Eleven ways to drive like a pro in your MGF or MGTF |
Look in the direction you want to go It sounds daft, but
instinctively we drive in the direction we’re looking. Get distracted
by a nice car in the outside lane of the motorway? You’ll start
drifting towards it. Lose control in icy conditions and look towards
that ancient oak tree? Chances are, you’ll hit it. Modern cars will often tell
you to change up a gear very early, in a bid to improve fuel economy.
There is sense in this, but sometimes it’s better to use lower gears.
When going downhill, for example, lower gears will reduce your speed
without the need for brakes. And in urban areas, using third gear will
make you less likely to accidentally stray over 50km/h. Sure, it won’t
help fuel economy, but it could save your licence. When you’re driving at
higher speeds, it’s natural to assume you do everything more quickly.
But slowing everything down will make for a smoother drive. Indicate
for a few seconds before changing lanes, to give yourself chance to
double-check what’s going on around you. Be steady with the brakes and
steering to give your passengers a more comfortable ride. There are a number of
things that might hint about what’s coming up ahead. People standing at
a bus stop on the right-hand side of the road? There’s a bus coming the
other way. Bins left out? Expect a bin lorry around the next corner.
Fresh horse poo? You get the idea. How much do you think about
where your car is in the road when driving? Consider how you could get
a better view – move to the left when approaching a right-hand bend for
a better view, and to the right for a left-hand bend. This is
especially useful if you’re wanting to overtake – but be careful, don’t
put yourself in a dangerous position for oncoming traffic. This might sound a little
over-zealous, but it’s a wise idea to drive at a pace that gives you
enough room to stop in the distance you can see. It doesn’t need to be
pretty – emergency braking is part of the driving test for a reason,
but if you come around the corner to be greeted with a broken down
vehicle or a tree in the road you must be able to stop. If you’re
driving down a narrow country lane, you need to be able to stop in half
the distance you can see. Otherwise it’s only a matter of time before
you’re involved in a crash. If you expect the worst,
occasionally it will happen. Pootling past some parked cars at 5km/h
because a child could run out will make you feel all fuzzy when a child
does run out and you can stop. Similarly, imagine everyone else on the
road is an idiot. That car you’re wanting to overtake? Yes, it is
likely to turn into that side road without indicating. Wait until it’s
absolutely clear. But, when conditions allow,
don’t be afraid to give it some gas (within the speed limits, of
course). Good drivers can recognise when it’s safe to do so, and making
progress will get you thinking more about your surroundings. Driving
along a quiet road at 60km/h might be more dangerous than
driving faster as your mind starts to wander. When you’re sat in a line
of traffic it’s all too easy to stare at the car in front and react to
their actions. But it’s much smoother to look up, see what’s happening
and respond earlier. Challenge yourself – can you react to hazards
before the car in front? By lifting off the accelerator earlier or
being gentler on the brakes, your driving will be smoother, safer, and
more efficient. This sounds like a strange
one. But if you indicate all the time, you can too easily become
oblivious to what’s going on around you. It’s almost like you expect
people to react to your indicators. Rather than indicating
automatically, ask yourself who would benefit from it. If the answer is
nobody, what’s the point? If the answer is someone, indicate knowing
that you’re aware of them. The horn is seen as an aggressive way of expressing yourself when someone makes a mistake. But the Highway Code says you should use the horn to alert others of your presence. If you suspect someone hasn’t seen you, don’t be afraid to give a short horn signal to make them aware that you’re there. It might be wise to follow it up with a smile and a wave of thanks to show that you’re not being aggressive. Source: Motoring Research - Multimedia Publisher
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