I just got my driver’s license, so I’m excited but also a little nervous, right? Holding the steering wheel feels like a huge responsibility. Don’t worry, everyone from novices to experienced drivers has gone through this stage. Mastering some correct basic operations and driving concepts will not only allow you to drive more steadily, but also make everyone on the road safer. Today, let’s talk about the skills and precautions that driving schools may not have explained thoroughly, but must be mastered in daily driving.
Don't rush to light the ignition before getting in the car. Walk around the car first, this habit is very important. Check whether the tire pressure is sufficient, whether there are any new scratches on the body, and whether the lights are normal. Take a look under the car and around it to see if there are any small animals or obstacles. After opening the door and sitting down, the first thing to do is to adjust the seat. The height and front-to-back position of the seat should be adjusted so that your feet can easily press the brakes and accelerator to the bottom, and your legs should not be too curled up. The angle of the backrest should also be adjusted so that your wrists can naturally rest on the highest point of the steering wheel, so that you won't get tired after driving for a long time.
Adjustment of the rearview mirror is key. The left and right rearview mirrors should be able to see a little bit of the side of your own body, half of the world and half of the world. The center rearview mirror should be able to fully see the rear window. Once adjusted properly, you can minimize the blind spots in your field of vision. Don’t forget, everyone on board, including rear-seat passengers, must wear seat belts. This is the most important life-saving device in the event of an accident.
If you drive a manual transmission car, starting is the first little challenge. Depress the clutch pedal all the way, shift into first
I just got my driver’s license, so I’m excited but also a little nervous, right? Holding the steering wheel feels like a huge responsibility. Don’t worry, everyone from novices to experienced drivers has gone through this stage. Mastering some correct basic operations and driving concepts will not only allow you to drive more steadily, but also make everyone on the road safer. Today, let’s talk about the skills and precautions that driving schools may not have explained thoroughly, but must be mastered in daily driving.
Don't rush to light the ignition before getting in the car. Walk around the car first, this habit is very important. Check whether the tire pressure is sufficient, whether there are any new scratches on the body, and whether the lights are normal. Take a look under the car and around it to see if there are any small animals or obstacles. After opening the door and sitting down, the first thing to do is to adjust the seat. The height and front-to-back position of the seat should be adjusted so that your feet can easily press the brakes and accelerator to the bottom, and your legs should not be too curled up. The angle of the backrest should also be adjusted so that your wrists can naturally rest on the highest point of the steering wheel, so that you won't get tired after driving for a long time.
Adjustment of the rearview mirror is key. The left and right rearview mirrors should be able to see a little bit of the side of your own body, half of the world and half of the world. The center rearview mirror should be able to fully see the rear window. Once adjusted properly, you can minimize the blind spots in your field of vision. Don’t forget, everyone on board, including rear-seat passengers, must wear seat belts. This is the most important life-saving device in the event of an accident.
If you drive a manual transmission car, starting is the first little challenge. Depress the clutch pedal all the way, shift into first gear, and release the handbrake. Then slowly lift the clutch and feel the car body shake a little and the engine sound becomes duller. This is the semi-linkage point. At this time, hold the clutch firmly and gently step on the accelerator. The front of the car will feel like it is moving forward. Then slowly release the clutch completely and the car will start smoothly. Remember, before starting, turn on the left turn signal and look in the rearview mirror to confirm safety.
It's much easier to drive an automatic. Press the brake, shift to D, release the handbrake, and then slowly release the brake. The car will slowly move forward by itself, and you can accelerate by lightly pressing the accelerator.
After driving, maintaining a safe distance is the top priority. In urban areas, try to keep a distance of more than 20 meters from the car in front. On the highway, this distance should be extended to more than 100 meters. Simply put, it means leaving at least 2 seconds of reaction time. When the front brake light comes on, you have enough time to slow down calmly and avoid a rear-end collision.
Be gentle with the steering wheel. Before turning or changing lanes, turn on your turn signal a few seconds beforehand to let others know your intentions. When turning the steering wheel, the movement should be smooth, especially on high speeds. Do not jerk the steering wheel, as this may cause the car to lose control easily. The same goes for the brakes. Try to use the "point brake" method to slow down in advance, apply it lightly, and slowly apply more force to make the car stop smoothly. Only when encountering a real emergency, you need to apply the brake to the bottom and hold the steering wheel with both hands to control the direction.
For those of you who drive a manual transmission, shift gears diligently. It feels like the speed of the car has increased and the sound of the engine has become louder, so it's time to upshift. When the car speed slows down and you feel that the power is not enough, you need to downshift in time. When shifting gears, the action should be crisp, and the clutch should be depressed to the bottom to prevent the gearbox from "rattling". Although you don’t have to shift gears for an automatic car, you still need to understand the meaning of those letters: P means park, R means reverse, N means neutral, D means forward, and S means sport mode.
When overtaking is necessary, be decisive and safe. Look in the rearview mirror first, then quickly turn your head to look at the side and rear blind spots to make sure there is no car. Then turn on the left turn signal and accelerate to pass. After passing, you can see the complete front of the overtaken car in the right rearview mirror, and then turn on the right light to return to the original lane.
Parking is the last step, so don’t be careless. Manual transmission parking: first depress the brake to slow down, then depress the clutch. After the car stops, shift into neutral, pull up the handbrake, and finally release the foot brake and clutch. Automatic parking: After applying the brakes to a stop, shift into P gear, pull up the handbrake, and then release the footbrake. Remember, when parking on the roadside, you must turn on the right turn signal in advance and pull over slowly.
There are also some details that you should always pay attention to. The car has blind spots, especially around the left and right A-pillars. When turning, shake your body to take a look. When driving, it is best to place your hands at the "three o'clock" and "nine o'clock" positions of the steering wheel. Don't drive while fatigued. Find a place to rest when you feel tired. And you absolutely cannot drive after drinking.
Driving is a skilled job. The more you drive and practice, the more confident you will be. These tips may seem simple, but they are the basics of safety. I hope every novice friend can be safe and enjoy driving. Drive slowly on the road, we are not in a hurry.
