Although it’s common to think that learning to drive ends once you pass your test, drivers actually continue to learn new things every day.
Your teacher does not teach you how to drive courteously or avoid breaking the law. These are just two examples.
In an effort to be of assistance to you, we have compiled a list of seventeen things that every driver needs to be aware of, particularly if you are just starting out as a driver or are learning how to drive.
1. How to handle “queue-jumpers” when lanes are merging into one another.
A number of motorists, including those who frequent this roundabout in Wales, have reported feeling irritated and perplexed as a result of the sight of automobiles overtaking them on the right-hand lane, only to suddenly seamlessly merge into the traffic at the very last moment.
However, the law asserts that “queue jumpers” are in the right. More often than you might think, people use zip-merging to ease traffic congestion at pinch points.
Until the lane closes, drivers should use both lanes, then take turns merging into one lane, akin to a zipper. This is the case when two lanes merge into one.
Drivers who decide to merge as soon as possible are really contributing to the accumulation of more tailbacks.
2. Instructions on how to remove ice from your windshield
When you are running behind schedule and need to de-ice your windshield before you leave, you might be tempted to save time by taking off just enough glass to look out of. Avoid this technique, known as “potholing,” at all costs.
Do not do so because if your car is found in a “dangerous condition,” you could be fined sixty pounds and given three penalty points.
It is not sufficient to simply remove the ice from the side of the glass that is facing the driver; you must de-ice the entire surface using the wipers once the ice has gone through the melting process.
The law requires that the driver have a complete view of the road and traffic in front of the motor vehicle. As a result, it is extremely important to take the extra time to completely clear your windshield and mirrors as well.
3. Making payments at a drive-through window with your mobile device
It is possible that going through the drive-through at the local restaurant is not the healthiest option, but it is a fantastic way to grab a quick bite to eat while you are behind the wheel. However, you need to be careful not to take away a significant fine while you are doing so.
In theory, paying with your smartphone at the register violates the ban on hand-held devices while driving. This means that you will be subject to an immediate fine of £200 and six penalty points.
Driving with the engine running, never hold your phone. This applies even if you have programmed the engine to stop automatically to conserve gasoline. This technique is known as “start-stop.”
4. How to use your horn effectively
The streets of certain nations are filled with the sound of incessant horn honking, but in the United Kingdom, we tend to be a little more conservative when it comes to blaring our horns repeatedly. You should only use it to alert other drivers to your presence and any potential hazards on the road.
When you use your horn excessively aggressively, other drivers may perceive it as hostile and become angry. Therefore, it is better to only use your horn when it is absolutely necessary. Furthermore, keep in mind that the Highway Code prohibits using your horn between 23:30 and 07:00.
5. How to make use of headlights with a full beam
The use of full-beam headlights can be beneficial if you spend a significant amount of time driving at night on country roads that have little or no street lighting; nonetheless, it is essential that you utilize them in the proper manner in order to maintain your safety while driving.
As soon as you come across another vehicle on the road ahead of you, you should immediately switch back to using your dipped beams to avoid blinding them. Your full-beam headlights could dazzle them, causing them to lose control of their car, which goes beyond just being courteous.
6. Adjusting the angle of your rearview mirror
Wondering how the switch at the base of your rearview mirror works? In fact, it is a very useful function that allows you to adjust your rear-view mirror from “day mode” to “night mode.”
Switching from day to night can improve your ability to deal with the obstacles of driving in the dark. This is because the reflection becomes less intense, allowing you to better deal with the glare from headlights approaching from behind you.
7. How to determine the size of your tires
Between one MOT and the next, a significant number of drivers fail to check the pressure on their tires. It is important to keep in mind that while a tire may appear flat to the naked eye, it may actually be underinflated.
Not only can improperly maintained tires reduce your vehicle’s performance, but they can also lead to higher gasoline costs and potentially cause a blowout, potentially resulting in an accident.
Before leaving on your expedition, check your tire pressure when the tires are cold. Given that heated, just-driven-on tires have the potential to produce a misleading reading, this will ensure that you receive the most accurate readings possible.
8. An explanation of what “rubbernecking” is and why you should avoid doing it.
In addition to being insensitive to the people who were involved in the accident, gazing at the scene of the accident can also swiftly lead to a buildup of traffic behind you as you slow down to look at the situation.
If the police discover you taking photographs or video at the scene of a crash, they may punish you. If the police catch you doing any of these things, they might impose substantial penalties, confiscate your phone, and even prohibit you from driving.
9. Keeping oneself hydrated
One of the most essential items to bring along in your vehicle is a bottle of water, especially if you are going to be traveling for an extended period of time. Drinking something while driving is the best way to avoid dehydration. It will also satisfy any thirst that you may have.
