Driving Mistakes to Avoid

When learning to drive, we are taught the right way to do things by well-informed instructors, but after passing the test, drivers tend to pick up all sorts of bad habits, some of which could be quite dangerous. Nobody’s perfect, and if you want to brush up on your driving knowledge and skills, here are some of the most common driving mistakes that people make, so you know what to avoid.

Driving and stopping too close to the car in front

You may have a vague recollection of what the perfect driving and stopping distance is, but there are a lot of drivers who don’t stick to it. When pulling up behind another vehicle in traffic, you should leave roughly a metre of space in between. If you can’t quite figure out how far a metre is from your position in the car, remember to create enough of a space so that you can see the tyres of the car in front as well as a bit of the road beneath them. 

To ensure that you leave enough space between you and the vehicle in front while you are driving, you can use what is known as the ‘2-second rule’. This refers to finding a point of reference such as a lamp post or bridge and counting the time between the vehicle ahead passing the point and you reaching the point. It should be at least 2 seconds. Remember to extend the distance further when the road is wet and further again if it is icy.

Driving through standing water

If you come across standing water which you have not seen any other vehicles driving through, your best is to turn around and find an alternative route. The water might be deeper than you think and can cause serious damage to your vehicle’s engine, or you could even be swept away. It might seem like a hassle at the time, but adding ten minutes or so to your journey is better than having to wait to be rescued!

Driving with underinflated tyres

Driving with underinflated tyres will consume more fuel and ultimately cost you more money. It could also become dangerous, particularly if the road is slippery because you will not have as much grip and control of your vehicle. It is such an easy problem to solve and while it might be a chore, it is well worth checking your tyres regularly and filling them with air as required. 

Playing loud music

Do you reach to turn up the volume when a song you love comes on the radio? It’s understandable but it can have a really significant impact on your concentration. Research has actually shown that there is a distinct correlation between music volume and the reaction time of driver’s. 

Using the Ventilation Recirculation Button

What is the ventilation recirculation button? I hear you ask. It’s the button which is typically located next to the ‘A/C’ switch and if you, like many other drivers are unsure what it is or does, we are here to clear things up. This button is used for recirculating the cool air from the air conditioning system, rather than using new warm air from outside. This is to help keep the car as cool as possible. The button should not be used during the Winter as it could take longer to demist the windows.