10 most bad habits of inexperienced drivers

There is no shame in being a novice driver. The only problem is that some inexperienced mistakes can become a lifelong habit. Here are the most common ones and how to get rid of them in time.

Correct landing

At the time, it took driving instructors an hour to teach cadets how to sit in a car. Recently, this is a rarity - and in vain, because it is much more dangerous to seat the driver incorrectly.

What does it mean to sit properly?

First, adjust the seat so that you have good visibility in all directions, but at the same time gently touch the pedals, and at a comfortable angle - otherwise your legs will hurt too quickly. When the brake is fully depressed, your knee should still be slightly bent.

Your hands should be on the steering wheel at 9:15, that is, at its two outermost points. The elbows should be bent. Many people adjust the seat and steering wheel so that they can drive with straight arms. This not only slows down their reaction, but also increases the risk of collision.

Keep your back straight and not at nearly 45 degrees like some people like to drive.

Phone in the cabin

Writing and reading messages while driving is idiotic. Probably everyone has done it at least once - but the risk that it carries is not worth it.

Phone calls are also not harmless - after all, they slow down the reaction rate by 20-25%. Every modern smartphone has a speaker - at least use it if you don't have a speakerphone.

Another problem is to throw the phone into the salon - and when it rings, the search begins, often at high speed. 

Belts

An unfastened seat belt is not only a penalty, but also greatly increases the risk of injury in an accident. And this applies not only to the front passengers, but also to those in the back seat - if they are not fastened, even with a moderate high-speed impact, they can fly forward with a force of several tons. When a taxi driver tells you to "don't wear seat belts," he's really telling you to put your life at a pointless risk.

Rebuilding

For novice drivers, any maneuver is difficult, and changing lanes to an intersection is a very stressful process. It is wise to avoid them at least the first time, until you get used to the car and driving becomes a chore. Navigation can also make life easier for newbies, even if they know where they're going - for example, it can tell you where to turn in advance so you don't have to do last-minute lane changes.

Left Lane

Our desperate plea to everyone, not just beginners, is to choose your lane wisely. We even met instructors who explained to the students that they can drive around the city wherever they want. The rules don't really oblige you to drive straight on the right, since that's outside the city limits. But common sense tells him.

If you do not repair your car in front of an intersection, try to drive on the right if possible and do not interfere with those who are going faster than you. Many accidents in the city occur due to the fact that someone is blocking the left lane, while another is trying to overtake him at any cost, even on the right.

Parking brake

Its function is to secure the car when it is parked (we will talk about special cases on the track another time). But more and more young drivers think that the parking brake is not needed. In harsh winters, there is indeed a risk of old cars freezing. But in all other cases, you will need guidance. Speed ​​clearance is not always sufficient to prevent a parked vehicle from moving off. And you will be responsible for all subsequent damages.

Fatigue behind the wheel

Professional drivers are well aware that the only way to deal with drowsiness is to take a nap. No coffee, no open window, no loud music helps.

But beginners are often tempted to try these "methods" just to get their way early. They often don't end up the way they wanted to.

So always be prepared to take a half hour break if your eyelids feel heavy. And if possible, avoid too long trips. The risk of an accident after 12 hours of driving is 9 times higher than after 6 hours. 

Warming up the engine

Some young drivers may have heard that in winter, the engine must first warm up before being subjected to heavy loads. But in fact, this applies to all seasons. We are not encouraging you to idle this. Just drive slowly and calmly for a while until the operating temperature approaches optimum degrees. It is no coincidence that an indicator is placed on the dashboard for this. Pressing the throttle valve down while the engine is still cold will significantly shorten engine life.

Loud music

Loud music has a negative effect on concentration and reaction speed.

The main harm of maximizing the sound is that it prevents you from hearing other sounds - for example, alarm noises from your own car, the approach of other vehicles, or even the sirens of an ambulance or fire department.

Researchers at Stanford University have also shown that different styles of music are reflected in different ways. If you're listening to heavy metal or techno, your concentration gets worse. However, baroque music - such as Vivaldi - actually improves.

Sound signal

In our country, it is used for an ever wider range of purposes: to scare someone who does not go straight to a green traffic light; to greet a friend who is accidentally stuck in a traffic jam ...

The truth is, the regulations only allow the beep to be used when necessary to avoid an accident. Otherwise, use other means of communication.