(ThySistas.com) Getting your licence and being able to drive on public roads independently is no minor feat. You need to complete a whole lot of lessons, do a whole lot of theory work and put hours of practice into nailing that test. But just because you have a licence doesn’t automatically mean you’ll know absolutely everything about the roads. Becoming a good driver takes practice and constant learning, as you learn to drive in different weather, environments and learn to better anticipate other road users’ actions. Here are just a few different things every new driver should be aware of!
Accidents Are Always a Possibility
No matter how meticulous and precise you may be with your driving, accidents are always a possibility. There are around 309,000 crashes a year in New York City alone and 170,000 injuries and fatalities result from this. There are endless reasons that an accident can happen. Someone could take their eyes off the road for a moment. Another incident could distract attention. Someone could sneeze at the wrong time. Someone could be tired. Someone could be unwell. This is why it’s absolutely essential that you really focus on your own driving and take precautions wherever necessary to minimise your chances of being involved in an accident.
It’s Better to Be Over Prepared Than Underprepared
There are so many things you can carry in your car in case of different situations or problems arising. First aid kits. Warning triangles. Wash fluid. Jump leads. A spare tyre. Spare water and snacks. The list goes on. A lot of people will feel it’s over the top to keep everything necessary in their cars at all times. But it’s always better to be over prepared than underprepared. It’s better to have what you could possibly need available and never use it than to find yourself in a situation where you need these things and don’t have them. So, invest and be prepared at all times!
Maintain Your Vehicle
Chances are your car will be the second biggest investment you make, second only to your housing or accommodation. You may come to rely on it for certain things like going to work or visiting loved ones. So, take care of it. If warning lights flash up on your dash, get your user manual out and determine whether it’s something simple that you can fix (such as topping up wash fluid or oil) or something that needs to be seen by a professional. Get work carried out as soon as possible. This will help to maintain your vehicle and extend the amount of time you’ll be able to use it!
These are just three sage pieces of advice that every new driver should take into account when getting their first car and taking to the public roads unsupervised. This is going to be a learning curve, but hopefully, the above advice will help to make the process as simple and straightforward as possible!u
Staff Writer; Sherry Jackson