How somebody becomes a great driver is a bit of a mystery. Yes – you can take lessons. But, as we all know, that’s not really when you learn. Instead, you accumulate experience over the course of your driving life. Most people actually continue to improve their driving skills for decades, before they finally level off and start declining in old age.
Researchers think that this continual improvement occurs unconsciously. At first, we have to concentrate really hard on driving to get it right. Then after we practice a few times, it slowly transfers to the automatic part of the brain. Eventually, we get to the point where we’re able to drive without the need to even think about it. Our conscious mind can be day dreaming and yet the car somehow stays on the road.
Unfortunately, we can also get into bad habits, and those can be unconscious as well. That’s why driving instructors are so particular about the way people drive. They want to make sure that they have the right unconscious habits before they go out onto the road.
Even so, some drivers slip through the net and get their license anyway, without really being ready. (We’ve all experienced this type of person on the road). Perhaps that sounds like you.
In this post, we take a look at some of the ways you can become a better driver. Don’t worry: it’s actually easier than you think, so even if you have bad habits right now, you can still improve them.
Drive On A Race Track
Most people never push their driving skills to the limit. Consequently, they don’t know what their vehicle is capable of.
This is actually quite dangerous. It means that you don’t know how to respond when dangerous situations arise. You have never pushed your braking, cornering or acceleration to the limit before, so when hazards do present themselves, you’re essentially flying blind.
Driving on a race track shows you what your vehicle is capable of. It allows you to test the limits so that you’re ready to respond appropriately to dangerous situations on the road.
Remain Calm At All Times
Getting into a rage because somebody cuts you up is not a good idea. Not only does it hurt you personally, but it can also affect your driving.
If you watch bus drivers, you’ll notice that they rarely if ever lose their temper. Instead, they just accept that inconsiderate drivers are a fact of reality and run with it. They don’t mind if a cyclist comes up their inside or somebody pulls out in front of them. It’s all in a day’s work. If they did care, then it would make their job infinitely less enjoyable.
Read The Signs
Becoming a better driver is also about reminding yourself what various signs mean. Most of us go through our driving lives, not really paying much attention to rarer signs. However, that doesn’t mean they’re unimportant. They are still trying to tell you something.
Learn Your Car’s Warning Lights
You’ll also want to spend some time familiarising yourself with your vehicle’s warning lights. Knowing what they mean is actually critical to keeping yourself and your family safe. Unfortunately, modern car manufacturers don’t make it easy. Most warning lights are obscure and don’t convey helpful information to the average person. So you really need to learn them by heart from your vehicle’s manual if you are to respond to them appropriately.
Take Responsibility For Others
Taking responsibility for other drivers mainly involves anticipating what they are going to do next and then adopting your driving style. This is usually something that comes with experience. After a certain amount of time on the road, you learn what certain motions mean. Eventually, you can spot pedestrians who aren’t looking, or drivers who didn’t check their blind spot. Of course, some road users can be unpredictable, like horses, cyclists and bikers. Bikers have an unhealthy habit of overtaking on corners, which is often the cause of many crashes. If you’re involved in a crash with a biker, it’s important to seek legal advice for motorcycle crash accidents, as it’ll be important to establish the facts and gather evidence.
Taking responsibility for other drivers mainly involves anticipating what they are going to do next and then adopting your driving style. This is usually something that comes with experience. After a certain amount of time on the road, you learn what certain motions mean. Eventually, you can spot pedestrians who aren’t looking, or drivers who didn’t check their blind spot.
Always Drive Sober
Many people drive drunk and get a DUI when they are young. It’s so easy to do, particularly when you are intoxicated and not thinking straight. However, evidence suggests that even a small amount of alcohol in the system can impair driving. That’s why many countries have an ultra-low limit (or forbid any alcohol at all).
Driving sober actually puts you at ease too. When you drive drunk – even if you have a small amount of alcohol in your system – you feel less able to control your vehicle.
Remember To Use Your Turn Signals
Even if you think you’re totally alone, it is still a good idea to use your turn signs. That’s because you might not have seen an approaching vehicle without its lights on, or a pedestrian about to cross the street.
Using your turn signals is a chore, but soon becomes far easier once you turn it into a habit. After you do it repeatedly, you’ll notice that it is effortless. It’s just like turning the steering wheel on your car.
Keep Your Eyes On The Road Ahead
You’ll notice that all the best drivers keep their eyes firmly fixed on the road ahead. Often, they focus on things up to a kilometer in front of them, particularly if they are travelling at speed. While a kilometer might seem like a long way away, it is only around 45 seconds in front of you if you are travelling fast.
Looking ahead can help you avoid all kinds of hazards, from pedestrians to traffic jams. If you want to be able to look further ahead, sit up straight or drive a vehicle with a high driving position, such as an SUV or pickup.
Configure Your Mirrors
Lastly, you’ll want to configure your mirrors if you haven’t done so already. Great drivers always adjust their mirrors whenever they change their driving position. They also know what good adjusted mirrors look like.