Staying legal - tips for new drivers

New drivers have a lot to think about. All of a sudden, there’s no driving instructor seated inches away, proffering constant reminders on the basics. Are we checking our mirrors regularly? Are we signalling before we change lane? Are we travelling at the right speed and observing the correct stopping distances relevant to weather conditions? Eventually, these things become second nature (just like learning to ride a bike or play the drums, elements of muscle memory eventually start to take over). Before new drivers have a need to ask questions such as ‘do you need a lawyer for a DUI?’, we’re going to look at tips for people who are fresh on the roads (hint: never drink drive and you’ll never need to ask the question!). Let’s get started. 

Mirror mirror on the car…

New motorists could be forgiven for not fully appreciating the inherent dangers of a blind spot whilst driving. This can be a little difficult to understand in the beginning, but the tips are as follows. If you can see a car (or anything else in the road such as a traffic cone), the car/object should transition seamlessly from your peripheral vision to being seen in your side mirrors as you pass. If this does not happen, and there is a short gap between seeing the car/object out of the side of your vision and then catching the first glimpse in the mirror, there is a blind spot that must be addressed. In order to improve the situation, adjust your mirrors such that your car seat is no longer visible in the reflection. This means angling your mirrors outwards (you don’t need to see the edge of your own car seat in the reflection, this is a wasted portion of the mirror). Also, the rear-view mirror should be adjusted such that you do not have to move your head very much - most of the movement should be done with your eyes. 

Dry your brakes

Again, this is a tip that many new drivers will not appreciate, but it is potentially life-saving. Driving in wet weather is an occupational hazard that faces all motorists. When the rain beats down and the window wipers are on full speed, we’d all rather be sitting on the sofa at home. In order to make sure we get home safely, we must all remember to dry our brakes after the wet weather ends (or even after driving through a puddle). To do this, press the brake pedal a handful of times for a couple of seconds. This will generate heat on the brakes, drying them quickly. 

But remember … when drying your brakes, your vehicle will slow down, so try to do it in a safe place!