Few things strike more fear into the hearts of drivers everywhere than the red and blue flashing lights of a police siren beckoning them to the shoulder of the road. Not only is getting pulled over inconvenient and embarrassing, but traffic tickets and moving violations can be expensive. It may seem that the cops have it out for you sometimes, but the fact is there are a few basic things you can do to improve your driving and thus avoid attracting the unwanted attention of the fuzz.

Drive safely
This may seem like an absolute no-brainer, but the fact is it still warrants repeating; if you're driving unsafely, chances are you're going to attract the wrong kind of police attention. One of the biggest offenders in this category is speeding. Everybody's been there. You're late for work, a dance recital, the birth of your child or any number of other events, and we figure that by goosing the gas just a bit more we can shave off some of that travel time. Edmunds reported that according to surveys from various police departments, speeding incidents seem to be on the rise. Unfortunately, driving faster doesn't just decrease the time it takes to reach your destination, it also decreases your reaction time and ability to respond to potential emergency situations. While cops generally allow some minor leeway when it comes to speed limits, you should always aim to follow the posted signs to avoid costly tickets.

Keep your car in order
Even if you're the best driver you know, you can still find yourself on the receiving end of a police stop. Defensive driving and abiding speed limits are essential, but if your car isn't properly maintained that can lead to some costly punitive measures. According to a blogger writing for eSurance, illegally tinted windows, busted tail lights, burnt out headlights and cracked windshields are all among the most common superfluous equipment malfunctions to lead to unwanted traffic tickets. What's more, unlike issues of swerving or potentially dangerous driving, maintenance issues are cut and dried – if your tail light's out, it's a guaranteed stop.

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