Unfortunately, not everyone is blessed with the driving skills of Lewis Hamilton. In fact, it is surprising some people even make it down to the bottom of their road each morning, judging from some of the dodgy driving that happens every day. Luckily, if you are not the most confident of drivers there are many ways in which you can improve your ability to navigate the open road. This article will give you the best tips for better driving, that will help even the most experienced of drivers improve their automotive skills.

Know the Rules of The Road

Knowing the laws and regulations of the road can be difficult, especially as a new driver in an unfamiliar area. However, not knowing the rules of traffic flow or lane control is one of the biggest reasons for bad driving. Some of these rules may have been drilled in to you when undertaking your driving lessons, but it can be difficult to remember some of these facts now. For instance, can you remember the exact distance you are supposed to leave between you and the car in front? Brushing up on this knowledge will always help your driving skills, making you more confident and a better driver all round.

Give Your Main Attention to Traffic, Not Road Signs

This is a very important tip, which a lot of people may not have heard before. Experts on driving have conducted studies that suggest an abundance of road signs can lead to complacency and, therefore, more accidents. This is because instead of paying attention to what is actually happening with the cars in front of you, drivers are just blindly following the directions of road signs, rather than dynamically adapting to developing hazards. In fact, in the Dutch city of Drachten, they tested this theory by replacing 20 four-way intersections with 20 sign-free roundabouts. This resulted in accidents being drastically reduced for every intersection as drivers were concentrating on other drivers more. Ensure you don’t fall into this trap and keep your mind focused on what is happening around you and you will become a better driver in no time.

Stay Alert

Tiredness and inebriation is one of the biggest causes of accidents on all roads. If you haven’t had enough sleep or a few too many drinks, your chances of being in a traffic incident are significantly greater. If you are feeling too tired to drive, stop and have a rest and continue when you feel more awake. If you are stupid enough to consider driving while drunk or under the influence of drugs, then it is probably best to give someone else your keys and call a taxi home.

Limit Distractions

From annoying back seat drivers to blaring loud music, it is best to try and keep distractions at a minimum. It truly is surprising the amount of things people try and do whilst driving, whether it is browsing Facebook on their phones, trying to program a new route into their sat-nav or even eating. This is potentially extremely dangerous, for yourself and those around you, and should be avoided at all costs. If you focus on the road at all times, there is no doubt that you will become a more confident and reliable driver.

Drive Smoothly

It is surprising the amount of people that assume performing actions quickly whilst driving makes them a better driver. This is completely untrue. Being gentle and smooth with the controls is the safest and best way to drive, instead of performing jerky, quick actions that will surprise other drivers who will then have to react quickly. To avoid this, always be planning ahead while driving attempting to anticipate the flow of traffic, allowing you make sure you are making any move smoothly and confidently.

 

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