If you have had your car for decades, years or even just months- you have a responsibility to be a good, safe and careful driver on the roads. There are millions of cars on the road at any one time and this is why everyone must make a good effort to stay vigilant of themselves, other drivers and everything else on the roads. If you want to learn how to become a more responsible driver this year, here are some tips for you to follow.
Look After Your Vehicle
The most important thing you need to remember if you want to be a responsible driver is to look after your vehicle. If you don’t take the time to maintain your vehicle you will not be safe enough on the roads. This means that once a month or so you should take an hour to do some essential checks on your car. You can check the tyre pressure wij a gauge and also make sure the tyre tread is good enough. You can then look at your wipers, screenwash, coolant, antifreeze and oil levels. These are all things you should be doing by second nature to keep your car healthy and safe. This also means that you don’t necessarily go for the cheapest car insurance policies you can find. It is important to look for a good deal, however you need to also make sure you are getting the correct amount of cover.
Don’t Speed Or Overtake
It is not good practice when you are driving on the road to go way above the speed limit. This is for most people simple common sense, but you would be surprised how many people still ignore this fact and speed anyway. You will already know that the faster you drive the more damage will occur if you have an accident, so why take that risk? Sure, it can be acceptable to overtake when you are stuck behind a late tractor going at about 10 mph, but other than that it really isn’t advisable.
Never Drink And Drive
The worst possible thing you can do after having a few beers at the pub is to get behind the wheel of a car. It is incredibly dangerous to drive under the influence of alcohol because alcohol works as a depressant and slows down our reaction times. This means if you do come across something in the road which you need to dodge or stop in front of, you are much more likely not to stop in time. Be smart and stay in control whenever you decide the take the wheel. If you do have a drink, try asking someone else to drive you home or even call a cab instead. It is much safer than risking it.
Be Careful Changing Lanes
Sometimes when you are driving you might realise that you need to be in a different lane to go the way you need to, and this is absolutely fine. It is understandable that you will make mistakes like this when you are exploring somewhere new. The thing you need to make sure of is that you thoroughly check your blind spot before you move over. There could be a cyclist there which you could risk hurting if you do not check this. Also keep an eye out for other drivers who look like they will try to change lanes because this could block your path.
The Two Second Rule
You will have learnt during your driving lessons that you must always keep a two second distance between you and the car ahead. This is not just a rule they put in their to keep you or of the way as you are learning; it is a point of safety for both you and the car in front of you. This is to make sure that you have enough time to react if the car in front of you ever suddenly stops or has an accident. It keeps you safe and makes sure that you don’t cause even more damage to them.
Don’t Get Distracted
There is absolutely nothing wrong with listening to music on the radio as you drive, and in fact many people find that it helps their concentration. However, when it comes to other distractions in the car, you need to avoid them as much as you can. This will include things like talking on the phone even if it is Bluetooth, texting and looking at your sat nav constantly while on the road. There is nothing wrong with talking to your family and friends on the road, however if you struggle to talk and concentrate sometimes don’t feel guilty in asking your passengers to be quiet for a moment. At the end of the day you are responsible for everyone who is in the vehicle with you.
