Sep 24, 2024
Searching for tips on how to get better at driving? Driving in the city, on highways, or in rural areas all present unique challenges. But everyone has the potential to be a well-informed, confident, and skilled driver.
Whether you’re a seasoned driver or have just got your licence, topping up your driving skills and knowledge is always a smart move.
This blog is for everyone who wants to be a better driver for themselves, friends, family, and other road users.
The ability to drive safely and confidently can be a great source of pride. We’ll cover things to know before driving and share some tips and advice on driving in different conditions. Finally, we’ll cover some frequently asked questions. So, let’s jump right in.
Before learning how to be a better driver, let’s look at a few essentials for improving your driving skills. A good or even great driver is one who has first mastered the basics.
Many of these tips for learning how to drive come down to setting yourself up for success with the right adjustments and getting an accurate sense of the vehicle you’re driving.
Always make the necessary adjustments before starting your drive. This is key to setting yourself up for success.
Make sure you’re sitting comfortably with your back pressed firmly against the seat. The insides of your knees should not touch the bottom of the car seat. When sitting, your knees should be bent at a 20–30 degree angle. And when pressing down on the clutch, your knee should bend slightly.
The right height for your car seat is where your hips are at least as high as your knees. You should be able to see all dashboard controls and the road. You shouldn’t need to bend your head down or to the sides to see outside. If your seat’s too low, you may not be able to see outside. It will then be harder to assess your car’s position in relation to your surroundings.
You’ll want to set the headrest so that its top aligns with the top of your head. In addition, make sure you can comfortably turn your head to check blind spots.
The steering wheel should be about 25 cm from your chest. This is so that the airbag can inflate in case of an accident. To find the right position, sit back in the seat with your shoulders on the backrest. Now, make sure your wrists can comfortably rest at the top of the wheel.
Ensure you position the side and rearview mirrors correctly. Adjust the angle and position of the interior mirror so that you have a clear view of the road behind you. The side mirrors should allow you to glimpse a sliver of the car’s sides and the horizon in the back.
Try to get a sense of the car’s size, especially if the vehicle you’re driving is noticeably smaller or larger than what you’re used to. The vehicle’s size impacts many things, like your road positioning, manoeuvring, and how much space you’ll need between yourself and other road users.
Also, familiarise yourself with the locations of the turn signals, wipers, lights, accelerators, etc. It’s more challenging and potentially hazardous to try and figure these things out when in traffic.
Never underestimate the power of this one simple rule. Always wear a seatbelt, even for short drives. Making it a habit ensures you’re safe even in stressful situations. Every year, thousands of lives are unnecessarily lost because of unfastened seatbelts.
Before heading out, make sure the car doors are closed properly and locked. Locked car doors are less likely to fly open in case of an accident. Locking the doors is also crucial with young passengers, who may accidentally open doors on their own.
According to the latest statistics, drunk driving causes 25% of road deaths in Europe. When intoxicated, people may feel confident. They may not notice that their reaction speed and ability to assess situations have lowered. Always have a hard rule about not driving under the influence and stick to it, no matter what.
There are many tips for new drivers that can help you feel more confident behind the wheel. From calming the nerves to dealing with tailgating, even an experienced motorist will find a tip or two here to improve their driving skills.
One very common hurdle for new drivers is overcoming nervousness. This usually subsides over time, as you get more confident. To help you calm your nerves, you can use different techniques to put yourself in a more calm state, including:
Thanks to YouTube and other online sources, reliable guides for using these techniques are readily available.
There’s no replacement for hands-on driving experience. Drive consistently as often as you can. And drive often for shorter periods — it’s better than less frequent, longer drives.
Drive in familiar places. It’s a great way to grow your skills and confidence! You’ll be less focused on familiarising yourself with the environment and can focus fully on driving.
Distracted driving is one of the leading causes of car accidents. Using a handheld phone while driving can increase your crash risk by 2–6 times. The most common distractions are using mobile phones and the car’s information systems, interacting with passengers, and eating. Avoid any distractions that take your attention away from the road!
One of the most distracting elements for a driver can be the passengers. Ensure the people you’re driving don’t endanger themselves and others by disturbing the driver. Kindly but firmly refuse to drive people who may compromise your ability to drive.
Looking far ahead on the road makes for smoother steering and a better overview of the surroundings. Look through the car in front of you or far ahead on the road to see any traffic coming towards you and the curve of the road.
By smoothing out your driving inputs — accelerating and breaking — you’ll not only be a much better driver but also save about 20% on fuel usage. Having someone along for the ride can help as they can point out how you’re using the brake and accelerator.
You shouldn’t use the accelerator too much, except when speeding up or slowing down. If you notice yourself using the accelerator frequently, you’re likely too close to the vehicle in front of you, or you’re not looking far enough ahead.
Smooth steering and stopping make it easier for other drivers to understand your movements. What’s more, they also prolong the life of your car’s components.
