safe driving tips – Traffic School Online

When getting your license, you’re likely pumped up to get out on the road. Unfortunately, there’s a chance you might make some simple mistakes that aren’t always covered in driver’s ed. These mistakes can range from minor inconveniences to serious problems that endanger your life and that of others.

That’s why it’s crucial to understand these common new driver mistakes and how to avoid them. Most are simple enough to grasp quickly and even better, they’re easy to implement when driving.

Forgetting To Gas Up

New drivers often get so excited about their new license and car that they don’t pay careful attention to their fuel gauge. This problem may seem minor, but it isn’t. Riding around empty or near it can damage your engine by allowing dirty fuel to flow into it. In cold weather, it can even cause the fuel to freeze up. The U.S. Department of Energy’s Fuel Economy website offers helpful tips on maintaining your vehicle’s fuel efficiency.

The most embarrassing situation this can cause is running out of gas. This may not seem like a huge deal, but running out of gas in the middle of heavy traffic can be dangerous. Make sure to visit a gas station regularly and keep your car fueled up. You don’t need a full tank at all times, but at least half should be enough.

Thinking Four-Wheel Drive Is Magical

New drivers are often excited to get the chance to drive a four-wheel drive vehicle. They frequently make the mistake of thinking it is something akin to magic and that they can drive as fast as they want in bad weather. This is simply not the truth.

While four-wheel drive provides you with more control in snowy weather, it certainly doesn’t make you immune to its effects. Even worse, braking won’t be any easier with four-wheel drive. Put on the four-wheel drive in bad weather, but make sure to still drive safely. The NHTSA’s Winter Driving Tips can help you navigate challenging conditions.

Passing Improperly

New drivers often make many mistakes when trying to pass. Here are a few simple tips to keep in mind when passing:

Go 10 miles per hour faster than the person you are passing without breaking the law
Avoid passing if any oncoming traffic is present
Pay attention to the center lines: only pass when dotted lines are present on your side
Slow down during bad weather and don’t pass: the risk is too severe
Never pass vehicles you can’t see around
Give the car behind you at least 10-20 yards of space before merging in front of them

Left Turn Woes

If you live in a busy city, you probably already know how difficult it is to turn left. This is especially true at intersections that don’t have signals specifically set up for turning left.

Sitting and waiting for an opening can be frustrating. For timid new drivers, it can cause them to sit for a long time and back up traffic excessively. For aggressive drivers, it may cause them to drive dangerously.

Try to avoid left turns when at all possible. Plan your route in a way that minimizes them. For example, if you are out getting gas, find a station that lets you turn right in the direction you are going. So if you are heading back the way you came, pick a station on the left. If continuing along the same way, find one on the right. And only turn left at traffic lights that have a left-turn-specific signal. Utilizing a navigation app like Google Maps can help you plan your route efficiently and avoid unnecessary left turns.

As you can see, these mistakes are easy enough to avoid if you plan carefully. Make sure to take them into account every time you drive. That way, you can prevent serious accidents and other personal dangers. Improving your driving abilities requires learning how to drive carefully and protecting the lives of everyone on the road. For more information on safe driving practices, visit the National Safety Council’s Road Safety website.

If you’re about to take your driver’s test (or have already passed), you may feel like you know all there is to know about driving. But your parents or driving teachers may not have told you everything. Before you hit the road, take a minute to look over these driving tips that you might not have learned yet:

Adjust Your Mirrors – The Right Way

You probably know already that remembering to adjust your mirrors is important. However, you may not be doing it right, and you would be surprised to find out how many people do it wrong.

Most people adjust their mirrors so that they will be able to see both the road and some of their cars in the reflection, but this is actually the wrong way to do it. If you want to increase the safety of your driving and decrease blind spots, you should adjust your mirrors so that you can’t see the sides of your car at all – just the road and surrounding objects behind you.

Keep Your Headlights On – Even During Daytime

It may sound strange to keep your headlights on when it isn’t dark but hear us out. Keeping your headlights on all or most of the time may make you a safer driver. For one thing, headlights make you more visible to drivers, especially on overcast days. Drivers are more likely to notice you moving through their blind spots or coming over a hill if your headlights are on.

Besides making you more visible, keeping your headlights on will increase your visibility as well, especially when you are traveling through tunnels or heavily shaded areas.

Turn Your Music Off (or Down)

While listening to music in your car does make driving a lot more fun, it doesn’t make it more safe. Studies have shown that people who drove without music or radio distractions were much more focused drivers than those who drove with music playing. This is because listening to music in your car is a type of multitasking; if you’re focused on singing along to your favorite songs, or listening to a funny radio host, you’re going to be less focused on driving.

When you first start driving on your own, consider driving without music for a while. If you must have music, keep the volume down and make an extra effort to focus on your surroundings. Also, try to stick to music with slower, more relaxed beats; people who listened to songs with faster tempos were more likely to drive recklessly and go through red lights.

