How To Drive a Car
If you are new to the world of driving or just want to refresh your memory then this guide may be what you’re looking for. This article will address the different aspects of driving, give instructions on basic driving procedures, and go over the different street signs, regulations, and traffic laws that govern those on the road. Have fun, know what you’re doing, and most importantly, be safe.
Steering
Steering can easily be the most fundamental part of the driving experience. Steering a vehicle is the whole foundation on which to make turns and tell the car where you want to go. Steering isn’t really that hard as all you have to do is shift the steering wheel in the direction that you want to go. If you’re going in reverse then you’ll need to turn the steering wheel in the opposite direction. If it’s raining and the ground is wet then be sure not to make any sharp turns or even brake too fast, for that matter. Think of a car as a bike. The back wheels rotate in one straight line no matter what and leaves you to adjust the direction of the front wheels to wherever you want to go. Refrain from trying to look cool by just using one hand on the wheel and instead, use both hands to completely control the vehicle. You won’t look cool if you crash your car.
Shifting
The shifting mechanisms of a car depend on what type of car you have. In newer average cars, the shifting between gears is taken care of for you with the aid of automatic transmission. In sports cars you must use a standard lever, also known as stick shift, to adjust the gears but you don’t need to hold down the clutch. In older cars, as well as tractors and other industrial vehicles, you have to use a standard shifter and you also have to use the clutch whenever you start the car or change gears. To use the clutch, simply press it down with your foot, shift into the gear that you want and then slowly release your foot off of the clutch. If you take your foot off too fast then the car will stall out and kill the engine, forcing you to crank it back up and try again. If you’re new to driving and you have an older car then just practice with it. You’ll get the hang of it eventually and soon it won’t even bother you to deal with the clutch. It’ll all come natural the more you practice. Driving a car is like riding a bike: it takes awhile to learn how to drive it but after you do you won’t forget how.
Parking
Parking is easier than it looks. If you’re parking forward then simply pull up next to the spot that you want to drive into, check to make sure that the coast is clear and then pull in slowly in order to make sure you don’t hit any other cars or drive too fast, which would cause you to hit whatever is in front of you, whether it be a car, a cement block, or whatever. If you’re parking backwards then drive up to the spot you want to pull into and stop just after it so that the back of the car is facing the spot. Use your rear view mirror and side mirrors to make sure that the coast is clear and to help you navigate into the spot. Parking backwards is slightly more difficult than parking forwards but you’ll get the hang of it. The side mirrors line up with the back of your car so make sure that the back of it is lined up with any cars nearby in a way that you won’t hit the other car. Pull in slowly and use your brake as soon as you are in far enough. Parallel parking is even harder than parking backwards but this too can be quickly perfected. In order to parallel park between two cars, pull up next to the cars just far enough so that the back of your car is parallel to the side of the opening closest to you. Shift your gear into Reverse and steer the car into the opposite direction that the cars are parked. Slowly back into the opening, using your rear and side view mirrors, and stop as soon as your car is halfway into the opening. Shift your gear so that you are now in Drive and steer your car back to the direction of the parked cars. Pull slightly forward so that the front of car is now in the empty space as well. Keep switching back and forth from Reverse to Drive and repeat these steps until your car is fully in the empty space. Brake and turn off your ignition. You’ve done it! You have now mastered all three of the fundamental parking procedures.
Road Rage
Road rage is something that can potentially effect all of us. Aggression can change our perception and can make it harder to react to certain circumstances. Whether its other drivers that are making you mad or you just got into a big argument with someone, take a breather and don’t let those other people effect your driving or your actions in general. You are your own person and you need to take control of your life. When we’re mad we are not in our right minds and can do some pretty crazy things that we wouldn’t do if we were thinking clearly. It doesn’t matter if you’re new to driving or have been doing it for decades, everyone can be effected the same way. So next time you climb behind the wheel, make sure that you are in a controlled state and are ready to make the journey of driving.
Street Racing
Another thing that is similar to road rage is street racing. It can be very exhillarating and can provide you with a rush of adrenaline but street racing is very dangerous not only to yourself but to other people on the road. If someone pulls up next to you and wants to race, just ignore them and go about your own business. These people are reckless and challenging them to a duel isn’t worth getting hurt or hurting others. If you’re someone who likes to race, then go to one of the many racing facilities where there is proper tracks and emergency personnel on site. If there’s not a facility such as this nearby then go out to a place where there is no cars nearby and always, always, always make sure that there is either emergency personnel supervising the race or someone who has a cell phone who is not racing and can think clearly enough to assess the damage and call 911 if need be. Don’t be pressured into anything. It’s just not worth it.
Alcohol And Drugs
Never get behind the wheel if you’re under the influence of drugs or alcohol. You could potentially harm not only yourself but others on the road as well. Alcohol and drugs make it harder for you to concentrate on what you’re doing and can change your perception of what’s going on. Likewise, don’t drive if you’re extra tired. If you find yourself falling asleep at the wheel then pull into the nearest parking lot or even on the side of the road if you have to and take a little nap. Studies show that just fifteen minutes of rest will make you more alert than if you just drive straight through. You have to be careful on the road and take responsibility for yourself. If you pose a threat to you or others then it is your duty to do everything you can to take that threat out of the equation.
I hope you learned something from this guide. Another good source for learning how to drive is the videos at Driving Safety Tips. Driving can be a convenient means to travel and can even be fun if you know what you’re doing but you have to train yourself to know what to do and what not to do while you’re driving around.