Driving is more than just the act of moving from one location to another; it’s a lifelong skill. Whether you’re handling a manual or automatic vehicle, driving demands a high level of concentration and a keen sense of direction. Before embarking on your driving journey, it’s essential to grasp certain fundamental techniques that are crucial for driving with competence.
So, here is a list of tips for driving school Toronto to become a better driver.
1. Get Familiar with the Car
The first tip by a driving school to start driving and become a better driver is to familiarize yourself with the car. Before you get inside the car and begin meddling with different buttons and knobs, get to know its functions. Get to know what each button does in the vehicle so that you know which button to use when the need arises.
Next, you have to learn about the three main pedals, the brake, accelerator, and clutch.
2. Check and Make Adjustments
The best driving school Toronto will surely recommend this tip to beginners. It is one of the most crucial points but often people tend to ignore it. Most car-driving newbies are unaware that every car has the provision to adjust mirrors, seats, and in some cases, the steering wheel, too. The mechanism lets you adjust the aforementioned components in a way that’s optimized for driving. It is important to position your seat in a way that you are comfortable while driving and get access to all controls of the car, namely the gear level, steering, and pedals.
Certain cars offer the option to customize the steering for both rake and reach, allowing you to achieve an optimal driving position. It’s crucial to consistently adjust the seat, mirrors, and steering in a manner that prevents any strain on your body parts while driving.
3. Adjust the Car Mirrors
When you search for an affordable driving school near me and begin your driving lessons, you will learn that adjusting the car mirrors plays a crucial role. You first have to adjust the mirror on the driver’s side. Make sure that you adjust the mirror in a way that the image of the car does not occupy more than 10% of the field of view. Adjust the passenger’s and driver’s side mirrors and then sit back in the seat of the driver and relax to make sure that you can see the maximize road behind you.
Keep in mind that only a small portion of your mirror should display the side of your car. Likewise, set the rearview mirror to provide the maximum view of the road behind you while seated comfortably in the driver’s seat. Always ensure that all necessary adjustments are made before you commence driving.
4. Understand the Standard Dashboard Controls
Although often overlooked, becoming familiar with dashboard symbols and controls is one of the most crucial car driving tips for beginners. These buttons and controls grant access to various features, including air conditioning, beam adjustment, wipers, and more. Additionally, a car’s instrument console displays numerous symbols, with many serving as warning lights indicating malfunctions. However, some symbols simply notify you of the activation of a feature, such as a high beam or cruise control. It’s important to differentiate between these and other symbols, which may signify actual warnings, such as low engine oil or tire pressure.
Moreover, the light color is important. The green and blue lights are just to let you know that are feature is being used. But orange, red, or yellow are the actual warnings and points to the fact that your vehicle has to be inspected.
5. Put on the Seat Belt
Seatbelts might look like a mere feature to avoid a fine but they are also important for protecting your life. As you hit the break or you hit an obstacle, you will be thrown off the car seat. In such as case, you will be more prone to suffering injuries as it would hit parts of the car, such as the steering wheel. But this is where your seatbelt will come to your rescue. It will just break the motion and keep you from hitting any object.
Seatbelts will secure the occupants in their seats and will keep them from being thrown out of their seats or hitting the dashboard, steering wheel, or windshield. Seatbelts distribute opposing forces based on the impact or braking force experienced. Primarily, seat belts play a crucial role in safeguarding two vital parts of the body – the head and the spinal cord.
6. Hold the Steering Wheel Right
When you’re ready to commence movement, it becomes essential to grasp the proper technique for holding the steering wheel. It’s important to note that your control over the vehicle’s direction relies on the positioning of the steering wheel. Therefore, learning the correct way to hold the steering wheel is a crucial step before you begin driving.
You might have heard about the 10 and 2 rule of holding the steering wheel. These are the numbers pointing to a clock. You should keep your hands on the steering wheel in a way that the right hand is where there are digits 2 on the block and the left is where the number 10 is on the clock. But, unlike what is usually said, studies have shown that holding the steering wheel in 9 and 3 positions is a better option.
