No one likes getting pulled over. It is a stressful situation and usually ends up in a ticket and possibly an increase in your car insurance premiums. But if you can avoid the five things on this list, your chances of getting pulled over drop significantly.

This list is intended to help prevent you from being pulled over by the police. We want to help you keep points off your driving record, keep down the cost of your car insurance, but most importantly, help you avoid an accident in the first place.

Here are the five most common reasons people get pulled over by the police:

1. Speeding. Excessive speed is the most common reason police officers stop drivers, because speeding is dangerous. Consider that the faster you drive, the less time you have to react to an unexpected situation, whether it’s someone stepping into the street or another car slamming on the brakes. Exceeding speed limits makes you a target.

2. Illegal cell phone use. More and more states are passing laws making it illegal to use a hand-held mobile phone while driving. In many states, “Distracted driving” is now a primary offense, meaning an officer can stop you for using your phone while driving, even if no other offense has taken place. Taking a “quick call” or sending a text message can get you pulled over and cited.

3. Hazardous driving. This includes classic driving gaffes such as stop sign and stop light violations, changing lanes without signaling, illegal U-turns, and failures to yield. Other violations could include applying makeup, shaving and eating while driving. and unsafe speeds.

4. Equipment violations. Leading the list of reasons why you could be pulled over include burned-out headlights, broken windshield, burned-out tail lights, heavily tinted windows, and expired license plate tags. Any one (or more) of these situations is an invitation for a police officer to pull you over and cite you.

5. Following too closely. Following too closely can easily cause accidents because it shortens a driver’s reaction time. Combine that with cell phone use or texting and the risks increase very quickly.

What other questions might you have about car insurance? Ask us! We’re happy to review your current car insurance and make sure you understand what your policy covers, whether or not you have enough liability insurance, and check for all available discounts!