If you tend to accelerate when the traffic light turns yellow, sneak a glance at your phone during stop signs, or follow slower drivers too closely, you might fall into the category many consider a bad driver.

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The Overconfidence Problem: The Dunning-Kruger Effect

Research shows that about 80% of drivers believe they are better than average behind the wheel. However, most licensed drivers overestimate their actual driving skills.

This phenomenon is known as the Dunning-Kruger Effect — where people wrongly think they’re more competent than they truly are. As one insurer explains, “Many drivers believe they can handle complex tasks like texting while driving, but neuroscience proves this isn’t possible. Your brain can’t fully focus on two complicated tasks simultaneously. Driving while distracted is like juggling knives blindfolded—eventually, something will go wrong.”

Ask Yourself These Three Key Questions

To evaluate your own driving habits, consider these three questions carefully:

Do you speed up when the light turns yellow?
Do you check your phone while stopped at stop signs?
Do you tailgate slower vehicles?

If you answered “yes” to any of these, you might be overconfident and slightly reckless, according to experts.

Reckless Driving: A Major Cause of Accidents in South Africa

In South Africa, reckless and careless driving are among the leading causes of traffic accidents. The country’s roads are notoriously dangerous, largely due to widespread speeding and driving under the influence of alcohol. Research from the driver education platform Zutobi reveals that nearly 57.5% of traffic fatalities are related to alcohol consumption.

Another significant issue is poor adherence to safety laws, such as seatbelt use. South Africa has some of the lowest seatbelt compliance rates globally, with only about 31% of front-seat passengers regularly buckling up.

How to Become a Better Driver

The good news is that improving your driving habits is possible with consistent practice. Many accidents happen because drivers fail to notice other cars, pedestrians, or obstacles. This is often due to “inattentional blindness,” a mental filter that blocks out unexpected objects or events.

To counter this, it helps to train yourself to carefully scan intersections and check blind spots twice before making any maneuvers. Studies also indicate that bad drivers tend to have slower reaction times since they rarely anticipate problems ahead of time. This means they often respond at the last second, leaving no margin for error.

Practical Tips for Safer Driving

A useful tip is to watch the vehicle two cars ahead of you, not just the one directly in front. This gives you more time to react to sudden changes.

Additionally, experts strongly advise putting your phone away while driving. No message or notification is worth risking a crash, especially one involving a public transport vehicle like a taxi.

The Benefits of Safer Driving Habits

By becoming aware of these habits and actively working to change them, you can become a safer and more responsible driver. Not only could this help protect your life and those around you, but it might also reduce your insurance costs.