Most people think that learning how to drive ends at the driving school. The rest of it is just about practicing the skills on the road. However, the truth is, you can always try to be a better driver. Every day is a new day, presenting a new set of challenges on the road. Learning how to overcome these safely is something that never gets old. In fact, driving instructors recommend that people should opt for a refresher driving course every ten years, just to be safe.
Consider the example of bad drivers. Maybe they are driving for a long time, but despite that, they still make mistakes without wanting to correct them. Bad driving is a menace. It not only risks the driver concerned, but other drivers, bikers, and pedestrians. Since you recognize this problem, and want to be a better driver yourself, here are the top 5 tips to get it right.
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Maintain Speed Limits
The tendency to go too fast can land you in trouble. It is a dangerous habit that should be reined. It increases the chances of getting in an accident. Also, it can get you into trouble with the police. You might be fined for it, or your driving license may be confiscated. The point here is that you should be careful about maintaining the right speed limits.
Sometimes, even if you may not break the limit, it may still be more depending on the conditions of the road. Keep your speed under control in conditions such as rain or snow. The same goes for gravel runs and tight turns. In reality, speeding does not help much in actual road conditions. Maybe, you gain a few minutes, but it is more or less the same due to other traffic, traffic lights, and intersections. You only use up a lot of fuel and run the risk of a collision. When you are joining a motorway, ensure that your speed matches up with that of the traffic already on the motorway. This would prevent other drivers from braking or changing lanes unnecessarily.
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Maintain a Bigger Gap
Maintain a bigger gap with the vehicle in front of you. Tailgating is a seriously bad habit that drivers need to avoid. First and foremost, it obstructs your view to see further down the road. Scanning the road at least 12 seconds ahead allows you a great deal of extra time to anticipate and react. Seeing further ahead saves fuel and helps reduce distress on the brakes since you can adjust your speed much earlier. It significantly increases the risk of nose-to-tail collisions.
You have much less time to react and apply brakes when you are tailgating. It also means more frequent use of the accelerator and the brakes. This leads to burning up more fuel than you normally would. Also, it causes your brake lights to flick on and off, making it problematic for the driver behind you. Besides, there is always the risk of other vehicles moving into your lane to exit the motorway. They shorten the gaps, even more, making it further problematic.
You may think it is difficult to keep a bigger space in busy driveways. However, you will be surprised if you maintain this practice. It goes easy on your brakes and makes driving an overall smooth experience.
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Adjusting your Mirrors
Most drivers would keep their side mirrors in a position to see the edge of the vehicle. However, you can see that area already in your rear-view mirror. So, you should be adjusting your mirror so that the car’s edge is barely visible, and you can see most of the lane at your back. While adjusting the mirror, sit at the steering wheel and place yourself against the driver-side window.
The same goes for the passenger side mirrors. Tilt your head over the center console and adjust the mirror so that the edge of the vehicle is barely visible. With the mirrors placed in this position, the chance of hitting blind spots is greatly reduced. However, do remember that it is impossible to eliminate all the blind spots. Checking over your shoulder for turns and lane changes is still compulsory.
Don’t forget to glance at the mirrors every few seconds. Many drivers fix their vision at the front, looking at the back of the vehicle just in front of them. This evidently leads to something called target fixation. You can become so fixated with the front view that you may not realize that the gap is shortening. A good driver always checks the mirrors frequently to have a clear perception of what’s going on. This is particularly important before making any lateral moves.
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Maintain a Smooth Drive
You can use a car camera to make all your driving inputs steady. When you review the footage after a drive, it can help you gauge your brake and accelerator usage. The acceleration of the car should be maintained in a fairly constant position unless you are speeding up or slowing down deliberately. If you find out that you have an uneven acceleration, it should be visible in having a lesser gap with the vehicle in front of you.
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Other Safe Practices
One of the commonest mistakes that cause accidents is to drive when sleepy. Fatigue causes problems by first affecting your responses. Then, it progresses to micro-sleeps that can cause the car to lose control and crash. Whenever you are feeling too tired to drive, consider pulling over and having a power nap for fifteen minutes.
Also, keep your phone in flight mode before starting to drive. Set up your satellite navigation and music before you start driving to avoid distractions. If you are having trouble seeing the road, you should consider getting your vision checked by the ophthalmologist. Do not take risks as vision tends to deteriorate over time.
These five tips should be helpful in becoming a better driver. Driving does not have to be hazardous if you are careful about the best practices. Do not neglect the usual safety practices, such as wearing a seat belt at all times and switching on the indicator light before turning. Remember that most of the incidents happen on the road because people are careless. With careful driving skills, you can make it safe for yourself and others. You can try fake id for your documents.