Driving on the road is as freeing as it is worrisome to ensure nothing goes wrong. As a beginner driver, it is easy to be unaware of a few mistakes you make at the start. Awareness of a few unconscious errors makes it easier to avoid them from happening actively. These are five bad habits that new drivers should avoid before and after going on the road.
Completely Close the Doors
When getting in the car while rushing for time, leaving the car doors slightly ajar is not uncommon. This becomes an issue for long drives, increasing the likelihood of draining your battery too quickly. If it is left alone for too long, it quickly becomes one of a few other potential reasons that prevent a car from starting up again.
Signal During a Lane Change
The last thing you want is to make your fellow drivers angry. Signaling that you are changing lanes and allowing time for people to respond accordingly is the safest method. This allows other drivers to either slow down or speed up to let you safely switch lanes.
Check Your Blind Spots
While it is important to signal your lane changes, checking your blind spot is equally as crucial. Not everything is visible in your side or rear-view mirrors. Always checking your blind spots regardless of how clear the road seems is the best way to avoid damaging another car or getting into an accident.
Avoid Tailgating
One of the most infuriating things for any driver is to have someone else driving too close to their rear. This opens up the potential to cause an accident. Unless you have a dash cam equipped, being the one to cause damage to someone else’s rear normally puts you at fault. Controlling your distance from other cars is the best method of prevention.
Fast Starts
Not everyone follows the rules of the road, and trusting them to do so with traffic lights leaves you open to becoming a victim of their ignorance. When the lights turn green, check your surroundings to ensure no one is trying to drive past the light quickly. Though it is not your fault if it happens, avoiding an accident is always the preferred track to follow.
Taking care of yourself on the road is just as important as following the rules and maintaining your vehicle. By being aware of these five bad habits, new drivers should hopefully avoid getting into an accident. Drive with confidence knowing that you are better prepared than your peers when driving intelligently on the road.