Most Common Reasons Why Police Stop You While Driving

“Traffic Police” is a two-word horror story for any driver, and rightfully so. The thought of getting pulled up by an officer and being charged heavy fines is not something to be excited about. With the right Car Insurance in USA, you might be able to lessen the impact of the consequences.

Be a Responsible Driver

But here is the thing: there is only so much a good Car Insurance Policy can do. Sometimes, you must be careful and responsible while driving on the road. You are not alone on the road, and if you pull one wrong move, the consequences of your actions are felt by not just you but others as well Here are a few ways to be a more responsible driver.

Follow the traffic rules even when nobody is watching, and you can get away with it. This is a no-brainer because rules and regulations are made for a reason. Breaking those regulations can put your life, and that of others, at immense risk.

With smartphones becoming a norm, everybody has grown addicted to their cell phones. Using your phone while driving seems like an okay thing to do, but it has led to “distracted driving” becoming one of the leading causes of car accidents in the US. According to the statistics given by NHTSA, in 2020 alone, 396 people lost their precious lives because of texting while drivin.

Make sure there is enough space between you and the car ahead so that you have some buffer time on your end to react to unanticipated stops.

A well-maintained vehicle will earn you brownie points when looking for affordable Car Insurance and save you from unwanted encounters on the road.

Make use of the turn signals more often to ensure other drivers know where you are driving.

Most Common Reasons Why People Are Pulled Over

Forgetting that Speed Limit is a Thing

One of the most basic traffic regulations one needs to follow is the speed limit criteria within your state. It also happens to be the most common reason why officers pull people over. Every state has a designated speed limit based on its unique circumstances. You may wonder why speed limits are different. Every state has different characteristics when it comes to its road infrastructure, such as the alignment, access points, width, etc. However, there are a plethora of other factors considered when setting the speed limit of any location. It is easy to overlook the speed limit when running late, but you should make it a habit to incorporate staying within the speed limit while you are driving .

Driving Like There Is No Tomorrow

Conspicuous indicators that draw the attention of any police officer include sudden acceleration at stop signs, swerving wildly through traffic, and exhibiting unusual driving conduct. Officers may become concerned about various potential offenses when observing such behavior, including racing, impaired driving, and other risky activities. It's important to remember that police officers just need to have a good basis to suspect that such crimes might occur, regardless of any hard evidence of the offenses. Officers have every reason to suspect a motorist when they witness unpredictable behavior on the road, as they are responsible for the safety and security of all citizens.

Using Phones While On the Steering Wheel

No matter how urgent of a task you may be dealing with on your phone, whether using a GPS app or texting your boss, none of the reasons are good enough for the police to offer to let you go. You WILL get pulled over if you use your cell phone while driving. The law may vary from state to state, but using mobile phones on the road is always considered hazardous. The main reason behind officers pulling you over or giving you a ticket is that distracted driving is the cause for other offenses like abruptly changing lanes or your direction that may lead to accidents or disturbance for other vehicles.

Equipment Violation

Equipment violation is also another frequent cause for an officer to pull you over. These infractions are mostly concerned with problems related to a broken headlight, vehicle registration, or the general appearance of your car. If you have a missed brake light, headlight, or registration number, you are more susceptible to being stopped for equipment violations. Officers are allowed to carry out routine checks for any equipment violation when your vehicle is stopped. If the vehicle's equipment is not per the set guidelines, you will be issued a ticket or a warning, depending on the level of negligence. It may seem trivial, but equipment violations can pose serious safety hazards.

Driving Too Close To a Vehicle/Tailgating

According to road regulations, for every ten mph you drive, you should keep a length of around 15 ft. between you and the car ahead of you. Considering the rush on highways during peak hours, you may think the distance is too much, but you should know that you’d be violating a traffic rule if you do not maintain the distance. It is not entirely possible to estimate the distance between two moving vehicles, so it is upon the officer's judgment.

Shield Your Car With a Cover

Last but not least, always use a car cover. It acts like your car’s personal comforter and shields it from rain, dust, guano, and other environmental hazards. Investing in a car cover takes little time and money, but it keeps your car looking fresh and new for a longer time.

In Essence

On a regular day, the police pull over around 50,000 drivers, and annually, the figure is around 20 million, according to the research findings of “The Stanford Open Policing Project.” This statistic shows how common it is to be stopped by law enforcement personnel, so you don’t have to be anxious if you are ever in this situation. Always ensure you have your proper car insurance coverage, driver's license, and other car documents whenever you drive so that you are prepared in case this ever happens. Remember, it is better to take extra measures in advance over regretting in the future.