Top 5 bad habits new drivers should not pick up

After the euphoria of passing your driving test is over, it is really important to still keep the key messages taught to you by your driving instructor in the forefront of your mind. However, all too often, new drivers tend to quickly forget everything they have been taught and quickly fall into bad habits that negate the positive defensive driving techniques they have been taught.

The top five bad habits include the following:

• Failing to pay attention,
• Getting distracted with use of mobile phones and gadgets,
• Tailgating,
• Pushing in, and
• The speed up, slow down, speed up syndrome.

Failing to pay attention

During driving lessons, all drivers are taught that they need to be aware of their surroundings, to know who is behind and to the side as well as in front of them, and recognise potential hazards. Checking in the mirror every few seconds and remembering the mirror, signal and manoeuvre mantra, is part of the defensive driving technique that ensures you are in control and aware of what is happening around you. New drivers who forget this put, not only themselves but, other road users in danger.

Getting distracted with use of mobile phones and gadgets

Using mobile phones or trying to reset the satellite navigation system whilst on the move, is a habit that many drivers have and it detracts from keeping your attention focussed on what is happening around you. It is said that if driving and using a mobile then you increase the chances of an accident by up to 400%. Even reaching for a cold drink from a cup holder can be a distraction and you can be easily caught off guard.

Tailgating

Keeping to the two-second rule and not tailgating the car in front is really important. All too often new drivers will get so close to the car in front that if they had to put on the brakes, there would be no chance to avoid a collision. Picking a landmark on the highway, such as a post or sign, and ensuring the vehicle in front goes past it two seconds before you do, will give you space and time to react to a sudden stop. Driving schools advise not looking at your watch but saying the words, “one Mississippi, two Mississippi” as soon as the vehicle in front goes past the landmark which gives you an idea of whether you are far enough away or not.

Pushing in

When driving around in busy cities, one of the worst habits new drivers can get into is to confuse aggressive driving with defensive driving, and start pushing in at busy junctions making everyone else brake for them. This also occurs at highway exits and when changing lanes on the freeway. As a driver you need to look well ahead so that you can spot potential hazards or know when it is safe to change lanes, and this is all part of defensive driving techniques.

The speed up, slow down, speed up syndrome

Finally there is the speed up, slow down, speed up technique, often seen on the freeway particularly with drivers who feel aggrieved at being overtaken so have to put their foot on the accelerator and get in front again. Not only does this affect your fuel consumption but as the driver is fixated with getting past one vehicle they may well fail to spot a potential hazard ahead. All drivers from time to time should take intensive refresher driving courses and there are experienced driving schools in Perth who will give you an honest review of your driving skills and help knock those bad and potentially, life threatening habits on the head.

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Some of the information in this post was kindly provided by City West Driving School, Perth.

How to use peripheral vision for safe defensive driving

Peripheral vision is the sight that occurs just beyond the centre of our gaze, typically as we look straight ahead what we directly observe is with 10 to 20 degrees of our line of sight. However just outside and around that direct line of sight we can detect other objects and this is what is known as the peripheral vision. When the vision is stimulated by movement or flashing lights, this causes us to turn our head to look fully at the object, which is why our car indicator lights flash instead of remaining static.

As human beings we do have the widest range of vision when we are remaining still but this changes when we move at speed, and we are not really designed to go faster than around 15. We don’t have eyes in the back of our head (unless we are high school teachers or astute mothers) so when motoring, making the most of our peripheral vision is a skill taught by our driving school instructors. It is certainly part of defensive driving course techniques and ensures that we make the roads safer for ourselves as well as other highway users.

Driving schools in Perth and Fremantle teach the rudimentary methods of defensive driving and also ensure that students practice using their peripheral vision to gain a fuller awareness of what is happening around them when they drive. Sitting back in the driver’s seat is a good way to start, because it allows you to make the most of your peripheral vision. The driver’s range of vision widens and includes the passengers, as well as the driver’s window.

Another easy tip is to make sure you are not squinting or narrowing your eyes, so wearing appropriate eye wear or prescription sunglasses to deflect the glare will make the most of your peripheral vision. Driving instructors will advise you not just to focus on the one spot ahead, but to keep scanning the road with your eyes and checking your mirror. This is something that will be observed during the driving test as well as it enables you to get the bigger picture of what is happening to the front, back and sides of your vehicle. If you use this scanning technique, then you will soon find out that your eyes catch the movement of a car closing in on the rear or to the side of you.

Other sudden movements, beyond your control, can also be detected, allowing you to avoid any potential hazards such as a dog running across the road or a car cutting across you to change lanes. Constant monitoring of your surroundings will help you to formulate what is known as an “escape plan” so if someone does brake suddenly due to an unforeseen obstacle in their way, you will have noted that the lane to the side of you is free so you can quickly move into it to avoid a collision. Driving schools in Joondalup, Perth and Fremantle can help in educating you to make full use of your peripheral vision, which is an extremely useful tool to have when driving ourselves and our passengers safely from one place to the next. Speak to a Western Suburbs Driving School instructor today.