Driving is often a scary experience, but if you know the rules and follow some simple tips, it won’t be nearly as bad. It may even be enjoyable!
Automated vehicles fall into six levels of automation, as defined by the Society of Automotive Engineers. Currently, Levels 0-2 are available for consumer purchase in the U.S.
1. Know Your Car
Driving a car can be an exciting experience, but it is important to remember that it takes skill and concentration. The key to good driving is to be aware of your surroundings and keep a safe distance from other vehicles on the road.
In addition to the obvious safety factors, you must be familiar with your car and its features so that you can respond quickly to any changes in conditions while on the road. To do this, you need to understand the layout of your car, its functions and locations, and what the various dashboard symbols mean.
The best way to do this is to read the owner’s manual, and even better if you can ask an experienced driver for assistance. The manual will give you information on the different parts of your vehicle, as well as the basic rules of the road.
Most new cars come with a number of safety features that can help you drive more safely, but you must make sure you are familiar with all of them. Some of these include traction control, stability control, and automatic braking systems.
It is also important to know how to use your blinkers (or indicators) when you want to switch lanes or turn in a specific direction. These lights are flashing orange or red (or some cars have red signals as blinkers on the sides of the rear of the car) and will let other drivers know that you want to change lanes or turn.
You must also scan the road and look over your shoulder to see if any cars are in your blind spots. If they are, then it is time to pull over and get out of the way until they move away from your area.
2. Know the Rules of the Road
Having a good understanding of the rules of the road is crucial for safe driving. While the driving rules vary between states, there are some key regulations that apply everywhere. By following these tips, you can drive more safely and confidently.
Yield to Pedestrians and Bicyclists – When you see someone crossing the road, slow down and yield. Similarly, do not turn left without first checking to make sure that there is no pedestrian or bike in the intersection.
Follow the Speed Limit – Stick to the posted speed limit at all times. This is a very important rule, as speeding has been linked to many serious accidents.
Be Prepared – Anticipate traffic light changes. If you know that there is a light change coming up, it’s best to stop or move ahead of the traffic before reaching the intersection.
Keep a Safe Distance from the Car in Front of You – This is one of the most important driving tips for new drivers. You should be able to keep a “cushion” of about three seconds’ driving time between you and the car in front of you, based on your current speed.
Drivers of large vehicles like trucks, recreational motor homes and cars towing trailers have a harder time keeping a safe following distance, as they must factor in the space they need to maneuver safely.
The Two-Second Rule – While this may seem obvious, it’s something that many drivers neglect or don’t even think about. The two-second rule involves selecting an object on the road ahead like a sign and counting slowly to two or three.
This is a great way to ensure that you are not tailgating, which can be annoying and trigger anxiety for the person in front of you. If you notice that the person in front of you is tailgating too closely, tap your brakes lightly a few times to let them know they are not maintaining a safe distance.
3. Stay Focused
Whether you’re driving to work, running errands or taking a long road trip, it’s important that you remain focused while in control of your car. Distracted driving is a serious risk that can result in devastating consequences for you and your passengers.
The good news is that there are steps you can take to help ensure that your focus remains sharp while you’re on the road. Here are eight tips for staying focused while you’re behind the wheel:
#1 – Avoid distractions
While it may be tempting to grab something from your purse or put on your makeup, these actions are distracting and can be dangerous if you’re involved in a crash. If you find yourself doing these things, make sure that the people in your car know to ask you to stop what you’re doing and focus on the road.
#2 – Set your phone up to block distractions
If you’re using iOS 15 and later, you can set your iPhone to stay focused on the road with Driving Focus. When it’s on, text messages and other notifications are silenced. This can help you stay focused on the road, even if your iPhone is in your pocket or bag.
#3 – Load up your vehicle with essentials
Aside from keeping your phone out of reach, it’s also important to load your family and pets into the car in a safe manner. Children should be buckled into their seatbelts or car seats, and pets should be secured in harnesses or crates to reduce potential distractions.
#4 – Prepare for your drive
Taking the time to plan your route, check traffic conditions and adjust your vehicle systems before hitting the road can make your journey much more pleasant and stress-free. This is especially true if you’re taking a long distance trip.
4. Stay Behind the Car in Front of You
One of the most important rules to remember while driving is to stay behind the car in front of you. Keeping this distance will allow you to stop and react quickly should something happen ahead. It will also help you avoid a crash, so it is always a good idea to practice this rule regularly.
It can be easy to get caught up in traffic and forget this. This is especially true when you are traveling at a high speed and the vehicle in front of you slows suddenly or stops unexpectedly. Then, you may be unable to react in time to avoid a collision.
Drivers should keep a safe following distance when driving around large vehicles such as trucks or buses. This is because these vehicles are larger and they have larger blind spots on the left, right, and front. This can make it very difficult for you to see them, and if they suddenly brake, you may not be able to avoid a crash.
The three-second rule is a great way to establish a safe distance between you and the vehicle in front of you. This rule states that you need to leave three seconds between your car and the vehicle ahead of you when you are driving at a certain speed.
This rule is simple to follow and can be measured by watching the rear bumper of the car in front of you. Once the rear bumper reaches a road marking or a stationary object like a telephone pole, start counting how many seconds it takes you to reach the same mark.
If you are counting more than four seconds, then you are too close to the car in front of you. This is especially important to remember when driving at a high speed or when the weather is bad.
5. Stay in Your Lane
When you are driving a car it is important to keep the vehicle in the center of your lane. This way you will avoid collisions with other vehicles on the road.
You can check your lane position by using your side mirrors or the front view mirror. You can also use your blind spot to judge the lane position of other vehicles on the road.
This is a good technique to use when driving straight or turning corners. When you are going around a corner try to look for landmarks that will help you to steer your car in the right direction, this will ensure that you don’t drift out of the lane.
Another thing that you can do is to use your turn signal when changing lanes. This will alert other drivers that you are making a change and it will also allow them to know when they should slow down or speed up.
The next tip is to establish a 3 second space cushion when you are following another vehicle. This will ensure that you have enough time to get out of the way when they pass.
If you do not have this cushion, you will end up veering to the left and possibly hitting oncoming traffic. This is especially true if you are staring at a car in the distance.
The big picture driving technique is a great way to stay centered in your lane and it will help you identify potential hazards before they become a problem. This will make you a more skilled driver and you’ll be able to steer your car in the right direction much easier.