8 Driving Tips You Wished Your Driver's School Taught You

Knowing how to drive doesn't require a degree in rocket science. But still, we do need to point out that there are those with degrees in rocket science who don't even know -- much less excel -- in driving. And given the chance, we would like to take them by the hand and advice them to take a refresher course in basic driving all over again.

Of course, this is easier said than done, since many are so busy thinking of complex problems and solving them at the same time. And we're not just talking about rocket scientists here. Many drivers won't have time to go back to driving school, so we'll just be giving eight practical tips* that these schools should have taught everyone when first learning to drive -- and that includes us.

Get a "feel" of where your wheels are

No, this isn't something vague, like feeling the "force" (although it wouldn't hurt for you to try).

And "Jedi skills" are not needed here -- just plain common sense.

It's just having the spatial awareness of what's going on with your wheels (and your car) while you're driving. This allows you for better control on the road.

For example, having a feel of where your tires are -- even if you can't really see them -- will help you to accurately steer your tires away from potholes. It can also prevent scratches on your hubcaps when you park it somewhere.

This takes a bit of practice, particularly for first-time drivers. It takes time to develop that "feel" for your tires, and you can start by doing the following:

1. Get a plastic bottle.
2. Step on it with your foot until it flattens out.
3. Place it on the road.
4. Open your window, and drive on top of the flattened bottle with your right wheel turned slightly while doing it. Do this with your left wheels as well. You should hear the bottle flatten, which is the right time to observe and get a feel of where your tire is. Keep doing it until you have an instinctive feel of it.

Dry your brakes after driving through a puddle

Did you accidentally run through a puddle? Dry your brakes first by pressing the gas pedal repeatedly. This will dry them up much faster and will help avoid water from getting inside your car's ignition system.

Know the right way of stopping when parking your car

All driving schools teach students to park correctly, but do they all teach you when to stop correctly? Here's a handy guide that you should include as part of your reference:

Parallel Parking: Place a piece of colored tape on the bottom of the windshield. Stop as soon as the tape is in line with the curb line.

Perpendicular Parking: Stop once you can see the curb is already under the side mirror.

Practice driving in bad weather and less ideal road conditions

It's easy to drive when it's sunny and the road is perfectly smooth. And if you top it off with birds chirping somewhere in the background, then you get to be a perfect driver like you're in a Disney movie.

But when rain is pouring down on you and the road looks like it's about to fall apart, would you justify 11 reasons why some Disney-animated mouse drives better than you do?

See, that's the beauty of these less perfect conditions -- they help you see how well (or how bad) you drive. But more importantly, they help you see which of your driving skills need further improvement or refinement along the way.

Don't forget to stay safe, though. Do this in an area that you're familiar with at first, like your subdivision or a parking lot. Then try other locations once you feel more confident of your driving skills. And don't forget to ask a licensed driver to accompany you at all times.

Lower your rear-view mirror at night

Did you know that your ordinary rear-view mirror has a day mode and a night mode feature? Yes, they do. And it's easy to change them. Just pull down the lever that's underneath the mirror, and the angle changes to accommodate night driving. Pull it up, and you get the daytime mode.

Turn your high beams on if the car isn’t starting

It will help heat up your car battery, especially if it has been exposed to cold weather for the past few days (or weeks).

Use the handbrake regularly except on very cold weather

Using the handbrake regularly is a good idea, since it tends to wear out over time due to lack of use.

Sit correctly when you're driving

What is the correct way of sitting behind the wheel? Here's a step-by-step guide on how to get that "perfect posture" all the time:

1. Press your back against the car's backseat.
2. Then press on the clutch pedal or brakes, making sure that your leg is almost straight.
3. If this isn't possible, then adjust your chair's position to allow your leg more room to straighten out.
4. Once this is done, adjust your head's position so it's almost vertical. Do all the steps here while consistently keeping your back pressed on the car's backseat.
5. Now rest your wrists on the steering wheel.
6. If this isn't possible, adjust (again) your chair's position, until your wrists can rest freely on the steering wheel.

The final position you have on right now is the correct way to sit behind the wheel.

By the way, don’t forget to adjust your side mirrors correctly, and make sure to adjust your steering wheel as well. Remember: it shouldn't cover the entire dashboard, and your hand's position on the wheel should be at 10 and 2 o' clock.

 

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* Many of these tips are taken from Bright Side.