Content

• Steps
• Tips
• Warnings

It happens that good drivers are met often, it happens that they are rare. You can meet everyone on the road: from reckless teenagers and truck drivers to overly cautious and slow retirees; the information below will help you become a good driver.

Steps

1. 1 Concentrate. Pay attention to traffic around you, look in your rearview mirrors often, and anticipate what other drivers are going to do - all of which will help you become a polite and reliable driver.
2. 2 Allow another driver to overtake you if you notice that they are traveling at an overspeed. This is not 1950s drag racing. The need for speed leads to dangerous situations. You should always keep to the right, especially if someone is overtaking you. An exception will be those cases when you want to make a left turn, or there is an exit to the motorway on the left, on which you are going to continue driving. By staying in the right lane, you will allow higher speed drivers to safely overtake you on the left without forcing them to overtake on the right, which is a dangerous maneuver.
3. 3 Use turn signals at the right time. Notify other drivers of your intention to turn or change lanes in advance so that they can take appropriate action. It is not a good time to turn on the turn signal when you have already stopped at a red light; do this in advance so that the driver behind you can change lanes, and not wait for the green light to turn on.
4. 4 Never change lanes in the middle of an intersection. Also time the exit to the intersection so that you do not block it.
5. 5 NEVER try to "slip into yellow". If the yellow light comes on and you have enough space to stop, stop. Cyclists, pedestrians and other drivers expect you to come to a complete stop by the time the red lights up. You will endanger yourself and the rest of the road users by "skipping to yellow" to save 1-2 minutes. It's not worth it.
6. 6 Remember that it is very polite to let the driver back into traffic. However, you should not brake sharply in traffic to do this. This could result in a small collision with an unsuspecting driver behind you, or worse. Drivers in moving traffic do not expect sudden braking. Be extremely careful.
7. 7 Remember: keeping your distance is a great rule. Maintain a distance of at least 2-4 seconds between you and the vehicle in front. You can use signs or road markings to control the distance.Perhaps if the driver in front suddenly brakes or stops, you will have enough space to stop or change lanes to avoid an emergency. Weather conditions, such as snow or rain, are also responsible for maintaining a safe distance in the event of a skid or slip of the vehicle in front.
8. 8 It should not be forgotten that in residential areas, children may suddenly run out onto the road, not paying attention to passing cars. The attention of children is drawn, first of all, to the ball that flew onto the road, to their friends or to crossing the road on a bicycle, for example. When driving in a residential area, always expect objects or people to appear on the road.
9. 9 Remember that trucks are difficult to stop instantly or turn around, we have all witnessed this. When overtaking a truck with a trailer, remember that it will be difficult for the driver to brake. The best time to finish overtaking is when you see the truck in your rearview mirror. Avoid being near the truck in multi-lane traffic; if you don't see the truck driver in his mirror, then he doesn't see you either.
10. 10 Be courteous to older drivers. Seniors also need to drive to travel anywhere. Especially if they have no other choice. However, most older people prefer to leave in the afternoon when traffic is less dense and in daylight. When chasing an elderly driver, keep your distance and be prepared for unexpected maneuvers such as lane changes. Some older drivers may change lanes without warning.
11. 11 Try to safely change lane if you notice roadworks, a police or ambulance ahead of you, or find that the lane is starting to slow down and an adjacent lane is empty. There may be an accident ahead, a traffic jam, or someone decided to stop on the side of the road or broke down. By changing lanes, you will protect yourself from an accident and help people in danger.
12. 12 Understand that most drivers just want to get to their destination. Accidents do happen, but there are steps you can take to avoid accidents or to prevent other drivers from committing accidents. By understanding how drivers behave in different situations, you yourself will become better driving. A good driver learns to anticipate changes in traffic and prepare for them by changing the speed, lane, and direction of travel.
13. 13 If you are stopped by a police officer, be polite to him, and you can "get off" only with a warning in case of violation of the rules. This will depend on the type of violation and traffic conditions. Not all police officers are eager to issue a fine.
14. 14 Do not use the shoulder or middle of the road to dodge people who are not in traffic.

Tips

• Never leave your car doors unlocked in an unfamiliar place.
• There are children in the residential areas. Children are unpredictable, especially on the road. Be alert and move more slowly than usual.
• If someone stops you, including the police, open the window just enough to hear what the person is saying and let them hear you. Ask to show your ID.
• Get in the habit of blocking the doors as soon as you get behind the wheel.
• If you don't have a phone to call and ask for help, open the hood of your car to signal that you need help. If possible, get the broken car off the road. Often, fellow drivers will help you do this.
• Do not drive close to the vehicle in front. There is no need to do this unless you want to pay big bucks to repair your car (or get injured) in an avoidable accident.
• If you're in the fast lane, you don't need to go slower than other cars in the lane.Do not exceed the speed limit, if the traffic is not so fast, wait for your chance and drive safely.
• Store an empty canister in the car. If you run out of fuel, you can walk to the nearest gas station or ask other drivers for it. In this case, a canister may come in handy.
• If you don't have a phone, then you must be prepared for unforeseen situations at different times of the year. In the summer, carry enough water with you, a large emergency stop sign, and a small red triangular flag that you can tie to an antenna to signal a breakdown. In winter, bring warm blankets, some food and water, and keep your alarms on until help arrives.
• When you see something, hear a sound, or smell something that signals a malfunction of the vehicle, take to the right (or left in countries with left-hand traffic). This will make it easier to pull over in the event of a breakdown.
• If the driver behind you is not keeping their distance, further increase the distance from the vehicle in front. In the event of an accident, you will have more time and place to stop.
• Using a beep will not fix all situations. This may make you feel better and calmer, but it is more likely that the drivers are simply not paying attention or hearing the signal.
• Always have a spare key for your vehicle.
• Think with your head, not with the brake pedal. Watch out for dangerous situations and be prepared to dodge, not slow down. Slightly wobbling and continuing to drive is often better than hard braking.

Warnings

• Be careful and watch both directions of movement to avoid accidents.
• Never expect a driver to do what you think he should do. If someone has turned on a turn signal, make sure they start the turn before accelerating. If you notice that the brake light comes on, make sure that the driver brakes, and vice versa: if the brake light does not come on, this does not mean that the car cannot suddenly stop.