Category Archives: Safe Driving

One of the greatest challenges you will face as a driver has to do with driving in the night. You should note that night driving does not necessarily start when the moon and stars appear but as soon as the sun sets below the horizon. Always dip your lights to a low beam the moment the lights of an on-coming vehicle appear. Once in a while the other driver may not and if that is so you need to remind him with just a brief flash. You should never flash on them with the lingering eyeful of a high beam.

It is important to reduce your speed at night because it is normal for eyes to take a few seconds to recover from the glare of dazzling lights of oncoming traffic. The best strategy is to look just in front of your bonnet using the center line as your point of reference. Should the glare continue to be disturbing you may need to slow down and slightly look to the edge of the road; you should be able to gain a proper view in a short while.

Once in a while it is the driver behind you who fails to dip their lights flashing you with a glare through your mirrors. Your best option is to adjust your mirror slightly to distract the light from shining directly into your eyes. You also want to request the driver behind you to dip their lights by holding your hand for a few seconds over the side of your mirror. Always have proper illumination when driving at night so as to make your car more visible.

Once in a while a new driver finds himself on a long drive from home calling for extremely long hours behind the wheel. Many deaths and injuries on the roads are more often than not attributed to fatigue which often leads to fatal crashes. Fatigue has the ability to overwhelm a tired driver and as thus you should be keen in this regard. Many drivers who tried to push just a little bit more before taking a break have more often than not ended up in tragic situations.

It appears that the most dangerous time for a fatigued motorist is usually dawn because your heavy eyelids could easily slam shut involuntarily trying to block the rising sun. As a fresh driver, it is imperative that you stop for a stretch and refreshments after every two hours. Such a break should also be sued as an opportunity for cleaning the windscreen. You can also avoid fatal problems by observing speed limits as well as being careful to observe the weather and road conditions.
It is extremely risky to try overtaking on meandering country roads where straight stretches are few and far between. It is impatience and adventure that usually leads to some dangerous stunts on the road. If you have never driven away from the city where speeds are usually moderate, you may have trouble judging speeds of oncoming vehicles and distances; you therefore need to be extra vigilant. Should an insect such as a bee get into your car, resist the temptation to try and kill it while driving because that could easily lead to a crash.

One thing you must always remember is that the road is going to be shared by many other people including fellow motorists, pedestrians as well as motor cyclists. Sharing the road with motor cyclists is usually the greatest challenge for many but especially new drivers. Because of its size in comparison to your car, it’s very easy for objects inside or outside your car to hide it from your view. Things such as mirrors, bushes, blind spots, bridges etc easily obstruct motor cycles from view. Be extremely careful when changing lanes or making turns to avoid hitting them.

Because of its size, a motorcycle can appear to move faster than it really does as well as look to be further away than it really is. It is therefore important for you to create a safe distance between you both to enhance safety. Also take note that sometimes motorcycle riders can adjust position within a lane in order to be seen more clearly as well as to reduce the effect of wind or road debris and not necessarily because they are reckless.

When checking for oncoming traffic at intersections, it is very easy to forget the existence of motor cycles on the road which is potentially disastrous. Always allow a motorcyclist more stopping distance because many road conditions could make it more difficult for it to stop. This is especially true if you are following a motorcyclist carrying a passenger because maneuverability gets reduced. It’s very easy for the single taillights and headlights of motorcycles to blend into the lights of other traffic, so consider those odd lights to be a motorcycle when driving at night.

Accidents on the road do not just happen because most of them are caused by negligence from party or the other. One basic thing many young and new drivers always forget is to check their fuel gauge before they embark on a journey. No matter how short your journey is, it’s important to ensure that the car has enough gas on it. If you want to avoid stalling or getting stranded in God knows where then never attempt to drive with your gauge on empty.

More accidents occur due to drink driving and the rule of the thumb is simply that you don’t. It is also risky to ride with someone who has been drinking or taking drugs. The truth of the matter is that even some over the counter drugs can cause drowsiness which outs you and other road users at risk. As a driver it is extremely important to check drug labels for any warnings and taking it upon yourself to observe them if any.

Young children as well as small teenagers should not be allowed to ride in the front passenger seat of your car especially if it has a passenger side airbag. Studies indicate that even in low impact collisions children are more likely to be injured by the airbags that are meant to keep them safe. Of course you must also realize that as a new driver, kids and friends on the from passenger seat are likely to distract you. Remember to get directions before setting off especially when driving to a new place.

When it comes to safe and secure driving this is usually easier said than done with new drivers finding it especially difficult driving roads with ever increasing traffic. As an up coming driver you will need to know that the best way to become a good driver is to spend enough time on the road. You must remember to always pay attention in order to avoid accidents. There are a few important tips you need to consider to enhance your safety and that of other road users.

One challenge new drivers get into is passing trucks and other big vehicles. The important point to note when passing a truck is to always leave enough room to merge back and when you do you must do it quickly. Before merging back you need to make sure that both his headlights appear on your rear view mirror so that you don’t face the truck to hit brakes for you.

A good driver is able to anticipate the flow of traffic even when in heavy traffic so as to avoid using the brakes excessively. One way to know if you are doing well is to try and count the number of times the driver ahead of you brakes in comparison to yours; if you realize you are doing more there is a chance that you are either not paying attention or you are too close to them. Most important is for you try and respect speed limits because going too fast leaves you with less time to react or stop should anything happen.