Driving and Road Safety Tips
Hand Controls:
Never take both hands off the wheel when the vehicle is moving.
Mirrors:
Always check the position of your mirrors before starting the car and adjust as needed. When driving, don’t just look into your mirrors; act safely and sensibly on what you see.
Braking:
Always use your brake to show traffic behind you of the conditions ahead.
Signal:
Check mirrors, signal, and then maneuver.
Traffic Signs and Hazards:
Look, assess, decide and act.
Awareness and Anticipation:
Always try to anticipate the actions of other road users.
Bends:
A slight bend can feel like a very sharp corner to a driver who approaches it too fast. This can bring disastrous results, so go slowly around bends.
Stopping Distance:
Your overall stopping distance is the only really safe gap. Anything less is taking a risk.
Overtaking:
If in doubt, don’t overtake. Overtaking often takes longer than you may think, especially if you are overtaking a large vehicle.
Roundabouts:
When using the right hand lane to go ahead or turn right, be aware of traffic in the lane to your left.
Turning your vehicle around:
Keep on the lookout for other road users, particularly pedestrians about to cross behind you & vehicles approaching from any direction.
Hazards:
If you are following a large vehicle too closely, the driver might not be able to see you in their mirrors. Rule of thumb: if you cannot see the vehicle’s mirrors, the driver cannot see you.
Other road users:
Motorcyclists and cyclists are harder to see than other road users, and are exposed to bad weather, slippery roads and uneven surfaces. Look out for them, especially at junctions.
On the Motorway:
Leave plenty of space between yourself and the vehicle ahead for controlled braking. Always check in your mirrors before you brake.
Two second rule:
To determine the appropriate distance between you and the vehicle in front of you, pick a marker ahead such as a light post or sign. As soon as the front of the other vehicle goes past that marker, say to yourself “Only a fool breaks the two second rule.” If you get to the marker before you have finished saying the above, then you are following too close. Double or even treble this distance if the road is wet or icy.
Fog:
If you happen to be in really thick fog and you can see the rear lights of a vehicle ahead, then you may be too close to stop in an emergency.
Parking:
Lock it or lose it. Do not leave anything on display in your car that could tempt someone to break into it.
Driving in Europe:
On the spot fines are imposed for most minor motoring offences. Make sure you know and follow the regulations for each country you plan to visit.
Basic fault finding:
Prevention is better and indeed cheaper than cure. Stick to the service schedules. If you notice any faults, consult your garage.
Safe Driving:
Remember, the perfect driver doesn’t exist. So whatever stage you have reached as a driver, always aim for a higher standard.
