How to be a good driver?
Being a good driver is more than knowing how to drive – it’s knowing how to be a good driver.
I know some very good drivers, but it seems like there are not many around me anymore. Some people, even though they drive, simply cannot keep the car in the lane and they’ll swerve from the road to take a shortcut, or just to cut through the traffic and be reckless.
People seem to get into a state of panic when they’re stuck in traffic, instead of calmly observing the road. Driving is more than the ability to move from point A to point B in the least amount of time. You have to know how to stay on the road.
How to stay on the road.
There are many things one can do to improve his/her driving abilities, but one can never rely on the driver’s error to correct itself. The following are the basic principles of road safety, and you’ll find them being applied when you drive. The following are:
Observe traffic controls – they are everywhere! The rules of the road say so, and we’re all responsible for following them. So why is it that some of us don’t always obey traffic rules?
The only reason why this happens is that there are no consequences. I’ve been stuck behind people who are doing 30-40kph over the speed limit, and then suddenly the light turns green and they start speeding up.
It’s time to start giving these people a piece of their minds. If you see someone else is doing the same thing, give him/her a beep of your horn – let them know you’re not going to sit and wait for them to pass, or cut in front of them. People also want to know the best way to replace valve covers gaskets in 2022.
When you’re in a car, you are an extension of the car in front of you. That means you don’t just get to be in the fast lane of the highway because you own a faster car, you must follow the rules of the road.
Use good sense – good sense does exist in every driver. There are times when the road isn’t a safe place to drive – if you see a place where cars are swerving, you need to stop. You should not assume that because there’s so much traffic that a car that stopped is safe.
That doesn’t mean there’s a safe place to pass them, as well. There are roads you can’t go on because of the traffic. Don’t take the chance. When you drive, know where the traffic is going, how many cars are there, etc. Observe the signs.
Some may have only a lane change sign or a speed limit sign, but that doesn’t mean that this is the only thing you should be obeying. It doesn’t say that if a car in front of you is speeding, you can only observe the limit sign.
If you want to pass, slow down in a safe place. If you see something behind you that’s unsafe, it doesn’t mean you have to stop. That’s where good sense comes into play – if you see that the road ahead is not safe to pass, then it means that there are obstacles or slow vehicles that you can’t go around.
Be careful of changing lanes – if you’re in a city, it’s very easy to find yourself in situations where changing lanes is more dangerous than stopping. That’s why we drive-in lanes, so that if we encounter traffic ahead, we don’t need to back up and risk-taking a lane change.
If you do have to make a lane change, first observe the cars in front of you. When your lane ends, stop for a couple of seconds to make sure no cars are behind you. If the road ahead is clear, then you’re allowed to move forward, slow down, and proceed ahead, but only at a speed that won’t cause you to run into something, or risk swerving because of your lack of attention.
If a car happens to be at the exact place where you want to change lanes, it doesn’t mean you have to stop and wait for them. Do a “slower” lane change, by slowly getting ahead and moving towards the middle of the lane. Never slam on the brakes when you’re in the middle of the lane, as it doesn’t help.
If you feel the situation is not safe to change lanes, that means you should slow down. Even if you’re in the fast lane, if traffic is ahead of you, it means you can’t go faster than them.
Watch for other drivers – don’t make assumptions. There are situations where you just know you’re in the right lane, you know the car in front of you is the one going the wrong way, etc. But you can never be sure.
This is where other drivers are able to help you. They’ll observe what’s happening around them. If they see something, they’ll communicate with you, and this will help you avoid potential accidents. Look at the road! Even though you’re in the fast lane of the highway, there will be situations where the road is just not safe for you to go forward.
The only thing you can do to avoid these situations is to watch the road. The most common of these are people who don’t observe traffic signs or don’t know their exact location. When you’re in the fast lane, you cannot assume that you can go forward because the lane is empty.
Keep an eye on the road, even when you’re in the fast lane, as cars may suddenly appear in front of you. That’s where a driver in the slow lane can be helpful. You may be in the fast lane, but there’s always someone who’s slower than you.
This is how we help each other out on the road. Be wary of when drivers merge and don’t just step on the gas. If you slow down, the other drivers can still speed up to merge. This is dangerous, as there may be a car in your blind spot. Keep your eyes on the road!
Do your research on the roads you’re on – if you’re on a road that’s narrow, you need to keep an eye on your speed as well as the speed of the cars ahead. As a good driver, you will know the road like the back of your hand, and you will know if it’s safe to go forward.
As I said before, you should never let the road be your guide. Make sure you are aware of what’s ahead of you. If there are no signs, then you should slow down in a safe place, where there’s no oncoming traffic.
There are situations when roads that aren’t well maintained will only lead you to an accident. You need to be sure that the road is in good condition before you put your foot to the gas. Research the roads you’re about to drive on, and make sure there are no dangerous spots.