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10 Practices That Make You a Safer Driver

Although the 2020 lockdown resulted in a 49..47% fall in the number of lives lost in road accidents (April - June, as compared to numbers from 2019) [source], the fact remains that there's still a lot of effort required. To make that happen, one must become a responsible driver and inculcate driving practices that help maintain safety for one and all on the road.

Driving is an art that needs to be mastered with focus and discipline. Whether you are a new driver who wants to learn how to drive a car or among the experienced drivers who want to brush up their skills, choosing a professional driving school is always a good idea.

Helping you master safe and responsible driving, Maruti Suzuki Driving Schools are equipped with the best-in-class facilities, expert trainers, a well-balanced curriculum, and much more, which makes the learning experience even more amazing.

Let's get to the tips that can help you become a safer driver: -

Join an Advance Driving Course

Confidence is everything when it comes to driving. The more confident you are, the better control you will have over your driving. If you already know how to drive but are not that confident when it comes to hitting the roads, you can opt to join an advance driving course. It will help you gain the confidence you need to have to become a good driver.

Keep Your Car Well-Maintained

Ensuring that your car is kept in a good condition is very important. It can help you avoid a number of adverse situations on the move. For example, worn out tires are not only prone to punctures but may even end up exploding, causing a car to swerve uncontrollably. Other good practices include making sure that the oil levels of the car are up to the mark and maintaining proper tire pressure while driving, among others.

Always Use Your Seatbelt

No matter how confident you are about your driving, no matter how short the distance that you are travelling, you should always make sure that you put on your seatbelt. Even if your car has airbags, it does not mean that you can forget about your seatbelt.

Practice Defensive Driving

You can never control how others drive on the road. They may be inexperienced, ignorant of the rules, having an emergency, or just having a bad day! It is up to you to avoid such situations. Become well-versed in defensive driving and hold your own if faced with something like this.

Know about the Rules and Regulations

This is one of the most important aspects of being a safer driver. You need to know about the rules and regulations that your state/country has in place. That way, you can maintain road safety and help ensure smooth mobility. When you join a professional driving school, your curriculum will cover theory classes as well as practical sessions. So, make sure you pay attention to what is taught in class. It will help you when you get behind the wheel by yourself.

Always Keep a Check on the Speed Limit

Driving fast may seem like an exciting experience but safe driving is always the better choice. One of the most crucial things that you need to keep in mind is responsible driving. Never exceed the given speed limit and always ensure to keep an eye on your speedometer. Driving within the speed limit is not only safer for you but also for the other people on the road.

Don't Weave between Lanes

Another important thing to keep in mind is that no matter how boring traffic jams may get, you should not weave between lanes. Weaving between the lanes more often than not leads to more chaos in the traffic rather than helping you make your way out of it. Patience is a virtue when it comes to driving in the city.

Indicate Before You Change Lanes

Another important safety practice, always ensure that you use your indicators when you are going to change the lane, make a right or left turn, and so on. Indicators are a way for drivers to communicate with other drivers on the road, keeping them alert about where you'll turn so that they can maintain a safe distance.

Don't Multi-Task While Driving

To become a safer driver, you need to keep the distractions at bay. So, before you start driving the car, connect your smartphone to Bluetooth or the infotainment system, which will let you stay updated on the go and you can keep your eyes and focus on the road even if you have to answer a call. Adjust your seat and mirrors in a position you are comfortable with so you don't have to be distracted with adjustments when driving.

Don't Drive if You're Drowsy

If you feel sleepy, getting behind the wheel may not be the best idea. Drowsiness can impair your driving abilities, making you a hazard on the road, not only for yourself but for others as well. If you simply have to get somewhere, either get someone else to drive or take a cab.

The onus to drive safely and responsibly is in your hands and these good practices help ensure that. Imbibe and make them a part of your daily driving routine to set the right example for others on the road.

5 Car Driving Tips That Make You a Better Driver

There’s no age for learning, and the scope of learning is always infinite.

When it comes to driving a car, there are certain driving tips for beginners that work equally well for experienced drivers. In order to drive safely and responsibly, it is imperative that you follow the best driving practices – it is beneficial for you, other drivers around you, and the pedestrians on the road. No matter how seasoned a driver you are, there is always some room for improvement. Here are some simple yet important car driving tips that will help make you a better driver: -

1. It all starts with the right seating position

This is one of the most important driving tips that many people, especially beginners, tend to completely ignore. It is extremely important that you position your seat in such a way that you can comfortably operate the pedals, the gear lever, and the steering. At the same time, the seat must be angled in a manner wherein your thighs or back do not get strained.

2. Hold the steering wheel the correct way

There is a science behind holding a steering wheel correctly. But, let’s just talk about the thumb rule here. The thumb rule is to hold the steering wheel by placing your hands on 10 and 2 o’clock positions (like in a clock).

