New drivers? This blog is for you. I know you’ve excited to have your restricted drivers licence, But wait! before you get behind the wheel and put mouth into gear. We need to talk about the five common mistakes new drivers make. If you think you’ve good at multitasking, listen up!.
- 1. You speed: Go easy on the gas pedal, the faster you go the bigger the mess, the bigger the mess your car produces in a crash, the more likely someone will get hurt. Speed limits weren’t invented out of thin air, driving at a speed of 90 kph instead of 60 kph increases the odds of you dying in a accident multiplying the temporary thrill isn’t worth the risk. Remember its better to be 5 minutes late than dead on arrival, slow down! your life might depend on it.
- 2. You’re distracted: Texting, eating, laughing at your ridiculous mates in the backseat, changing the radio station, the specifics aren’t important, every distraction has the exact same effect when your mind isn’t focused on the road, your ability to drive suffers in a major way. It takes 4.6 seconds to answer an average text, remember you travel the distance of a rugby field every 5 seconds when you’re driving at 55 kph. Don’t eat whilst you drive, get to your destination first.
- 3. You take Risks: You’re young, energetic and full of enthusiasm for life. I remembered the feeling I too was young. All the excitement can make you feel invincible, like nothing could ever hurt you. That’s a wonderful way to be, but that feeling can get you into deep trouble on the road. Not wearing a seat belt, drink driving, neglecting to check your blind spot, Its cool, fun to live on the edge, but these are dumb risks that have absolutely no pay off. Save the risk seeking for areas of life where it might work out to your benefit.
- 4. You try to impress friends: I know you’re sick of hearing about peer pressure, when teenagers drive with other teenagers in the car, the risk of having a accident increases, it feels awkward..so you’re distracted by conversation and somehow it becomes “cool” to drive fast and “lame” to drive slow. Remember confident people have nothing to prove, don’t act like a fool.
- 5. You put style before safety: Your parents probably have more to say in what vehicle you buy than you do. The “Speed Demon” is rarely the safest option. Please make it your priority, there’s nothing boring about choosing a car that can protect you from danger.
- Courtesy of the seasoned female driving instructors, serving the Massey, Henderson, Kumeu, Westgate and North Shore suburbs.
