Driving is a necessary skill that makes life a great deal more convenient. Aside from being able to travel at your leisure you can also perform needed errands and pursue employment. Driving is associated with freedom because it allows you to directly control your own transportation needs without relying on other people or public transportation which may not work with your schedule.
If you’re still learning how to drive or simply want to develop your skills and become a better driver, then car service Sydney and driving lessons Sydney are two things to keep in mind. Having your car serviced regularly not only keeps the car running well but it also keeps you safe. Learning to drive on your own can be daunting that’s why driving lessons can be very valuable as they allow you to acquire and improve your driving skills with expert assistance.
However, even with proper driving lessons and years of practice, you can still make mistakes. Many mistakes are simply due to carelessness and not a lack of talent or awareness on your part. A great deal of driving safety happens before you even start the car or pull into the street. Proper preparation will keep you safe and reduce stress when operating a motor vehicle. Before driving, make sure you’ve followed these 9 driving preparation and safety tips.
Nine Driving Preparation And Safety Tips
- Consider Your Transportation Options: before getting behind the wheel, consider how far you have to travel. If it is a short way a car can be a very inefficient mode of travel especially if you can walk or bike there. Also consider other modes of transportation that might be cheaper. Remember by not using your car when it’s not needed you save on fuel and future repairs.
- Consider Your Fitness To Drive: before driving, make sure you’re in the proper mental and physical condition to drive. Recent use of alcohol, prescription drugs, suffering from illness, injuries, or simply being tired can greatly limit your ability to drive. Anything that affects your awareness or reaction time can make driving very dangerous. So always consider your fitness to drive. Aside from legal concerns, you have safety concerns that also have to be considered before you drive at less than 100 percent.
- Check The Tyres: always check your tyres before driving anywhere no matter how close your destination may be. Look for flats, tearing, dry rot, and other damage to the tyre itself. Also check tyre pressure regularly as even a non flat tyre could still be running low on air and need to be filled. Also be aware of how temperature changes can affect tyre pressure and adjust air levels as needed. If a tyre is damaged, do not operate your automobile and replace it as soon as possible, in emergencies a spare can be substituted.
- Secure Anything You’re Transporting: any item you are transporting (such as boxes, groceries, etc.) should be safely secured to assure they don’t move around inside the vehicle during transit. It’s not necessarily because of danger but also because of distractions that items moving around can cause. When transporting heavier items, consider how this can affect braking and acceleration.
- Seat Belts: naturally, you should always buckle your seat belt before driving. This also includes any passengers both front and back. Seat belts greatly reduce the chance of injury in case of an accident and should not be ignored due to carelessness.
- Distractions: before driving, make sure any possible distractions are taken care of. This can include a loud stereo, windows not being rolled up all the way, cellphones that are not on vibrate, and noisy passengers. So turn the stereo’s volume down if it’s too loud; cell phones, if they have to be used should be connected to a handsfree (and be sure to never text), and tell your passengers to quiet down if they are distracting you from the road.
- Check The Fuel, Oil, And Coolant: fill up the fuel tank and check all automotive fluid levels before driving anywhere. Running out of fuel in the middle of a busy road can be quite dangerous as well as inconvenient. Without proper amounts of oil and coolant, a car can be heavily damaged during operations and may no longer start or work properly. For example, lack of coolant can cause an engine to overheat and stall which if not corrected can cause permanent engine damage.
- Checking The Car’s Equipment: aside from tyres and fluids, other components must be checked regularly for safe operations. This includes making sure the battery is correctly connected, that brake lights and headlights work, that the whippers work, and that the horn also functions. Also, learn how to recognize possible problems dim lights can be a sign of a weak battery that may need replacing or charging. Whippers that drag across the windshield may be worn out and need replacing, and if no liquid is coming out the wiper reservoir it may simply need refilling. These are little things but are an important part of safe vehicle operation.
- Have Proper Documentation: lastly, always be sure to have proper documentation on hand. This includes your driver’s license, proof of insurance, automotive registration paperwork, and any other legally required paperwork such as recent inspections. This not only protects you from additional legal concerns in case of an accident but also in cases where you are the victim of an accident.
Conclusion
As the above information shows there are several different factors you have to consider before getting behind the wheel and starting your car. The above information focuses on being prepared and not rushing things. Many accidents are caused by very simple (and often brief) lapses in judgement. For example, not checking your tyres can result in a flat when traveling which leads to a tow requirement and a lot of inconvenience. Being properly prepared and aware can save you from avoidable accidents and a great deal of inconvenience.
