Things Only a Goofy Goober Would Do at Red
There are plenty of things you should never do at a stoplight, from texting to rummaging through your glove box (and yes—even feeding your pet snail). Even though those seconds at a stop sign or red light feel agonizingly long, your attention should always stay on the road, so don't let your common sense go out the window. If you need a brief refresher, here are 20 things you should never do at a stoplight.
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1. Texting
It goes without saying that you should never text while you're behind the wheel in a moving car. Even if you think you have time to type out a quick reply, those are still precious seconds where your focus isn't on the road anymore. If you must respond (say, to an important email), pull over.
2. Making a Phone Call
Just as you shouldn't text when you're behind the wheel, even when you're momentarily paused at a stoplight, you should also not be making phone calls. Again, if you must respond quickly to something important, it's better to pull over first.
3. Doing Your Makeup
You might think it'll only take a second to fix your lashes or reapply your gloss, but doing your makeup at a stoplight is a big no-no. You can always tend to it later when you're fully stopped and parked, so don't do it when you're driving.
4. Grooming Yourself
Believe it or not, some people have actually tried shaving while driving. Don't be that person. Leave the grooming for later when you're parked, or better yet, improve your time management skills and finish your morning routine before you get into the car.
5. Napping at the Wheel
A stoplight isn't the time or place to be taking a nap. If you're having trouble keeping your eyes open, stop driving and pull over to get some quick rest. Even closing your eyes for a few moments while stopped can make you feel more tired, which can end up distracting you from the road.
6. Eating
No matter whether it's a small snack or a messy burger, you shouldn't be eating at the wheel. If you're absolutely starving and can't wait another moment, pull over and put your car in park before digging in.
7. Taking Off Your Seatbelt
There should be no reason to ever take off your seatbelt while driving, even when you're momentarily stopped. Keep your eyes on the road in front of you and stay strapped in, or you might risk injury or something worse.
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8. Putting the Car in Park
Never put your car in park when you're momentarily stopped, whether at a stop sign or red light. Doing so slows down your reaction time and can hold up traffic behind you, which may cause drivers to respond aggressively by doing unsafe maneuvers.
9. Rummaging Through the Glove Box
Need to find something in your glove box? Don't do it while you're driving or when you're momentarily paused at a stoplight, as doing so takes your attention off the road and the ever-changing landscape around you. You'll have time to rummage in the compartment later, so focus on driving for now.
10. Daydreaming
We get it: sometimes, your brain drifts when you're stopped on the road. You might think about what you'll make for dinner, what items you'll need from the grocery store, whether or not you even have the energy to cook. But even though it's easy to zone out and daydream, refrain from thinking about other things when you're behind the wheel.
11. Searching for an Item in Your Bag or Backseat
Just as you shouldn't rummage through your glove box at a stoplight, don't go searching for items in your bag or turn your body to face the backseat. Again, your focus should always be on the road and constantly scanning your surroundings to make sure it's safe to go, not on whether you brought your sunglasses with you.
12. Taking Both Hands Off the Wheel
Never, ever take both hands off the steering wheel when you're driving or when you're momentarily stopped. As a driver, you need to react quickly to whatever might happen on the road, and going hands-free, even just a second or two, can significantly delay your reaction time.
13. Stopping Past the Line
When coming to a stop at a stoplight, you should always stop before the marked line. Go too far and you might just block the intersection or pedestrians trying to cross the street. That's why it's important to watch your speed to ensure you brake in time.
14. Rolling Stops
While new drivers might be more diligent about coming to a full stop before the line and waiting at least three seconds before creeping forward, experienced drivers often forgo this part. Instead, they're more likely to do "rolling" stops, where their car never comes to a complete stop before they pass through the line. Remember: stop means stop, so press down fully on your brake pedal.
15. Picking Up Something at Your Feet
Bending down to pick something up at your feet when you're momentarily stopped can be extremely dangerous. If your foot accidentally lets off on the brake, you might not be able to react in time since your eyes aren't on the road. Plus, this position makes you more vulnerable to injuries and accidents.
16. Getting into Heated Arguments
Save the heated arguments for later when you're off the road. There's a reason why you should never drive when you're upset, and it's because your focus isn't entirely on the road in front of you, and your emotions may drive you to make reckless decisions.
17. Checking Social Media or Notifications
If you shouldn't be texting or calling behind the wheel, you should definitely not be checking your notifications or scrolling through social media. There's always time for that later, so keep your hands off your phone and your eyes trained on the road.
18. Fiddling with the GPS
Input GPS details before you start driving. If you need to update the route, have a passenger help you, or pull over to do it yourself. Even if your GPS isn't on your phone, fiddling with anything else is still distracted driving, so don't be that person.
19. Forgoing Shoulder Checks
Even if you're briefly stopped at a stop sign or red light, your surroundings can change in the blink of an eye. It's therefore important to do quick shoulder checks before you move forward, especially when you're making a turn at the intersection.
20. Forget to Signal
If you need to turn, always remember to signal your intentions. Forgetting to do so backs up traffic and may cause other drivers to make dangerous maneuvers around you due to road rage. So, in the short seconds you're paused at a stoplight (or even before you reach the marked line), flip your blinker on.
