Learning to drive can be both exciting and nerve-wracking; here are some helpful tips that will keep both novice drivers and their parents safe on the roads. Never drive under the influence, as it compromises your response time and judgment, putting both you and other drivers at risk.
1. Learn the Basics of Your Car
Learning basic car knowledge can enhance both safety and financial savings for new drivers or their parents. At GetDriversEd, we encourage our learners to develop in-depth knowledge of their vehicles so they are better prepared for every driving scenario.
Acquaint yourself with the dashboard until you can easily identify its important gauges and indicators, practice holding the steering wheel correctly, adjust mirrors properly, and leave enough distance between you and the car ahead—three seconds in normal weather conditions is an optimal distance between cars.
2. Practice Often
One of the key driving tips for novice drivers is frequent practice behind the wheel. This will allow you to get comfortable behind the wheel quickly, building confidence. Practice braking and turning with minimal distractions while wearing your seatbelt. Distracted driving claims the lives of 3,500 individuals each year; you should limit how long your phone, music, food, or any other sources distract you from driving safely.
Remind yourself that pedestrians have the right of way, and ensure that you provide them plenty of room. Additionally, make sure that you maintain an appropriate distance between you and the car ahead. Depending on speed, road conditions, and your vehicle type, these factors could determine the ideal distance.
3. Learn Traffic Laws
Traffic laws exist to ensure the safety of drivers and pedestrians alike; unfortunately, many new drivers ignore them, leading to accidents and injuries as a result.
As part of your driving education, it’s crucial that you become acquainted with standard laws applicable everywhere—such as the 0.08% blood alcohol limit and yielding right-of-way to pedestrians. Other key tips include taking care not to tailgate other vehicles and leaving enough space between yourself and other cars so they can pass. When approaching turns or making right turns, always move into the left lane; four out of ten accidents involve rear-end collisions.
4. Adjust Your Mirrors
Driving requires learning how to use mirrors effectively. There are two kinds of car mirrors—the wing-shaped ones on either side of your car and a rearview mirror attached to your windshield.
Adjust the mirrors so you can clearly view both lanes behind and cars in front of you. Mirror settings will vary based on your height and seat position, so ensure it meets your specific needs. By eliminating the need for head turns and decreasing blind spots, this method helps avoid accidents as well as saves neck strain that could potentially result in injury to yourself and others.
5. Hold the Steering Wheel
Steering wheels are key components of vehicle control, and holding them correctly is essential to driving safely. When turning, use a hand-over-hand method in which either hand pushes up and then pulls down to turn; this prevents crossing your hands over the wheel, which could result in serious injuries in an accident, according to NHTSA.
No matter the purpose of your drive, it is critical to follow speed limits and maintain an appropriate distance from cars in front of you to stay safe behind the wheel and build confidence as an operator.
6. Pay Attention to Your Dashboard
Learning to drive can be an incredible achievement, yet it comes with enormous responsibility. To remain safe on the road, new drivers must pay close attention when driving on public roadways and follow all traffic regulations. They should also familiarize themselves with each dashboard warning light to best respond when any illuminates.
Neglecting dashboard warning lights can result in serious and costly repairs, so newcomers must familiarize themselves with what each indicator represents and take immediate action if any illuminate. Stay focused by turning off your phone and other devices that could cause distraction. Keep music at an appropriate volume so you can hear sirens and other vehicles passing.
7. Don’t Turn Up the Music
Steering control is an essential skill for new drivers, yet it can be difficult to master if distracted by music or passengers. Doing so could cause you to drift out of your lane and endanger other motorists as well as yourself.
If you must listen to music while learning how to drive, keep it at an acceptable level and avoid fidgeting with controls that might distract. Furthermore, it would be prudent to limit the number of passengers in your car during lessons so as to limit distractions and focus on improving driving skills instead.
8. Be Prepared
As a new driver yourself or providing guidance and instruction to young adults in driving for the first time, driving can be both exciting and nerve-wracking. By learning a few key safety tips beforehand, however, driving can become both exciting and secure!
For instance, if another driver is tailgating you, make an effort to safely change lanes or slow down to give them some space. Also remember to wear your seat belt at all times; it is the most reliable way of protecting you against injury in case of an accident. Avoid driving while impaired by alcohol or drugs, as these substances impair judgment, reaction time, and perception.