When encountering aggressive drivers on the road, it’s important to keep your composure, stay calm, and follow safe driving rules. If someone’s driving too close to you without passing, continue as you normally would while looking for a safe opportunity to pull over and let them pass — this is a safe way to stay in control of your own car and journey.
By keeping a cautious eye on what other drivers are doing, you’re more likely to stay safe. Whether it’s because they’re distracted or new to the area, people make mistakes while driving.
Is that driver who’s supposed to give way to you actually going to stop at the intersection? Don’t start your manoeuvre before they’ve fully stopped.
Is that car making a lane change without signalling? It’s entirely possible.
Maintaining a safe distance is important in avoiding unnecessary accidents. Always keep an appropriate distance (about three seconds) from the car in front.
How do you know there’s enough distance?
Pick a marker on the roadside that the car in front of you passes and see how long it takes to reach the same marker. It should be three seconds.
When counting to three, you can use the American way of counting full seconds by adding the word ‘Mississippi’ after each number, to avoid counting too fast.
When road conditions are challenging, or you’re driving a larger vehicle, always leave more space so you have enough time to react.
Different driving conditions come with their own set of challenges. Here’s some driving advice on how to drive better in different weather conditions and on rural roads.
Sunlight can cause glare, which makes it difficult to see the road. Glare can be caused by direct sunlight or any reflective surface, such as reflections from wet roads or snow. The sun’s blinding effect can be more intense during the winter months when the sun is lower.
Use sunglasses, visors, and a lower speed when visibility isn’t optimal. Exercise extra caution at junctions and watch out for cyclists, who may be harder to spot.
With rainy weather, you’ll want to make full use of your windshield wipers. Drive at a slower speed, since wet roads can be hazardous. Careful driving ensures you’ll be able to react to any hazards with enough time to spare. Avoid using cruise control so you can adjust the vehicle’s speed as needed.
Driving in winter gets easier once you learn to assess the roads.
Look at the snow — is the surface shiny or matte? Is the weather cold enough to produce light, fluffy snow, or is it on the warmer side, where you’ll be driving in wet, slushy mush?
Just by looking at the road, you can start to assess how much traction you’ll have. A shiny surface usually means ice or water. Shaded areas can be trickier to figure out — you may not notice ice if there’s dry asphalt ahead.
You also need to keep an eye out for black ice. Black ice forms after light rain or due to the melting and re-freezing of snow, water, or ice. Instead of a shiny surface, you’ll need to spot patches of road that are darker and more matte-looking than the rest.
Dry snow that crunches when you step on it, has decent traction. Watch out for the slush, though. Driving on it is similar to driving in deep water.
If you’re a new driver or have a new car, practice driving in the snow and controlling sliding in an empty car park.
Reduced visibility at night means it’s harder to see other road users, such as cyclists, pedestrians, and animals, on rural roads. This means you need to be more cautious and pay extra attention to the road.
Be mindful of how you use your lights. A full beam will dazzle other drivers or people on the road. Use it appropriately, when there isn’t another light source available.
Most people are likely to be more tired at night. Drowsiness affects your reaction speed, like drinking alcohol. So, treat it just as seriously.
Watch for signs of drowsiness. These include heavy eyelids, difficulty staying in your lane, or difficulty remembering where you’ve driven in the past 1–2 kilometres. Pull over and take a break at a safe spot to rest or nap when needed.
While you won’t be having trouble with high traffic on rural roads, they come with their own set of challenges. You may encounter animals on the road, there aren’t many signs to go by, and emergency services are less readily available. It may seem like you’re all alone, which may make you pay less attention.
Remember to watch out for animals and take care on blind curves, where you may not see the other driver. Stay to the right as much as you safely can and slow down enough to be able to respond to other vehicles.
That’s all! Now you know all the tricks and tips to be a better driver and improve your driving skills.
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Learning to drive is difficult because you need to carry out several tasks at the same time. When driving, you may be: turning the wheel, using the pedals and indicator, scanning the road, and reading traffic signs. That’s a lot! Give yourself a pat on the back for every bit of progress you make. With enough time and practice, you’ll improve your driving skills.
The most effective way to get better at driving is to simply practice enough on a consistent basis. If you can, drive every day and revise all the important driving tips and advice weekly. For example, you can choose one skill, like turning, as your focus for a specific week. Once you see improvement, pick a new area to improve your driving in. Trust the process and give it time. For most people, it takes a few months to get comfortable with driving.
First, make sure your seat is properly adjusted. Sometimes, not being able to see around the car can make manoeuvring more challenging.
When making a turn, first use your signal and show your intent to turn. After that, start slowing down. Now it’s time to double-check your mirrors. Look left and right at the intersection and assess what the other vehicles are doing. Before entering an intersection, come to a full stop and make your turn when the road is clear. It’s good to practice this on roads with little to no traffic at first.
If you don’t need to stop to make your turn, here’s a driving tip for turning smoothly: before the turn, brake in a straight line. Then, shift to a low gear. Do this before using both hands for your turn. Use the throttle very gently as you turn around the corner, to help maintain an even speed.
