How to Avoid 10 Top Driving Mistakes

Bad driving happens everywhere. But for road behavior at its worst, the place to beat is sub-Saharan Africa, where locals are 100 times more likely to die in traffic accidents than Americans. (Indeed, the destructive power of trucks has become so feared in countries like Ethiopia that locals have dubbed the vehicles "Al Qaeda.") Where better, then, for NEWSWEEK's Andrew Ehrenkranz to learn about the biggest mistakes drivers make than on the continent?

Mick Farmer, a British military veteran and certified police driving instructor, has taught professional drivers and novices across East, West, and Central Africa how to navigate these perilous roads more safely. On a rainy day at his off-road training camp outside Kampala, Uganda, last week, Farmer taught Ehrenkranz and four Ethiopians from the World Bank how to avoid the most common driving errors.

Don't Go in the Water: If there is any water in the road, check how deep it is before trying to cross. And don't be fooled into thinking that a four-wheel drive truck can act like a duck boat. Whatever those car ads might show, they shouldn't be plunged into water that comes above the knee. Anyone who thinks otherwise should take heed of Farmer's tale about a "puddle" he encountered while leading a food convoy from Mombasa to southern Sudan. The truck drivers, fearful of an ambush, wanted to drive right through it. Farmer insisted on checking-and discovered that the water was so deep that a jeep was submerged in it.

Keep the Pressure On: Check your tires regularly-underinflated tubes are dangerous. Tires should always be at the pressure specified in your car owner's manual, says Farmer, citing a case in which a driver lost control of his car, killing his diplomat passenger, because the dust cap was missing from a tire valve. "All accidents are chains of events with little links," he says.

Light It Up: Don't wait for rain or nightfall to turn on your lights. If your car doesn't have daytime running headlights, put them on and keep them on. "Headlights, contrary to the all too common belief I've encountered around Africa, do not affect fuel efficiency," says Farmer. "There's no reason not to keep them on at all times."

Keep Your Distance: On a tarmac road you should leave at least two seconds between your vehicle and the one in front. On an unsealed road, at least four seconds. The closer you are to the next car's bumper, the higher your chances of getting into accident if you're forced to stop short. "An easy way to calculate this is to pick a landmark, and once the back of the car in front is in line with that landmark, start counting, 'One elephant, two elephant'," says Farmer. Then adjust your distance accordingly.

Stow It Low: It's always better to stash things inside the car than on the roof. But if you need the extra space, be sure to pack your goods correctly. Objects on the roof negatively affect the vehicle's center of gravity, making the car more unstable and harder to control. Every vehicle has a center point, which is roughly at the top of the gear lever. You want to put the heaviest stuff near the vehicle's center point, toward the middle of the vehicle.

Find a Focus: Don't get distracted by other people's bad driving habits, says Farmer. "When you become preoccupied with your frustration or find yourself in a temporary fit of road rage, recognize it and do what you need to do to calm down."

Check Your Vision: Sounds like a no-brainer, but if you can't see you can't drive-and it's more likely you will be a hazard not just to yourself but to other drivers on the road.

Lose the Ego: "I've had drivers tell me, 'Why should I wear my seatbelt when I am a better driver than anyone else?'" says Farmer. "Needless to say, this is not a good attitude. If you really are so sure that all other drivers are less capable than you are, that's an even better reason to drive slowly and defensively." Multitasking while driving is a no-no for the same reason.

Slow Down: "Throughout Africa professional drivers are advised to drive fast through hostile areas," says Farmer. "This makes no sense. If, for example, you are fired upon while driving, it is even harder to control the vehicle traveling at a high speed."

Watch for Animals: "Animals don't walk backward," says Farmer. "If you see an animal in the road and can't fully stop in time, drive to where the animal came from."