Driving for the first time can be quite daunting and overwhelming. The feel of your hands on the while and revving up the car engine might make you nervous, and driving out on the road can make you feel unsure about what you are doing.
Thus, here are some driving and road safety tips that might give you that little push to provide you with self-awareness and confidence in heading out to the road and drive a vehicle with ease.
1. Research for the Best Driving School within Your Area
For those who have zero knowledge and experience with driving, it is better to have expert teachers help you navigate learning how to drive and understand road safety.
It would be good to take the time to look for qualified and highly recommended driving schools within your area. Information is already widely accessible on the internet, and you can even ask your insurance company for referrals. Finding the best school within your location will not only give you the proper driving education but also might end up saving your life.
If you live way down in Australia, Driving Zone Vicroads is a highly recommended driving school that has received great reviews from people in the Carlton area. With having 7.5k+ tests passed, you are indeed in excellent hands with the best driving instructors available to teach you safe driving on the road.
2. Wear Your Seatbelt
This is the cardinal rule of driving, or just being in a moving vehicle: NEVER FORGET TO WEAR A SEATBELT. One must understand the life-saving choice of wearing a seatbelt, whether you being the driver or being a passenger in a car.
The latest seat belt-use statistics show that lives have been saved, which is at 90.7%, which would bring an approximate number of 14, 955 people who have chosen to wear their seatbelts.
Indeed, a simple choice can make or break your driving safety, and wearing your seatbelt is one thing a mindful and careful driver should never forget.
3. Keep Your Eyes on the Road
Using your phone or any other electronic gadget while driving is not allowed during driving lessons for a reason. This is to teach would-be-drivers to keep their undivided attention on the wheel, and for them to carry over such discipline when they are left on their own on the road.
If you need to take that call, or an urgent message pops up, better slow down and stop by a safe part of the road and attend to your phone. The National Safety Council has reported that 1.6 million crashes in a year have happened due to distracted driving because of cell phone use.
4. No Need for Speed
Most of those who like speeding are young and new drivers, and have often resulted in accidents and, unfortunately, death. If you have a teen or a newbie driver who feels the need for speed, remind them that there is no pressure to drive fast unless and only if it is an emergency. As the parent of a young driver, you understand it’s important to have good vehicle insurance for your teens to safeguard them.
5. Frequently Check for Blind Spots
A careful and defensive driver would often look out for blind spots through the side and rear mirrors, most especially at these times:
- When you are driving in reverse, in case you might bump hit anything or anyone behind you
- While overtaking (but only do so on highways or multiple lane roads)
- Before pulling out from the driveway or parking area
- Upon entering into a driveway or parking area
- When you are turning left, right, or doing a U-turn
It would be good to adjust your side mirrors and practice checking blind spots until it would become seamless and natural for you.
6. Don’t Drink and Drive.
The fatality of drinking-and-driving accidents has increased immensely over time. It should serve as a deterrent for drivers to never drive when there is still alcohol or drugs within their system.
Countries worldwide have executed laws that would severely punish drivers who are caught having even the slightest detection of alcohol or drugs in their bodies. Top-of-the-line breathalyzers are already being used by law enforcement personnel to check delinquent drivers.
Generally, it is better to be in the safe zone than regret your choices by avoiding drinking and driving altogether. Now only will you save your own life, but others’ lives as well.
7. Don’t Drive When You are Sleepy or Tired
Equally dangerous is driving while you are feeling sleepy or exhausted. Fatigue causes impairment of one’s sense and may be detrimental when you are on the road, making you lose focus and coordination, which is very important when you are on the wheel.
If there are instances when you need to drive and you would feel extremely tired, or on the verge of sleeping (like on a road trip), it is best to stop by a safe place and take that time to have a quick shut-eye, or just look for a nearby resting place such as a traveler’s inn so you could get a complete rest before going back on the road again.
8. Be Aware and Vigilant of Other Reckless Drivers on the Road
It wouldn’t be avoided that there will be reckless and arrogant drivers on the same road or highway as you. It is better for a newbie driver to be on defensive than offensive mode as you wouldn’t have enough skills yet to be able to be one step ahead of these people.
Tailgaters are a class of their own, having no respect for the proper space between their vehicles from others. As much as possible, you would want to stay away from this type of driver, and switching to another lane or allowing them to simply overtake would be the best way to go. While overtaking, also watch out for other drivers behind or beside you.
Takeaway
Safety is key to efficient driving and should be the number one priority behind the wheel. Hopefully, these tips can help you as a newbie driver and give you more trust in your skills while navigating through the streets in your vehicle.