Got a new car and love taking your friends for a ride on weekends? That's all well and good, but you need to be a responsible driver. You might think that it's all about not beating the speed limit and that you always have your seatbelt fastened. But even the most responsible of drivers get into the most horrific car accidents and there are reasons why this happens. So take a look at the following list and see if you do one of these things that can more often than not lead to a car accident.

• Don't eat – While you are driving a car, make sure that your hands are free and that you are not doing anything else. This includes eating. You might be hungry on the way to work but if you really have to snack on something, make sure that you aren't doing it at 60 miles an hour.

A lot of people tend to take their lunches and coffees on the road while they are driving. This may seem like convenience to you but it is just irresponsible driving that can lead to accidents that may threaten your life.

• Don't talk – Now this may seem awkward but talking can actually be a distraction to some people who drive. You can probably carry on a casual conversation with a friend or relative but do not try to get into long debates or conversations that will encourage your mind to trail off. You might just become more engrossed in the conversation at hand than on the road. If you get into a deep conversation with someone, consider pulling over to the side of the road so that you can finish that conversation.

• Get off the phone – This is something that has proven time and again that mobile phones and driving do not mix well at all. There have been countless accidents that have been caused by mobile phone usage while driving so if you are a heavy mobile phone user, make sure that you are using a device that allows you to operate your phone hands-free. That kind of technology may be expensive but the investment is worth it if you consider that your life is on the line each and every time you answer the phone with one hand while steering your car with the other.

• Reading or writing – Ever caught yourself reading signs on the side of the road or looking at store names and billboards? When you are driving never ever take your eyes off the road or off the rearview mirror because you just never know when something disastrous is about to happen. The point here is that there are so many distractions on the road and if you are not attentive enough to avoid those distractions, you put your life and the lives of others in danger.

Also, if you have to take notes about something you saw, just make it a mental note until you have stopped your car or you are at your destination. Pulling out a piece of paper and a pen while driving is in itself one of the riskiest things that you ever do.