3. Use the horns and turn indicators correctly

Horns and indicators are the two sources of communication that you have with the drivers around you at the time of driving. Both of these must be used liberally and smartly whenever required. Generally, horns are meant to be used for alerting the other cars about your presence.

*A lot of people have the habit of honking the horn profusely at signals or slow-moving traffic to communicate to the car drivers ahead to move faster. It is a wrong practice which should be avoided.*

When you are turning, make sure you use the turn indicators. Even at the time of changing lanes, make sure to use your indicators in the direction of the lane you are moving into. This is one of the most important car driving tips for beginners as well as people who have been driving for years.

4. Do not tailgate

While driving in traffic or on the highways, maintain a safe distance from the car in front. But step out and you’ll see that the ground reality is different.

In order to become a better driver, one of the crucial things to follow is to never tailgate. If you closely follow the vehicle in front of you, it decreases your reaction time as well as the space available for manoeuvring, thereby increasing the risk of a collision (which was very well avoidable in the first place).

Let the change begin with you. That's because this is a car driving tip that’ll keep you in good stead.

5. Do not panic

Driving stress-free is the key to driving better. Concentrate on your manoeuvres at all times when you are behind the steering wheel. Driving with stress can hamper your ability and may result in a mishap.

If you are someone who has a driving test coming up, then one of the best driving test tips to follow is to stay relaxed in order to drive well and stay safe.


Learner or experienced, these car driving tips will surely help you get better at it.


DRIVE WELL. DRIVE SAFE.

Why theory is as important as practical to learn driving?

In order to be a good driver, one must always equip oneself with all the theory lessons while learning to drive. And one of the best ways to do it is by enrolling in a driving school. Tangible benefits for an educated driver include saving close to 12% of fuel related expenses and 60% when it comes to safety related faults.

A good driving school will make sure that the participants are equipped to handle emergencies, use first aid, react correctly for situations emerging on roads like road rage incidents, aware of the symbols lighting up on the car’s instrument cluster, and honouring the rights of others on the road.

Here are some of the most crucial aspects that highlight the importance of theory lessons while learning to drive.

THEORY BUILDS CONFIDENCE

Theory lessons often include all those aspects of owning and driving a car that can only be learnt through classroom input. A good driving school appoints experts to teach the theory lessons. These experts communicate effectively and give attention to each participant. The practical lessons learnt from the driving-coach need to be backed with theoretical knowledge if you want to be a confident driver. At Maruti Suzuki Driving School, we ensure that our instructors are focused on helping the learners develop the skills required to drive safely and confidently.

KNOW THE LAW

A carefully designed curriculum of a driving school covers a wide range of topics. A lot of these topics are about the inner workings of a vehicle that includes technical details of how a car functions. Some of the most crucial aspects of theory input are identifying the traffic rules and all the important signs, symbols, indications, map-legends/keys and several other nuances which are not always present at one-go during the practical lessons on the road.

Theory lessons in a driving school also focus on several legal aspects. A participant is made aware of the process of registration of a vehicle, obtaining a driver's license, traffic rules, parking rules, towing rules, suspension of driver's license, drunken driving, rash and negligent driving and most importantly the penalties for traffic offences. Trainees are also educated on different types of insurance covers available, their pro and cons, and the procedure to be followed for claim processing.

SAFETY IS SUPREME

Safe roads are the hallmark of a civilized society. Our love for driving is always tested on the touchstone of traffic rules. A good driver diligently follows traffic rules to ensure safety. Maruti Suzuki Driving School emphasizes the importance of safe driving by not only teaching the theory lessons but also exposing the learners to simulators. Theory input shows the details of the safety features of a car and how to use those features. We share the road with every other driver, therefore, it is mandatory to learn the rules of safe driving

ANATOMY OF A CAR

Theory lessons introduce the learner to the structure of a car including all of its important components. This knowledge is necessary in order to drive confidently. These lessons are interesting and helpful. Learners are taught about the most important aspects of a car engine, chassis, crank linkage, fuel supply system, cooling mechanism, lubrication, ignition, starting line, clutch, brake system, gears, battery etc. Experts often show the link between the structure of a car and the rules of driving. For instance, an expert driver can reduce gearbox repairs by up to 40%. Learners are encouraged to apply the theory to their driving sessions on the road. This process helps build confidence through awareness of traffic rules and safe driving skills.

RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

We must always remember that the right to drive can only be enjoyed if we are responsible drivers. The responsibilities of a driver are learnt in detail through theory lessons. These rights and responsibilities are codified in the form of important laws such as the Rules of Road Regulations and Motor Vehicles Act. These codes prescribe punishments for violation of the rules.

It is our sincere endeavour to create confident drivers who believe in safe driving. We have designed a Learner's Course which spans 21 hours, including 10 hours of practical and 11 hours of theory input. Our carefully designed theory lessons ensure that the driver not only has excellent driving skills but also sound knowledge of theory.

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