Driving Tips for the Street

Coming off a holiday weekend and into the full holiday season now, I was reminded how dangerous it is out there on public roads. I wanted to take a few minutes to list some basic driving tips that I use daily that I think everyone should remind themselves of.

1. Use Your Eyes.

   This sounds like common sense, but most people do it wrong. Driving is a continuously fluid act that requires you to actually put in some effort. Instead of fixating on the tip of your hood, look numerous car lengths ahead. Scan your mirrors frequently, look "through" corners to see what sits ahead. This even holds true in parking lots where people simple don't turn their head enough and miss a car backing out and causing a small fender bender. I literally just saw it happen!

2. Avoid Creating a Dangerous Situation

   What does this mean? This is one thing that drives me nuts behind the wheel. You get a line of twenty cars all in the left lane going the speed limit or less, while similar paced cars sit in the right lane. Then you get the random car under the posted speed limit and someone wanting to go a little faster. This situation will force people to start weaving in and out of traffic to try and get past the train. Most states have laws to prevent this, but it is highly ignored or not even known. The heavier the traffic, the higher the odds of accidentally clipping another car while changing lanes and creating a multi-car crash. Stay right unless you are actively passing. The reason why that black sedan is going faster than you should not concern you. It's not a race and you're not a cop.

3. Read Your Neighbor

   What do i mean by this? Look at those around you, take note who is where. It sounds odd but also take note who has a car with dents on every panel, who is obviously occupied doing something else, etc. These people may be dangerous. Don't sit in their blind spots, don't drive next to them longer than needed, etc. I like to even try and take note what's around me so I know if I am clear on either side should I need to make an evasive maneuver.

4. The Weather Matters

   This is obvious and most people of course realize this, sometimes they even take it a little extreme (you in the left lane, flashers on, going 35mph in the rain). What we need to remember though is rain, snow, etc. creates conditions less than optimal for your tires. Braking distance is severely reduced in slick conditions so naturally you should be leaving more room between other vehicles or slowing down more for corners you may typically take at a higher speed.

5. Check Your Tires

   Tires are the most important part on your car. It's the only thing touching the pavement, no matter what engine, safety ratings, brakes, or whatever else you have the tires are what puts it all to work. Check your tread and check your air pressures, you don't need to daily but every couple of months should be fine unless they are wearing quickly which in that case you may have another issue. Most cars these days have TPMS sensors to help you if your pressures are low but too high is also bad. Also, don't skimp for the cheapest tire. The level of difference between a Michelin and some random unknown brand from a chain store is astounding.

6. It's 9 and 3

   The steering wheel is no longer held at 10 and 2 but now 9 and 3. It has been for some time. It's also not 12' o'clock or 6 o'clock or randomly with a knee. The reason for holding the wheel correctly is it will allow you to have the best range of motion and ability to quickly and safely make any reaction needed. Things happen fast at 60mph, you can't just decide to re-adjust on the fly in the middle of it.

7. Watch the Road

   Stop texting. Stop checking social media. Stop looking at your infotainment system. Pay attention to the road. The distance covered at 45mph while you look at a text message even for a second is huge. You have no chance and nobody is "good" at texting and driving. You're just lucky so far.

8. Take a Class

   Do yourself a favor or give your child, niece, nephew, whomever the gift of proper training. I mean real driver training and not a theory class with a special on parallel parking. Schools like the Skip Barber Racing School offer what they call the Driving Academy. I have had the pleasure of instructing and leading numerous of these programs through the years and the training is worth every cent. This is not a sponsored post or anything and I don't care who you go with (Drive Strong, BMW Teen School, etc.) but what you will take away from a proper course like this one will save your life one day. It's also fun! Driving doesn't need to be scary, you just need to understand what all is happening.

So while this is a random post for here, I feel the standards of driving are dipping lower and lower on a monthly basis. So many accidents today are preventable and caused by bad decisions or a lack of understanding how your car works. Be safe out there this holiday season my friends!