Good Habits Every First-Time Driver Should Know
There’s something freeing about getting in your car and hitting the open road. You get to go wherever you want, whenever you want. Whether you become the designated errand runner or want to get coffee with friends, you must understand the road’s rules and good car maintenance. So here are a few good habits every first-time driver should know before hitting the highway. Before you know it, you’ll become a driving expert that anyone can rely on.
Become Familiar With Your Vehicle
A significant aspect of being a reliable driver is having a general understanding of your car. If you have a car with an extensive history, it’s necessary to know its previous repairs, damages, and ownerships to better understand its needs.
However, if you have a brand-new or lightly used car with a bit of history, check through your owner’s manual to see which fluid it will need. You also want to be aware of its safety features and parts. The last thing you want is to get stuck on the side of the road with a problem you can’t identify.
Keep Distractions As Low as Possible
It can feel tempting to change a song on your playlist while driving. Or, you may want to check your makeup while at a light. However, that doesn’t mean it should be a regular habit. Before you know it, you could rear-end another driver while you switch to a different song.
So a good habit every first-time driver should know is to keep your distractions low. Turn your “Do Not Disturb” mode on in your phone settings, check your mirrors regularly, and stay three car lengths away from the driver in front of you. You want to remain prepared in case of abrupt breaking or merging cars that aren’t paying attention. This is something that safe drivers do while they’re out on the road to avoid as much harm as possible.
Practice Proper Merging and Parallel Parking
When it comes to parking in tight spaces or merging into another lane, awareness is a significant factor in preventing damages or tickets. If you’re a new teen on the road, your parents can teach you parallel parking and merging.
If you live in the suburbs, there are fewer chances to parallel park, as it’s more common in cities. However, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t learn it just in case. As for merging, use your blinker and keep a safe distance from other cars.
Follow Road Safety Laws
Distracted driving, making illegal U-turns, and going over the speed limit are a few things you must avoid while you’re on the road. Improper driving can quickly lead to accumulating tickets or running into accidents.
Study up on your local laws, as each state is different. A few universal ones to know are staying within the speed limit, pulling over for passing ambulances, keeping your hands on the wheel, and not passing over a double solid yellow line.
