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10 Practices That Make You a Safer Driver

Although the 2020 lockdown resulted in a 49..47% fall in the number of lives lost in road accidents (April - June, as compared to numbers from 2019) [source], the fact remains that there's still a lot of effort required. To make that happen, one must become a responsible driver and inculcate driving practices that help maintain safety for one and all on the road.

Driving is an art that needs to be mastered with focus and discipline. Whether you are a new driver who wants to learn how to drive a car or among the experienced drivers who want to brush up their skills, choosing a professional driving school is always a good idea.

Helping you master safe and responsible driving, Maruti Suzuki Driving Schools are equipped with the best-in-class facilities, expert trainers, a well-balanced curriculum, and much more, which makes the learning experience even more amazing.

Let's get to the tips that can help you become a safer driver: -

Join an Advance Driving Course

Confidence is everything when it comes to driving. The more confident you are, the better control you will have over your driving. If you already know how to drive but are not that confident when it comes to hitting the roads, you can opt to join an advance driving course. It will help you gain the confidence you need to have to become a good driver.

Keep Your Car Well-Maintained

Ensuring that your car is kept in a good condition is very important. It can help you avoid a number of adverse situations on the move. For example, worn out tires are not only prone to punctures but may even end up exploding, causing a car to swerve uncontrollably. Other good practices include making sure that the oil levels of the car are up to the mark and maintaining proper tire pressure while driving, among others.

Always Use Your Seatbelt

No matter how confident you are about your driving, no matter how short the distance that you are travelling, you should always make sure that you put on your seatbelt. Even if your car has airbags, it does not mean that you can forget about your seatbelt.

Practice Defensive Driving

You can never control how others drive on the road. They may be inexperienced, ignorant of the rules, having an emergency, or just having a bad day! It is up to you to avoid such situations. Become well-versed in defensive driving and hold your own if faced with something like this.

Know about the Rules and Regulations

This is one of the most important aspects of being a safer driver. You need to know about the rules and regulations that your state/country has in place. That way, you can maintain road safety and help ensure smooth mobility. When you join a professional driving school, your curriculum will cover theory classes as well as practical sessions. So, make sure you pay attention to what is taught in class. It will help you when you get behind the wheel by yourself.

Always Keep a Check on the Speed Limit

Driving fast may seem like an exciting experience but safe driving is always the better choice. One of the most crucial things that you need to keep in mind is responsible driving. Never exceed the given speed limit and always ensure to keep an eye on your speedometer. Driving within the speed limit is not only safer for you but also for the other people on the road.

Don't Weave between Lanes

Another important thing to keep in mind is that no matter how boring traffic jams may get, you should not weave between lanes. Weaving between the lanes more often than not leads to more chaos in the traffic rather than helping you make your way out of it. Patience is a virtue when it comes to driving in the city.

Indicate Before You Change Lanes

Another important safety practice, always ensure that you use your indicators when you are going to change the lane, make a right or left turn, and so on. Indicators are a way for drivers to communicate with other drivers on the road, keeping them alert about where you'll turn so that they can maintain a safe distance.

Don't Multi-Task While Driving

To become a safer driver, you need to keep the distractions at bay. So, before you start driving the car, connect your smartphone to Bluetooth or the infotainment system, which will let you stay updated on the go and you can keep your eyes and focus on the road even if you have to answer a call. Adjust your seat and mirrors in a position you are comfortable with so you don't have to be distracted with adjustments when driving.

Don't Drive if You're Drowsy

If you feel sleepy, getting behind the wheel may not be the best idea. Drowsiness can impair your driving abilities, making you a hazard on the road, not only for yourself but for others as well. If you simply have to get somewhere, either get someone else to drive or take a cab.

The onus to drive safely and responsibly is in your hands and these good practices help ensure that. Imbibe and make them a part of your daily driving routine to set the right example for others on the road.

Are you driving right?

To begin with, let us look at the state of driving in India. Every year, around 1 50 000 people die due to road accidents, which is more than the number of people who have died in all the wars put together that India has fought. In comparison, the United States of America which is a developed auto market witnessed 40 000 road accident deaths in 2016. Out of 1 50 000 road accident fatalities, more than 25 000 deaths were due to car crashes. This is primarily because of negligent driving. More accidents are occurring due to wrong behavior than a lack of skills. Hence, controlling one’s behavior is as important a part of driving training as attaining driving skills.

Here are some important points for you to consider when it comes to driving an automobile:

THE ART OF SHARING THE ROAD

Everyone on the road enjoys driving as much as you do. Roads are public property and it is extremely important that you drive safely. It is necessary to adhere to the traffic rules and maintain a safe distance between your car and other vehicles. Drive very carefully near schools, hospitals, and construction zones. Strictly adhere to the driving rules when you are near children, blind persons, handicapped individuals, and old people. Safe driving habits can reduce fuel consumption, decrease emissions, and reduce travel time too. Our collective behavior forms our road culture.

