This list is aimed towards people who are learning to drive and are fairly new at it. But along with them, it is also a reminder to all practiced drivers as well because it is usually they who tend to forget the basic ground rules and cause a ruckus on the road. The first and foremost thing that you should do before you start driving is to get comfortable with your car. Get familiar with the basics of the car in theory before you start driving it. The second most important thing that an amateur driver should learn is the seating position.
Even some learned drivers don't position themselves correctly and thus lack comfort and control, which increases the probability of accidents. The driving seat should be set in a position where you can see all around easily and comfortably. It is usually said that the height of the seat should be such that your eyes are at half the height of the windshield.
Longitudinally, the seat should be at a position where your knees are not stretched too much when pushing the pedal all the way down. Once you are in the driver's seat, be attentive, adjust the mirrors, wear your seatbelt and keep the rules of the road in mind.
Avoid distractions while you are driving as city roads are jam packed with potential accidents waiting to happen. Therefore, you need to keep your eyes and attention focused on the road for every single second. Along with these rules, new drivers should especially avoid eating, turning up the music to a very high volume and indulging in detailed conversations while at the helm.
Also pay attention to driving in your lane and not drifting in between them, which can also happen simply from the imperfections on the road gradually adjusting your steering position. The seat should always be set in regards to the pedals. Push the brake fully with your right foot and depress the clutch, this should be done in a manner such that while depressing the pedals fully, your knees stay bent at about degrees. Despite what some may suggest, there is no one correct way of holding a steering wheel.
It depends on how you want to hold it in order to have maximum control over the wheel. Understand the importance of turning signals. Once you are on the road, you are one among many therefore it is very important that you alert the vehicles around you when you are about to turn.
Using signals helps save a lot of mishaps on the road. The most common temptation when one is behind the steering wheel is to speed up. It is very important that you first get familiar with the car before you start driving at the maximum allowed speed limit, especially on highways.
Any less and you're doing it too quickly; any more and you're doing it too slowly. Stay a healthy distance behind other cars, and avoid tailgating. How far you should stay behind the car in front of you depends on how fast you are traveling.
You want to give yourself two to five seconds to react, depending on your comfort level. If the car in front of you were to abruptly come to a halt, at your current speed, would you have enough time to both react and calmly slow your car down without colliding into the car in front of you?
To judge this, watch as the car in front of you passes a fixed object on the road, like a billboard. As soon as the car passes that object, begin counting: one-one-thousand, two-one-thousand, three-one-thousand How many seconds does it take for your car to pass the same object on the road?
Part 3. Drive defensively. Driving defensively is a very important concept that too many drivers either take for granted or don't understand. Driving defensively will help save you money , ensure a pleasurable driving experience, and — most important —help you stay alive.
Driving defensively is an umbrella term for several different concepts: Don't assume that other road users will obey the rules, or pay attention, or be cautious. Rules of the road are enforced to make sure that everyone is safe. Often those rules are broken by selfish or clueless drivers. Don't assume that drivers will use their blinkers before they turn, for example. Don't assume that drivers will slow down for you to merge. Don't assume that drivers won't drive past red lights. If you see a potentially dangerous situation, avoid it before it happens.
Don't linger immediately to the right of a big semi-truck, for example. Don't try to pass a drunk driver who's swerving in and out of lanes. Use all your senses to be aware, at all times, of what's happening on the road. Drivers often learn to tune out the rest of the world and "get in the zone," simply because they've done the same thing hundreds, if not thousands, of times.
Don't get too complacent behind the wheel. Use sight to monitor other cars' speeds and their habits. Use hearing to listen for car horns and the sounds of screeching. Use smell to be aware of burnt rubber or other caustic aromas that may indicate an accident. Stay in the right lanes for slower speeds and the left lanes for faster speeds.
On highways, and to a lesser extent on streets, the leftmost lanes are usually reserved for faster traffic, while the rightmost lanes are reserved for slower traffic. It's rude and dangerous to tailgate someone going slower than you in the right lane. At the same time, it's selfish to hog the left lanes when you're going considerably slower than other traffic.
Get in a lane that's going roughly your speed and stay there until you need to turn or leave the road. Whenever possible, pass cars on the left side instead of the right side. Because the general speed of traffic increases going right to left, it's important to pass on the left.
You're speeding your car up and going faster than the car ahead of you, so you want to pass using a lane that's meant for faster cars. Follow this general rule of thumb even if it's not a "law" where you drive! Remember: drive right, pass left. Trucks and semis are far larger than normal cars, meaning that their blind spots are far bigger. Trucks often stay in the rightmost lanes and switch lanes to the right, rarely switching lanes to the left.
Passing trucks on the left, therefore, means you're driving your car out of their territory, lowering your risk. Abide by the speed limits. Speed limits are there for a reason. They're not there to make driving less fun; they're there to make the road a safer place for all. Be extremely careful in abnormal driving conditions. When the weather acts up, tone it down a notch and drive even more defensively than normal.
When it rains, for example, the water interacts with the oil on driving surfaces, making it very slick and slippery. In these conditions, it's hard for your tires to get good traction. Winter creates more difficult driving situations; with colder temperatures as well as icy and snowy surfaces.
