Driver’s education is an essential component to obtaining your driver’s license, and in some instances, like if you are under the age of 18, it is mandatory. If you are over the age of 18, you may not be required to attend formal driver’s education classes, however, it still may be in your best interest to do so. Driver’s education classes prepare a new driver for taking the knowledge test required to earn a leaner’s permit. If you are over 18, you are allowed to study on your own and simply go into your state’s department of motor vehicles to take the test. Whether you are required to take driver’s education classes or you are not required to take the classes but would prefer some professional assistance in preparing for the knowledge test, driver’s ed only covers so much. There is a lot of information and skills related to driving that only can come from real-life experience when driving on the open road. Here are some of the most common lessons that you need to know as a driver that is not typically taught in driver’s ed.

1. Anti-lock braking systems: Anti-lock braking systems prevent the wheels of a vehicle from locking up during intense braking. When you hit your brakes hard to avoid rear-ending the vehicle in front of you or some other obstacle, you may feel your brake pedal push back at you in a fast and repetitive pumping motion. This is the anti-lock braking system pulsating the brake pads onto the wheels to avoid the wheels from completely locking up. If your wheels lock up, your vehicle may become unstable and spin out of control, especially on wet or slippery surfaces. The anti-lock braking system prevents this from happening.
2. Distracted driving leads to accidents: Most driver’s ed classes may spend a little time discussing distracted driving, specifically cell phone use. However, there are many other forms of distracted driving that can lead to potentially fatal accidents. For example, eating, putting on makeup, reading, playing with the radio, adjusting the temperature of your AC, having loud and/or distracting passengers, and playing your music too loud are also other forms of distracted driving that should be avoided. Also, you should never wear headphones or earbuds while driving. Headphones and earbuds may prevent you from hearing what is around you at any given time making you not fully aware of your surroundings.
3. How to properly use the horn: The horn is intended to be a form of communication from one driver to another. That is why it is important to know when and how to use your horn when you are sharing the road with other vehicles. Sometimes a quick non-agressive beep is a good reminder for a driver who may be sitting at a green light or to let someone know that they are merging into your lane without checking their blind spot. Avoid using the horn in instances of anger and road rage.
4. Do not always trust green lights: When you are idling at a red light and the light turns green, do not just automatically punch the gas. Yes, green does mean go, however, before you enter into an intersection once a traffic light turns green, be sure to look both ways to ensure there are no vehicles who are speeding to clear the intersection a few seconds after their light has turned red. Also, there is the possibility that a driver could be distracted and not see the traffic lights altogether and run it on accident. Both of these circumstances are clear examples of why it is important to not automatically trust that everyone is obeying the traffic lights and to check both ways before entering the intersection.
5. High beam headlight etiquette: There is nothing worse than having a driver approaching you with their high-beam headlights shining directly into your windshield and line of vision. When you are using your high beam headlights, it is important to follow proper etiquette for safety reasons as well as decency. Make sure you turn off your high beams when you are approaching a vehicle, and once they pass, you can turn your high beam headlights back on.
6. Use the AC regularly: You may not be aware of this, but the AC can be used for both heating and cooling. If you go long periods of time without using your AC, you could risk drying out the AC tubes or having the coolant seize. This is why it is important to run your AC for a few minutes every few days even if the use of AC is not required due to weather conditions.
7. Never let the gas tank go below an eighth of a tank: There are two main reasons for keeping a gas tank above an eighth of a tank at all times. First, running out of gas is never fun and many drivers overestimate how many more miles they can drive before they need to find a gas station immediately. Second, if you live in a cold-weather state where temperatures can at times be subzero during the wintertime, having little to no fuel in your tank could result in your fuel pump seizing. Replacing a fuel pump is a costly repair that could be avoided by simply keeping enough gas in your vehicle at all times.
8. How to interact with semi-trucks and oversized loads: Many people do not realize that oversized loads get the right away. Make sure to yield to oversized loans, and when it comes to semi-trucks, there are a number of safety guidelines to follow to avoid accidents with these massive vehicles. First, avoid following too close that the driver cannot see you in their rearview mirror. Second, avoid all the blind spots of a semi-truck at all costs. Last, never cut-off semi-truck. Semi-trucks need ample time and space to stop or to slow down to avoid rear-ending the vehicle in front of them.
9. What to do when you are pulled over: When you get pulled over, the best thing to do is to pull off to a safe location, turn off your engine, and place your keys on the dash in front of you. Do not reach into your glove box for your papers until you are asked to. Simply just sit with your hands on your steering wheel and await instructions from the officer.

Although driver’s education can be an excellent source of information for a new driver, there are still some things that a driver must learn through experience.