“But officer, I didn’t realize how fast I was going!” If a police officer had a dollar for every time he heard that phrase, he or she could probably retire next week. If you’ve ever been pulled over, then you know the sudden pit you feel in your stomach as soon as those red and blue lights start flashing. With a million questions running through your mind, you pull to the side of the road and start digging through the glove compartment for your license and registration. There are many reasons people get pulled over, but these are the top 5 most common.

Speeding

According to the National Motorists Association, 34 million speeding tickets are issued in the United States every year. That’s roughly 65 tickets every single minute. If you’re one of the unfortunate drivers who has fallen victim to a speeding ticket, you know the hefty fine that comes with it. Do yourself a favor and slow down, particularly in residential areas where police officers like to set up speed traps.

Texting

Washington was the first state to pass a texting ban in 2007, and now 46 states, D.C. Puerto Rico, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands all have text messaging bans for drivers. There are three types of distracted driving – visual, manual, and cognitive – and texting fits the bill for all three. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the average text takes your eyes off the road long enough to cover an entire football field, if you’re driving at 55mph.

Erratic Driving

Careless driving is dangerous for you, your passengers, and any other drivers on the road. This can include swerving, peeling out at stop lights, tailgating, and many other hazardous activities. Any of these can make a police officer that you are under the influence of drugs or alcohol, which can result in DUI charges. Even if you are not under the influence of any illegal substances, you can still receive a ticket for reckless driving, which is a serious offense punishable by fines or even imprisonment in some states.

Tailgating

There are few things more anger-inducing than a driver who cuts you off last minute and then drives under the speed limit. Even though what they did is wrong, that doesn’t mean you should get even with them. The technical law is that drivers should leave 1 car length of space (or 15ft) for every 10mph he or she is traveling. Any less is considered tailgating, which is both rude and a traffic violation that can lead to an expensive fine and points on your license.

Equipment Violations

Headlights, turn signals, brake lights, and windshields are all important parts of a vehicle to help make cars safer. Unfortunately, these are all parts that can malfunction. Officers can give you a ticket for having a taillight out, a crack in your windshield, tinted windows, etc. Make sure to check these parts every so often to make sure they’re working correctly and that you are not breaking any laws.

It’s important to follow the rules of the road, not just so that you don’t get a ticket, but because it helps keep you and other drivers safe. Your driving record also affects your car insurance rates if you get points on your license. Luckily, you can find the lowest down payment on minimum coverage car insurance at Good2Go, who’s dedicated to helping customers drive legal for less. Visit www.good2go.com for your free quote in under two minutes.