Learn how to drive your car during the winter. Be courteous on the road. Being courteous simply means acknowledging that there are other people using the road, each with his or her own agenda, and many of whom don't want to be stuck in their car.
Make their life on the road a little easier if it's easy for you; the thought is that they'll pay it forward at some point, and you may be the beneficiary of their largesse. Use your horn to alert other drivers, not to chide them. The horn is a powerful device. Use your horn when someone merges into your lane without seeing you, or when a light has turned green but they're still sitting idle. Don't use your horn because you're stuck in a traffic jam to express your frustration.
Use a wave to thank someone. When someone lets you into their lane, wave your hand to thank them. It doesn't take much effort, and it's a nice acknowledgment of "thanks" for keeping you in mind. Don't disobey the rules of the road just in order to be courteous.
This is important. If you stop at a four-way stop and you get there first, you're the one who gets to go first. Don't stop and let the person who got there after you go. It holds up efficiency and often creates confusion. Have fun. Driving can be dangerous, and there sure are a lot of rules that you need to remember, but it's important to have fun while you're behind the wheel. Even while staying responsible, driving can be incredibly exhilarating. Just remember that the road doesn't belong to you alone and you should be fine.
Part 4. Learn how to parallel park. Parallel parking is when you have to back your car into a tight parking spot, usually a very complex maneuver. There are a couple of tried and true tricks to parallel parking, which you can learn here. A very important part of urban driving. Learn how to merge in heavy traffic. Merging onto a highway can be a difficult thing to do, especially if the traffic is denser than expected.
The important thing to do here is to accelerate enough and judge whether you're going fast enough to fit safely between two cars. Use a roundabout. They may not be popular in America, but if you've ever driven outside the U. Often used instead of stop signs, roundabouts are efficient but need to be understood before conquered. Learn how to drive uphill. Driving uphill can be a challenge, particularly if you're driving a manual car.
Master the art of downshifting when going up a steep hill. Save gas. With the rising cost of fuel, driving smart means more than just avoiding accidents.
Those drivers who can save fuel while they drive ultimately have more money to spend on car accessories. Did you know you can get expert answers for this article? Unlock expert answers by supporting wikiHow. Simon Miyerov Driving Instructor. Simon Miyerov. Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer. Not Helpful 3 Helpful Not Helpful 1 Helpful You need to press down hard but gradually so you don't stop too suddenly.
Make sure that the person behind you has enough time to realize you're stopping, or they might rear end you. Not Helpful 72 Helpful Have someone drive you to a safe open area free of pedestrians and other cars. Hop in the car and just drive. You'll get a feel of the wheel after you practice a bit in an open space. Not Helpful 89 Helpful Is it more difficult to drive a manual transmission or automatic transmission?
Manual transmission requires the use of three pedals and timing for the clutch to engage gears. Therefore, a manual transmission is more complex and more difficult to drive than a car with an automatic transmission. Not Helpful 57 Helpful You have to release the acceleration pedal and concentrate more on the brake pedal to help regulate your speed. Not Helpful 73 Helpful Keep an eye on your speed.
If traffic is very slow to a point where you must stop the car , make sure you have a good amount of space in front of your car. Tip: When slowing down and coming to a stop, look at the car in front for yours back tire and stop when you see the bottom of their tires meet your car's hood.
Not Helpful 51 Helpful Concentrate on steering and pump the brakes. Not Helpful 61 Helpful There are 2 pedals: the gas pedal which moves the car, and the brake that slows or stops the car. Not Helpful 52 Helpful Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
By using this service, some information may be shared with YouTube. Wear your seat belt. This is the easiest way to be safe in a car, and it's illegal in many countries not to wear one. Helpful 16 Not Helpful 1. When driving bigger cars, make sure you are clear of the road ahead before overtaking.
Helpful 8 Not Helpful 0. Helpful 16 Not Helpful 3. Helpful 15 Not Helpful 4. If you are a new driver, always ride with an experienced driver until you are confident enough to drive independently. Helpful 8 Not Helpful 1. When you're starting out, driving a car can be scary at times, but with practice and other techniques, you can overcome a fear of driving. Adjust the vehicle so that you are comfortable. Before you start the car, make sure that you can see out of all mirrors and that the seat is adjusted to your height.
Being comfortable will help you relax during this somewhat nerve rattling experience. The following guide is an excellent assistant when you try to adjust your seat and mirrors. Do not overthink the situation. Driving a car is an experience that requires you to multitask.
Although remembering to use turn signals and what a particular road sign means are both very important, even more important is your ability to concentrate on the task at hand. Try to clear your mind and focus on what you are doing. Calm your nerves. It is always best to have a trusted and experienced driver in the passenger seat next to you when you drive a car for the first time.
Having a trusted parent or other adult there to help you and give you advice will make driving a vehicle for the first time a little less scary. Even if your parent isn't a driving expert, their support will help you feel more comfortable and enjoy the ride 4 Rid yourself of distractions.
This is not the time to transport your crying little sister to daycare or three of your talkative friends to a party. Driving with distractions is never a good idea, particularly if you have never driven a vehicle before.
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