Even if you feel more confident using your left foot, always use your right foot to reach both pedals. It will feel strange at first if you’re left-footed, but getting used to it is very important because it’s proper technique and ultimately much safer. Never use both feet at once to reach the pedals. Only use one foot — your right foot — to use each pedal. This will make it impossible to accidentally press down on both pedals at the same time, which can be dangerous and can damage your car.
Your rear-view mirror should be positioned so that when you’re in your normal driving position, you can see directly behind you and as much of the rear windshield as possible. The Society of Automotive Engineers has one recommendation for how to position your outside mirrors in order to eliminate blind spots. It recommends positioning the mirrors further outward than normal, so that they just overlap with the viewing angle of the rear-view mirror. [2] X Research source Although disorienting at first, this positioning actually allows the driver to see cars in their blind spots which they might otherwise only be able to spot by looking over their shoulder.
If your gear stick is engaged in Park and you turn your ignition on, the car won’t move forward no matter how hard you press down on the accelerator. If your gear stick is in Neutral, your car’s natural momentum will continue to move it forward. If your gear stick is in Reverse, your car will move backward instead of forward when you take your foot off the brake. If your gear stick is in Drive, your car will move forwards when you take your foot off the brake. In most modern vehicles, the lever is either in a straight line on the right side of the driver or is a lever on the steering wheel. The “lever” may actually be a knob depending on your car. If you’re stuck, read the owners manual when you have the time.
The speedometer is probably the most important dashboard display in the car. It tells you how fast your car is traveling, in either miles per hour (mph) or kilometers per hour (kph). The RPM gauge tells you how hard your engine is working. Most RPM gauges will have red areas starting at 6,000 or 7,000 RPM. When the dial in the gauge, travels into the red, learn to ease off the acceleration. The fuel gauge tells you how much fuel your car has left. It usually has a dial, like the hand of a clock that travels between “F” and “E,” with “E” signaling “empty” and “F” signaling “full. " Some more modern cars have digital fuel gauges; where electronic bars are displayed like the battery symbol on a mobile phone, and gradually decrease in quantity depending on how much fuel is in the car. The temperature gauge in the car tells you whether your car’s engine is overheating. It usually has a dial that travels between “H” and “C,” signaling “hot” and “cold. " Your dial should normally be in the center of the gauge.
Put your car in Reverse and double-check. If your car isn’t in Reverse, your car won’t go backwards. Look over your shoulder and turn your head to get a good view of where you’re going. Gently remove your foot from the brake pedal and do not put your foot on the accelerator. For your first couple of times backing out, don’t worry about putting your foot on the accelerator. You can move your car simply by removing your foot from the brake. Your car will move slowly, but you won’t risk accidentally running into something or someone. Remember that the steering wheel is “reversed” in Reverse. When driving your car forward, if you turn the steering wheel to the right, your car will also turn to the right, and vice versa. This is because your wheels turn that way. When going in reverse, turning the steering wheel to the right will make your car turn to the left, while turning the steering wheel to the left will make your car turn to the right. Keep this in mind as you back your car out. Use your brake whenever you need to slow down. Press your foot down gently but firmly on the brake pedal to slow the car down if necessary.
If you’re making a harder turn, use the “hand over hand” method. Say you’re turning right. Turn the steering wheel clockwise, leading with the right hand. When your right hand gets to the 4 or 5 position, release it and cross it over your left hand. Re-grip the wheel and continue turning. To straighten out the car after a turn, simply loosen your grip in both hands and the steering wheel will automatically begin correcting itself. Apply more pressure to slow down the correction; apply less pressure to speed it up. Your hands should stay stationary as the steering wheel moves back to its original spot.
Indicate with your blinkers for at least two seconds before beginning to switch lanes. This lets other drivers know what you are planning to do. Quickly scan your mirrors and look over your shoulder to check for any cars in your blind spot(s). Don’t just rely on your mirrors to tell you where other cars are; use your eyes to quickly look for yourself before actually switching lanes. Slowly move the car into the other lane. Turn your hands on the steering wheel ever so slightly in order to change lanes. It only takes a very slight movement of the wheel; as most modern cars are fitted with power steering. It should take anywhere from one to three seconds for you to change lanes. Any less and you’re doing it too quickly; any more and you’re doing it too slowly.
To judge this, watch as the car in front of you passes a fixed object on the road, like a billboard. As soon as the car passes that object, begin counting: one-one-thousand, two-one-thousand, three-one-thousand. . . . How many seconds does it take for your car to pass the same object on the road?
Don’t assume that other road users will obey the rules, or pay attention, or be cautious. Rules of the road are enforced to make sure that everyone is safe. Often those rules are broken by selfish or clueless drivers. Don’t assume that drivers will use their blinkers before they turn, for example. Don’t assume that drivers will slow down for you to merge. Don’t assume that drivers won’t drive past red lights. If you see a potentially dangerous situation, avoid it before it happens. Don’t linger immediately to the right of a big semi-truck, for example. Don’t try to pass a drunk driver who’s swerving in and out of lanes. Use all your senses to be aware, at all times, of what’s happening on the road. Drivers often learn to tune out the rest of the world and “get in the zone,” simply because they’ve done the same thing hundreds, if not thousands, of times. Don’t get too complacent behind the wheel. Use sight to monitor other cars’ speeds and their habits. Use hearing to listen for car horns and the sounds of screeching. Use smell to be aware of burnt rubber or other caustic aromas that may indicate an accident.
Try to never pass a truck on the right. Trucks and semis are far larger than normal cars, meaning that their blind spots are far bigger. Trucks often stay in the rightmost lanes and switch lanes to the right, rarely switching lanes to the left. Passing trucks on the left, therefore, means you’re driving your car out of their territory, lowering your risk.
Winter creates more difficult driving situations; with colder temperatures as well as icy and snowy surfaces.
Use your horn to alert other drivers, not to chide them. The horn is a powerful device. Use your horn when someone merges into your lane without seeing you, or when a light has turned green but they’re still sitting idle. Don’t use your horn because you’re stuck in a traffic jam to express your frustration. Use a wave to thank someone. When someone lets you into their lane, wave your hand to thank them. It doesn’t take much effort, and it’s a nice acknowledgment of “thanks” for keeping you in mind. Don’t disobey the rules of the road just in order to be courteous. This is important. If you stop at a four-way stop and you get there first, you’re the one who gets to go first. Don’t stop and let the person who got there after you go. It holds up efficiency and often creates confusion.
