When you first get your driver’s license, you’re probably caught up on the fantastic feeling of freedom. However, it’s important to remember that it requires a lot of responsibility. It’s up to you to remain safe on the road so that you can take care of both yourself, your passengers, and other drivers.
In this article, we are going to take a look at eight different rules that you need to remember when you get your driver’s license.
Let’s get started.
Check your vehicle regularly
One of the most important things to do when getting your driver’s license is to remember to check your vehicle regularly. Proper car maintenance limits the possibility of breaking down and helps prevent accidents. Some areas that you should remember to check include:
- Fluids – Oil, radiator fluid, brake fluid, power steering fluid, windshield fluid, and transmission fluid.
- Tires – Tire pressure, condition, and tread wear.
- Brakes – Handbrake and brake pads.
- Lights – Headlights, brake lights, and indicators.
- Battery – Battery life (slow cranking when starting the car is an indicator it will soon stop working).
Don’t eat and drive
It’s certainly tempting to have some snacks while you’re driving. However, it’s not recommended and is actually illegal in some countries. This is because you aren’t correctly holding onto the wheel and are distracting yourself from the road. If you do get hungry, pull over and continue on your journey once you have finished. It’s a simple rule that can save a lot of lives.
Drive to the conditions
One great tip for staying safe when driving is to pay attention to the weather conditions. If it’s raining, snowing, or foggy, you need to slow down and keep an extra eye out. Here are a few tips to follow:
- Give extra distance between you and the car in front.
- Do not use high beam lights in fog as it will make it more difficult to see.
- Pack a disaster kit inside your vehicle if you live in a storm-prone area.
- Beware of black ice and slow down near intersections, lights, and stop signs.
If you haven’t been driving for very long, don’t go heading out into a severe storm unless you are 100% confident. It’s always best to grow your skills first.
Complete training regularly
You may have passed your driver’s test, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t keep learning. Taking an extra course here and there and asking more experienced drivers to give you a lesson can be extremely beneficial. You’ll feel more confident on the road and reduce your risk of an accident. In some cases, you may even be able to dismiss a ticket by completing a safety course. Check out your eligibility for defensive driving in Texas for more information.
Avoid long trips until you are confident
The sound of a road trip does sound great at first, but if you’ve only just got your license, you may want to think again before driving longer than an hour or two. It’s very easy to get fatigued, and heading out onto the open road can be a completely different experience than driving around town. If you absolutely must go, consider going with friends so that you can switch drivers regularly. Check out these other road trip safety tips for more information.
Make sure everyone is restrained
Seatbelts have saved millions of lives, so ensuring that everyone in your vehicle is restrained is extremely important. When we say everyone, we mean everyone. Children should be placed in the correct seats, and pets should be secured safely. This will also keep you from getting distracted so your eyes can stay on the road. Take a look at the history of seatbelts, and you’ll see what we mean.
Plan trips ahead of time
Lastly, another great rule to follow after getting your driver’s license is to plan any trips ahead of time. Look at your maps, figure out the best route, observe the weather and make sure you have enough gas to get to your location. By taking the extra time to plan things out, you will feel less stressed when driving and will grow your skills further.
Final Thoughts
Driving is something that is now an important part of life, and by making sure that we respect the laws, we can enjoy this luxury safely. Remember, minimize distractions, buckle up and be extra vigilant. If we all work together and drive responsibly, we can reduce the number of car accidents significantly.
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