We highly recommend that every new driver takes some form of a Driver’s Education class. It would even be great if those that have had their license for a while took a refresher course! However, even after doing all that, there are still a few things that will most likely be overlooked since you teacher will be focused on complete stops, proper distances between vehicles, and correct blinker use. So if you have a new driver in the family, or just want to get a little new information as a seasoned driver, check out our suggestions below.
You Have ABS for a Reason!
A lot of drivers don’t understand ABS or use the system to its full potential and this stems from their first time behind the wheel. Most people are afraid to push their vehicles to the limit and end up in an unnecessary accident. Truth is, the function that ABS provides is something that professional drivers work for years to achieve. To ensure that new drivers get the most out of their vehicle, we suggest teaching them “stomp, stay, steer”. It’s simple, first, stomp on the brakes with their full power. Second, stay hard on the pedal. This is where most people panic due to loud noises and, at times, an odd smell. Lastly, steer around the obstacle to safety.
Keep Your Cool
One of the most detrimental things a driver can do is to overcorrect. That’s how a lot of accidents occur, especially on highways. We all understand that your mind can wander while on a long stretch of road, but this cannot send you into a tizzy once you get back to Earth. If you notice you’ve drifted over to the shoulder or into another lane, simply take your foot off the gas. The car will slow down at a safe speed and allow you to re-enter traffic at a safe point.
Practice Makes Perfect
Yes, we’ve all heard this before, but that’s because it’s true. No matter if you’ve been driving for five minutes of 50 years, you will, at some point, experience a vehicle emergency. What’s the best way to ensure that you’ll come out of it just fine? Practice, practice, practice. For example, when there is construction which changes the lane shift, there will be abrupt braking, raising the risk for a collision. Practice what to do if a car in front of you slams on their brakes. Do this over and over again, then if it’s ever a real life situation, you’ll do just fine!
Lastly, we suggest that you get a safe vehicle! And we just happen to have a ton of those on the DELLA Mitsubishi lot! We’re here at 7 DELLA Drive in Plattsburgh, NY Monday through Saturday and we’ll be happy to help!
Demere, Mac. “4 Things You Didn’t Learn in Driver’s Ed.” Popular Mechanics. N.p., 30 Jan. 2015. Web. 20 Sept. 2016.
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