SPEED IS NOT ALWAYS FUN

Driving conditions and traffic flow are factors that dictate your driving speed. While staying within the speed limit, you also need to match your driving speed with the traffic flow. The chances of crashing into vehicles in front of you increase if you drive faster than the traffic flow. Maintaining a steady speed, within legal limits, at a safe following distance will help give you the time required to handle an emergency situation. Constantly anticipating what may emerge on the road makes you a safe and responsible driver.

A VIGILANT DRIVER SAVES LIVES

We love our technologically advanced cars and various driving assists that they come with, but with the advent of these technologies, drivers are becoming negligent too. At times, these tools divert the attention and lead to unsafe driving. Therefore, it is important to keep an eye on the road at all times and abide by the rules and regulations while driving. Never text while driving as it can endanger your life along with the lives of your co-passengers.

BRUSH UP YOUR SKILLS

You must always practice everything that you learned for your four wheeler driving test. As it turns out, most of those rules aren’t just good driving lessons; they are legal regulations. It is better to follow traffic lights than get into an episode of road-rage. Make sure you are not talking on the phone while driving. And last but not least, never drive after consuming alcohol

GET TO KNOW YOUR CAR BETTER

It helps a great deal to understand the features of your car. As per the Motor Vehicles Act, a budding driver should understand the working of various systems of the vehicle so that the driver is able to take the correct decision in case of any abnormality observed or emergency situation faced. Exploring your own car is a sure-shot way to a happier driving experience. Learn to listen to your car and ensure that you have complete knowledge of all the controls and their functions. You will realize that a lot of this technical knowledge is not all that difficult to master.

THERE ARE NO SHORTCUTS TO SAFETY

Do a thorough safety check before starting a journey. Keep the checklist of the most important things ready, like seatbelts, mirrors, fuel, water, air pressure, first aid kit, spare tires, toolbox, spare bulbs and fuses, and an emergency parking reflector. Use the mirrors and signaling indicators to not only ensure your own safety but also the safety of other vehicles.

It is indeed never too late to check your driving skills and learn a few things afresh. Follow the pointers in this write-up and make your driving safer. Adhering to traffic rules, having a sound understanding of your vehicle, and socially responsible driving will keep you and your loved ones safe

5 Car Driving Tips That Make You a Better Driver

There’s no age for learning, and the scope of learning is always infinite.

When it comes to driving a car, there are certain driving tips for beginners that work equally well for experienced drivers. In order to drive safely and responsibly, it is imperative that you follow the best driving practices – it is beneficial for you, other drivers around you, and the pedestrians on the road. No matter how seasoned a driver you are, there is always some room for improvement. Here are some simple yet important car driving tips that will help make you a better driver: -

1. It all starts with the right seating position

This is one of the most important driving tips that many people, especially beginners, tend to completely ignore. It is extremely important that you position your seat in such a way that you can comfortably operate the pedals, the gear lever, and the steering. At the same time, the seat must be angled in a manner wherein your thighs or back do not get strained.

2. Hold the steering wheel the correct way

There is a science behind holding a steering wheel correctly. But, let’s just talk about the thumb rule here. The thumb rule is to hold the steering wheel by placing your hands on 10 and 2 o’clock positions (like in a clock).

3. Use the horns and turn indicators correctly

Horns and indicators are the two sources of communication that you have with the drivers around you at the time of driving. Both of these must be used liberally and smartly whenever required. Generally, horns are meant to be used for alerting the other cars about your presence.

*A lot of people have the habit of honking the horn profusely at signals or slow-moving traffic to communicate to the car drivers ahead to move faster. It is a wrong practice which should be avoided.*

When you are turning, make sure you use the turn indicators. Even at the time of changing lanes, make sure to use your indicators in the direction of the lane you are moving into. This is one of the most important car driving tips for beginners as well as people who have been driving for years.

4. Do not tailgate

While driving in traffic or on the highways, maintain a safe distance from the car in front. But step out and you’ll see that the ground reality is different.

In order to become a better driver, one of the crucial things to follow is to never tailgate. If you closely follow the vehicle in front of you, it decreases your reaction time as well as the space available for manoeuvring, thereby increasing the risk of a collision (which was very well avoidable in the first place).

Let the change begin with you. That's because this is a car driving tip that’ll keep you in good stead.

5. Do not panic

Driving stress-free is the key to driving better. Concentrate on your manoeuvres at all times when you are behind the steering wheel. Driving with stress can hamper your ability and may result in a mishap.

If you are someone who has a driving test coming up, then one of the best driving test tips to follow is to stay relaxed in order to drive well and stay safe.


Learner or experienced, these car driving tips will surely help you get better at it.


DRIVE WELL. DRIVE SAFE.

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