A recent study from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found that a considerable number of drivers admit to breaking the rules of the road. This occurs even despite the fact that one-fifth of drivers have been involved in a serious crash and most people recognize these practices are unsafe.

Motorists who are serious about improving their driving habits do have some options when it comes to staying safe on the roads. Some help can come in the form of special features – or the lack thereof – their cars are equipped with. If that sounds appealing to you, consider these three factors that impact safety behind the wheel. 

1. Be picky about technology 
You may be tempted to spring for a used car that's loaded with advanced technology and gadget-friendly interfaces. However, these amenities can occasionally serve as a major distraction on the roads, with many drivers attempting to justify their texting and calling instead of kicking the habit. 

"Despite the growing body of research that offers evidence about the possible dangers of using hands-free technologies, most drivers don't understand the risks and continue to use these technologies," said Peter Kissinger, president of the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. "The good news is that we all have the ability to make safer choices and can personally enhance our safety while driving."

2. Use cruise control 
When you're trying to look through the hundreds of used cars available at places like NJ State Auto, you're probably putting features like cruise control on the back burner. However, having this perk working can be a huge advantage if you're trying to cut back on speeding. AAA noted that about half of drivers say they go more than 10 mph above the limit, even on residential streets, and having a resource like cruise control could help prevent speeding. 

3. Trust your brakes 
According to the AAA survey, more than one-third of U.S. drivers report running through red lights. That's in spite of the fact that more than half of motorists believe this action is a serious threat to safety and a whopping 73 percent say it's completely unacceptable. For some, the reasoning behind zooming through a light could be as simple as not having enough room to stop – but with high-quality brakes, you don't have to worry. Make sure your used car has been cared for in the past and don't forget to invest in brake repair in the future.