The advice that you can glean from the masters is worth it’s clichéd weight in gold. For instance, if you could get a tip or 2 from Nigella Lawson on how to bake a sumptuous death by chocolate cake, wouldn’t you jump at the chance? It’s definitely better than attempting it yourself, with only your basic memory of how to work a ready-mix chocolate cake recipe. Not that we’re judging. Ready-mix cake is the bomb.
The truth is, however, that there are times when it pays to get a beginner’s advice. This is because they’re fresh off the farm and closer to the knowledge, having just learnt it. Take driving, as a prime example. How many of us are still intimately familiar with the nuances of perfect parallel parking or a flawless 3-point turn?
In fact, many of us experienced drivers might have forgotten more than just a hand signal and there are several lessons that we should all try to remember from our K53 days… Just ask the learner drivers out there, or if you’re short on time, take a peek at these top 5 learner driver lessons we’d all do well to remember.
#1. Do regular pre-trip car inspections.
Have you ever arrived at work and been unable to recall the specifics of your drive there? In the humdrum of daily routine, it’s easier than you think to switch on to ‘autopilot’ or get sucked into ‘highway hypnosis’.
It’s also extremely dangerous. Make it a part of your morning ritual, along with your morning cuppa, to do a little pre-trip inspection. Check the tread on your tyres regularly, make sure that your mirrors are properly aligned, and that everything on your car is where it should be before you start your daily commute.
#2. Check your blind spots.
We all joke about the sheer manic frequency of checking your blind spot as a learner driver being more likely to cause an accident than prevent 1, but honestly… That’s just pure Shakespearian exaggeration. The truth is that remembering to check the traffic situation around you at all times is vital… That way you’ll be able to react faster if something goes wrong.
Royal tip: Many trucks and busses’ blind spots are significantly larger than yours, so if you can’t see their side mirrors, you should assume that they can’t see you.
#3. Only use your hooter to prevent an accident.
No date that started with a honk at the front door ended well. If that’s not a lesson in how not to use your hooter, then let’s be more specific.
Hooters are not for letting your buddy know that you’re waiting outside, not for telling other drivers how awful they are as human beings, and they most certainly are not for keeping the beat along to your favourite tune. They are, however, for preventing an accident from happening.
#4. Come to a complete stop at stop signs.
You know that big, red sign that says ‘stop’? Yes, well, it’s not exactly making an idle suggestion. So, rather than making an enemy of time and everyone else on the road, be vigilant. You never know when the driver behind is on autopilot and takes off, assuming that you have done your duty and gone when you should have. It’s also a good idea to take 2 seconds at every stop street to make sure that it’s 100% safe to go before pulling off.
Royal tip: Do NOT use this time to check Facebook or to send an SMS.
#5. Watch your speed.
Do you know how many points you lose for not sticking to the speed limit? Ok, to be honest, we don’t really know. You could actually fail the test. In real life, though, speeding (or going way below the speed limit, which is also dangerous) could cause serious accidents.
That’s why, in addition to staying alert about the traffic situation and other drivers around you, it’s important to stick to the speed limit. It’s safer for everyone, including you.
And now that you’re going to be a better, safer driver, why not get better, cheaper car insurance that decreases every month? Our affordable cover, decreasing premiums, and fair and logical approach to insurance is just what you and your car needs!
Get a quote online, call our client care team on 0860 50 50 50, or pop us an email at [email protected]
Also view:
Bad Driving Habits, Unsafe Driving and Road Safety
Driver Experience, Driver Inexperience and Road Safety – A Lesson from the movie Karate Kid https://t.co/Zd1kIG97kT #ArriveAlive pic.twitter.com/Mh5K7gOnxJ
— Arrive Alive (@_ArriveAlive) June 25, 2017