🚗 Basic Driving Tips for Beginners

1. Adjust Mirrors and Seat Properly Seat Adjustment:
Mirror Adjustment: - Rearview mirror: centre to see directly behind. - Side mirrors: angle slightly outward to reduce blind spots. - Sit so your back is fully against the seat. - Your knees should slightly bend while pressing pedals. - Arms slightly bent when holding the steering wheel at 9 and 3 o’clock positions.
2. Understand Basic Controls Pedals: - Right foot controls accelerator and brake. - Left foot only for clutch (manual transmission). - Automatic: P (Park), R (Reverse), N (Neutral), D (Drive) - Manual: Learn the H-pattern gear layout. Indicators & Lights: - Turn signals for every lane change/turn. - Headlights for low visibility.
3. The “Cockpit Drill” Before driving anywhere, practice the cockpit drill (checking and adjusting everything while the car is stationary): - Seat and mirror adjustment - Seatbelt on - Foot placement on pedals - Gear in neutral or park - Check surroundings (mirrors, blind spots)
4. Smooth Acceleration and Braking Acceleration: - Press gas pedal gradually to avoid jerky starts. Braking: - Apply brakes smoothly. - Anticipate stops to reduce abrupt braking.
5. Steering Techniques - Hand-over-hand: For sharp turns, rotate hands in opposite directions. - Push-pull method: Hands slide along wheel for smoother, controlled turns.
6. Turning Maneuvers Left / Right Turns: - Signal in advance. - Check mirrors and blind spots. - Turn smoothly, avoiding wide arcs. U-turns: - Check traffic. - Turn only where allowed.
7. Stopping and Starting on Hills Hill start (manual): - Use handbrake to prevent rolling back. - Release clutch smoothly while pressing gas. Automatic: - Use brake until ready, then gently accelerate.
8. Lane Discipline and Positioning - Stay in the correct lane. - Keep a safe following distance (2–3 seconds). - Adjust lane position in curves.
9. Parking Practice Parallel Parking: - Check mirrors, signal, align car, reverse slowly. Angle / Perpendicular Parking: - Approach slowly, align wheels, and centre the car.
10. Defensive Driving Tips - Scan the road 10-15 seconds ahead. - Always anticipate other drivers’ actions. - Avoid distractions like phones or adjusting radio while moving.'
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