence is key. Not only does it protect you and others around you, safe drivers typically spend less on their
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