Talking to Your Loved Ones About Safe Driving
Your loved ones are the nearest and dearest people in your life. Because of this, you want to keep them as safe and healthy as best you can.
During the holidays, you may notice some unsafe driving habits from your loved ones. It’s important to talk to your loved ones to ensure they’re keeping themselves and others safe when behind the wheel.
Learn how to talk to your loved ones about safe driving with tips from your Edinburg car accident attorney at the Law Office of Bobby Garcia.
What Is Considered Unsafe Driving?
There are many risks you face by driving on the road each day. People push the speed limit, weave in and out of lanes without signaling, and construction sites pop out of nowhere.
When someone practices unsafe driving habits, these risks become amplified. Some common unsafe driving habits include:
Road rage
Swerving
Texting and driving
Blinding other drivers
Not using signals
Not slowing down or stopping before an intersection
If you’ve noticed your loved ones practicing these driving habits, their driving is considered unsafe. Once it becomes apparent, it may be time to have a discussion about their driving.
How to Talk to Your Loved Ones About Their Driving?
Talking to your loved ones about their driving can be an uncomfortable conversation. Whether it’s someone you’re close to or a relative you only see during the holidays, there may be different ways to approach the topic of their driving.
Some different ways you can talk to a loved one about driving habits include:
1. Be Direct With Them
Tell your loved ones directly that their driving makes you feel nervous and unsafe. If they react with an apology and start changing their driving habits, you may not have to bring it up again. If nothing changes, you may have to remind them how you feel.
2. Use Indirect Hinting
If speaking directly with your loved one makes you uncomfortable, indirect hinting may be another way to stop their unsafe driving habits. Offer to text for them while they drive or point out that cops are all over the road checking speeds.
3. Point Out Other Drivers
Pointing out other drivers who are also practicing unsafe driving habits may help your loved one become aware of their own habits. You can even make up a story as to why the driver is being reckless on the road to drive your point home.
4. Have a Group Intervention
If your friends and family also agree that your loved one is not driving safely, it may be time to approach that person as a group. Sit down and discuss your concerns with your loved one and make a point not to drive with them until they change their habits.
5. Stop Riding With Them
If your loved one has ignored or continues to mock your concerns, it may be time to stop accepting rides from them. You’ve tried everything to help them out, but now it’s time to take yourself out of harm’s way.
If one of these approaches does not work with your family member, you may need to try something different. The best thing you can do is try to protect them, but if they won’t change, you need to take yourself out of the equation and stop getting in the car while they drive.
Encourage Your Loved Ones To Drive Safely With the Law Office of Bobby Garcia
During the holidays, you may be spending more time with family members that you don’t get to see as often. Some of this time may be spent in the car where unsafe driving habits come to light. If you notice your loved one is not driving safely, it’s time to talk to them about it. Unsafe driving not only affects drivers and their passengers but others on the road as well.
If you’ve been involved in a car accident due to someone’s unsafe driving, you may be looking for compensation. Our experienced Edinburg car accident attorneys can help you with your claim and get you the financial relief you deserve.