Bad driving habits

Key points

1. Bad driving habits come from laziness, impatience, inattention, arrogance and aggressiveness.

   Source: PDF page 71

   “Bad driving habits result from laziness, impatience, inattention, arrogance, and aggressiveness.”
   West Virginia Driver's Licensing Handbook, PDF page 71

2. Always turn your head and look behind you before acting; looking only in the rear view mirror is laziness.

   Source: PDF page 71

   “Always turn your head and look behind you for traffic before taking any action. Do not become lazy and look only in the rear view mirror.”
   West Virginia Driver's Licensing Handbook, PDF page 71

3. Pressure from following cars and no cross traffic can tempt impatient drivers to only slow down for a stop sign.

   Source: PDF page 71

   “Pressure from following vehicles and the absence of cross traffic may tempt you to only slow down for a stop sign.”
   West Virginia Driver's Licensing Handbook, PDF page 71

4. An impatient driver speeds from stop to stop, weaves through traffic and often tailgates.

   Source: PDF page 71

   “An impatient driver speeds from stop to stop, weaves in and out of traffic, and often tailgates other drivers.”
   West Virginia Driver's Licensing Handbook, PDF page 71

5. The impatient driver is simply in a hurry; the arrogant or aggressive driver is purposely in a hurry.

   Source: PDF page 72

   “While the impatient driver is simply in a hurry, the arrogant or aggressive driver is purposely in a hurry.”
   West Virginia Driver's Licensing Handbook, PDF page 72

6. Do not become an arrogant driver or compete with one.

   Source: PDF page 72

   “Don't allow yourself to become an arrogant driver or involve yourself in competition with an arrogant driver.”
   West Virginia Driver's Licensing Handbook, PDF page 72

3 questions from the West Virginia practice test

1. 1. What does the West Virginia handbook call the habit of checking only the rear view mirror before changing lanes or pulling away from the curb?

   1. Impatience
   2. Good defensive driving
   3. Inattention
   4. Laziness, a bad driving habit
   Show answer

   Laziness, a bad driving habit. The handbook groups bad driving habits under laziness, impatience, inattention, arrogance and aggressiveness. Laziness is looking only in the rear view mirror instead of turning your head to check behind you before changing lanes, driving away from the curb, or opening a door on the traffic side, and it includes failing to signal. Always turn your head and look before acting, and signal your intention before turning or changing lanes.

2. 2. What does the West Virginia handbook say tempts impatient drivers to only slow down for a stop sign?

   1. A green light at the next intersection
   2. Wet pavement
   3. Pressure from following vehicles and the absence of cross traffic
   4. A flashing yellow signal
   Show answer

   Pressure from following vehicles and the absence of cross traffic. The handbook's impatience section warns that pressure from following vehicles and the absence of cross traffic may tempt you to only slow down for a stop sign. Neither excuse changes the law: regardless of traffic you must come to a complete stop at a stop sign or red light, even for a right turn. The impatient driver who rolls through, speeds from stop to stop and weaves in traffic raises the chance of a crash for everyone nearby.

3. 3. How does the West Virginia handbook distinguish the arrogant or aggressive driver from the impatient driver?

   1. The aggressive driver drives slowly to block others
   2. They are the same thing
   3. The impatient driver is simply in a hurry, while the arrogant or aggressive driver is purposely in a hurry and competes with the vehicle
   4. The impatient driver ignores all traffic laws
   Show answer

   The impatient driver is simply in a hurry, while the arrogant or aggressive driver is purposely in a hurry and competes with the vehicle. While the impatient driver is simply in a hurry, the arrogant or aggressive driver is purposely in a hurry. Such a driver competes with the vehicle because it is an extension of the ego and has little or no respect for traffic laws or the rights of others. The handbook asks drivers who see these habits in themselves to evaluate and adjust their behavior. Neither type drives slowly to block others; both raise crash risk by pushing.

Source: the West Virginia Driver's Licensing Handbook, Chapter VIII: Defensive Driving. This lesson is a plain English summary, not the law itself; where it differs, the manual and the statute govern. Last checked 2026-09-27.