Forgetting to drink water before embarking on a lengthy journey can have unexpectedly serious consequences, in addition to causing one to have a dry mouth and headaches. This is something that ought to make simple sense.
Research has demonstrated that driving while dehydrated has the same impact on one’s ability to drive as drinking a couple of glasses of wine. It causes drivers to feel lethargic, disoriented, and slower to respond.
10. Accidentally splashing pedestrians
If is difficult to put into words how frustrating it is to be left on the side of the road drenched to the skin if you have ever been sprayed by a passing automobile that was rushing through puddles or other obstacles.
You can find some comfort in the fact that there are now prosecutions for drivers who splash people on the pavement.
According to the Road Traffic Act of 1998, splashing pedestrians is considered to be driving “without reasonable consideration for other persons.” A driver likely faces a fixed penalty notice of one hundred pounds and three points on their license if caught splashing pedestrians.
11. Instructions on how to manage box junctions
Yellow hatching box junctions are essential for maintaining traffic flow, and disobeying the regulations governing box junctions will result in penalties.
The Highway Code prohibits stopping at a box junction unless you are making a right turn and waiting for incoming traffic to pass. This implies that you should not enter the box until your departure is clear. If you do so, you might face a fine.
In most cases, it is not a sensible idea to make an educated guess as to whether or not the car in front of you will allow sufficient space for you to cross over the box junction in its entirety. This is especially true, given that you may not always be able to see far enough ahead to be certain.
It is a good practice to leave the intersection only when you can see that there is already enough exposed road on the opposite side of the junction for your car.
12. Playing music at a loud volume
Not only is it a terrible form of conduct, but it might also be hazardous if it prevents any road users from hearing oncoming automobiles or emergency vehicles. Listening to your favorite ABBA tunes at blasting volumes might sound like a beneficial idea at the moment, but it is not just poor form.
If a law enforcement officer finds that the music you are listening to is distracting you, they may charge you with driving without due care and attention.
Furthermore, we do not recommend using headphones as a solution. While it is not technically against the law to use headphones while driving, it is possible that they will prevent you from hearing warnings about level crossings, emergency vehicle sirens, other drivers on the road, and pedestrians who are approaching your car.
13. Excessively occupying the center lane
In spite of the fact that it may appear to be nothing more than an unpleasant driving habit, drivers who occupy the middle lane on the highway are really in violation of the Highway Code. Furthermore, since the establishment of new legislation in 2013, drivers found in violation of this law are subject to fines and penalty points.
Middle-lane hogging is considered a form of negligent driving because it makes passing on the highway more difficult and may force vehicles into the outside lane (lane 3) in order to pass.
14. How to avoid other vehicles on congested streets
Every single one of us has experienced that. While you are driving along a route with a large number of parked vehicles on each side of the road, another car is approaching you. You must determine where you can safely pull over since neither of you has the right of way.
Unfortunately, there is no rule that governs this matter, and the road in question and the locations of the passing spots mostly determine the best practice. In contrast, on a gradient, you should always yield to the uphill driver. This is because driving up an incline makes it more difficult to pull away safely.
15. Spraying boiling water across your vehicle’s windshield
On a cold winter morning, it would be tempting to fill the kettle with hot water and remove all of that annoying ice from the windscreen in an instant, but you shouldn’t even consider doing so.
The drastic temperature shift (from freezing to boiling) can crack or shatter the windshield, making your car unsafe to drive and requiring significant repair costs.
16. Allowing additional vehicles to enter the roadway
The question of whether to let another driver into traffic is a matter of courtesy since there is no rule.
In fact, allowing one car to enter the road won’t affect your travel, even though some drivers intentionally block others. Additionally, if every driver were to let one car enter at crowded intersections, the entire road network would operate much more smoothly.
In the same way that many of the suggestions in this article will help decrease the likelihood of road anger, adopting best practices in this area will also help reduce the likelihood of road rage, which will, in turn, make the road a safer and happier place for everyone who uses it.
17. Making use of the air conditioner during the winter
On days when the temperature is extremely high, air conditioning might feel like a lifeline, but it can also be useful during the cold months.
There is a possibility that condensation will form on chilly days; however, if you switch on the air conditioner, it will function as a dehumidifier and swiftly clear your windows.
Utilizing your air conditioner throughout the winter months may also be beneficial to the unit itself, as it helps to maintain the circulation of oil within the system and ensures that the essential components of the air conditioning system are well-lubricated.
Congratulations if none of these suggestions surprised you. An outstanding teacher instructed you to drive, and you are a fantastic driver with a great deal of common sense.
If you have any other pieces of driving advice that you wish your instructor had told you while you were learning to drive, please share them with us in the comments section below.
Things Your Driving Instructor Never Taught You – Arsalbase.com