Passing your driving test is just the start – there are so many things that you need to know how to do if you want to be a great driver, that your driving instructor does not teach.
Below, you will find five things that every driver should know how to do if they want to stay safe, avoid being stranded at the side of the road, and keep their cars in good condition:
1. Change a Flat Tire
A flat tire is one of the most common car problems you are likely to come across, so it makes sense that you should learn how to deal with one if you want to avoid getting stuck at the side of the road.
Luckily, it’s pretty easy to change a flat tire too. All you need is a spare tire, a jack, and a lug wrench. Then, you simp;y park your car on the flattest possible surface., loosen the lug nuts and jack it up. Remove the flat tire, replace with the spare and re-tighten the lug nuts and you’re good to go. Anyone can do it!
2. Drive Defensively
Learning how to drive defensively is something that we aren’t always taught by driving instructors, but it is one of the best ways to avoid car accidents. You can’t control what other drivers do, but if you have defensive driving down, you can act to protect yourself from at least some of the most common causes of car accidents, which you can read about in this car accidents FAQ. The more skilled you are on the road, the safer you will be.
3. Check the Tyre Pressure
Driving a vehicle with tires that are over or under-inflated can be extremely dangerous. They are at risk of blowing out and causing accidents, amongst other things.
How do you check your car’s tire pressure? Take off the valve steam cap and place a pressure gauge inside the valve stem. The gauge will take a reading almost immediately and that will tell you whether you need to further inflate or deflate them. Most cars require a tire pressure of between 30 and 35 PSI, but your vehicle’s user manual will give you a more accurate figure.
4. Keep a Maintenance Record
If you want to ensure that your vehicle is in safe working order, it’s really smart to keep a record of all works and maintenance that have been carried out on your car. Doing so will enable you to book services at the optimum time and carry out minor works yourself as and when necessary. Thankfully, all you need to do this is a notepad and pen. Remember to make a note of everything you do with your car and life as a driver will be so much easier.
5. How to Jump-Start Your Car
Every driver should keep a set of jump leads in the car and know how to use them so that they can avoid being stranded.
How do you jump-start your car? Attach the red clamps to the + terminals of the live and dead batteries and the black clamps to the negative terminal of the live battery AND an unpainted steel portion of the dead vehicle’s engine block. Turn the live car’s engine on and let it run for a few minutes. Easy, isn’t it?
If you know how to do these tasks, your life as a driver will be far easier.
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