Never Slam on the Brakes

Slippery conditions and sudden losses of traction (such as a tire blowout) are a couple of the most common causes of accidents. When you find yourself in one of these situations where you need to stop suddenly, your first instinct is probably to slam on the brakes. However, hitting your brakes is one of the worst things that you can do.

When you do have to stop quickly, take your foot off of the gas pedal and gently tap the brakes, letting your car gradually lose speed. Doing this gives you more control over your car so that you can safely steer yourself in a better direction.

Pay Attention to Traffic Signs…But Pay More Attention to Traffic

It’s important to watch for and obey traffic signs, but you have to remember that not every driver is paying attention. The first rule of defensive driving is to understand that there are many distracted drivers as well as drivers who just decide to ignore the rules. To keep yourself and your passengers safe, make sure to pay close attention to drivers as well as road signs.

When it comes to driving, like most things in life, there is always more to learn. Try putting these tips into practice to become a safer, better, and more informed driver.

When you’re learning the rules of the road, you may find that driving in conditions that involve strong or heavy wind and rain can feel dangerous. Thunderstorms and tropical weather in summer can make for a turbulent ride. While no one wants to get stuck in a bad storm, there are many things you can do to keep yourself safe and avoid the dangers.

Driving Safely in Stormy Weather

Any type of severe weather can significantly increase a new driver’s risk of an accident. Here’s what you can do to take care of yourself when driving during a storm:

Eliminate distractions. Avoid talking on your cell phone, texting, or playing music when the weather is bad. You need to give driving conditions your undivided attention.
Stay informed by listening to storm updates on the radio, especially if you’re driving around most of the day. You can also use weather apps like NOAA’s National Weather Service or The Weather Channel for real-time updates.
If there’s a severe storm occurring when you’re ready to go someplace, stay home. Wait for the weather to clear before leaving the house.
Stop if you need to. If you can’t see more than a few yards, or there is hail, it’s not safe to drive. Pull to the side of the road or into a parking lot and wait for the weather to clear.

Navigating High Winds: Tips for Staying Safe

If you’re driving in heavy winds, it’s important to take precautions. Winds can cause accidents and injuries. Strong wind can occur just about anywhere, but it’s more common in wide open spaces, such as stretches of highway. Wind can also be dangerous on highway overpasses and inside tunnels. If you live in a tornado-prone area, stay tuned to local weather reports. You may need to exit the vehicle and take cover if news stations report a tornado touching the ground.

Here are a few tips to cope with heavy winds if you’re behind the wheel:

Anticipate wind gusts and be cautious when you’re driving through an area that is prone to stronger winds or when strong winds are anticipated by the weather reports.
Be aware of larger vehicles. Tractor-trailers and recreational vehicles are more susceptible to high winds. Be on the lookout for drivers who are having trouble staying in their lane.
Keep your hands firmly on the wheel. Wind can cause you to veer right or left, but you can maintain control by using both your hands to steer. Stay alert, and drive cautiously, especially if you’re in a large vehicle or truck.

Driving Safely in Heavy Rains

Heavy rain often reduces visibility for drivers, so prepare to cope with this. At one time or another, all drivers encounter challenging weather. Stay calm and remember what you learned in your driving classes. Always obey the rules of the road.

Cars and trucks are also at increased risk for hydroplaning, which can cause deadly accidents. Hydroplaning occurs when your vehicle travels too fast in wet weather, causing the vehicle’s tires to travel on a thin layer of water instead of gripping the road. Steering and braking become difficult under these conditions, and hydroplaning can even cause you to lose control of your vehicle.

Follow these tips to help you stay safe while driving in heavy rain conditions:

One of the most dangerous times to drive is during the beginning of rainfall. During this time, oils from cars and trucks on the roadway cause slick conditions. If it’s just started to rain, wait a few minutes before heading out.
Turn your lights on and keep them on as long as it’s raining. This will help other vehicles see you. In many states, this is the law, even if the sky is bright during the rainfall.
Give other vehicles on the road more space to maneuver by adding a few extra seconds of following time. This will give you more time to react to traffic conditions if you need to.

Additional Tips for New Drivers in Bad Weather

Take the time to understand how adverse weather can affect your driving skills. The first few times you’re out on the road in bad weather, you will likely benefit from having a licensed driver with you. When you’re learning to drive, it’s always better to be safe than sorry. So take the time to learn how to drive in various weather conditions, and if you find yourself in a dangerous situation, assess the best course of action. Often, severe storms will pass quickly, so you may want to just sit it out and wait to start your car after the sky has cleared.

Invest in proper maintenance for your vehicle, such as checking tire pressure, brakes, and windshield wipers regularly. This will help you stay prepared for challenging driving conditions and reduce the risk of accidents. For more information on vehicle maintenance, check out resources like Consumer Reports Car Maintenance and Repair Guide.

Looking for more driving tips? We have plenty! Read our blog and learn what skills you need to become an excellent driver for life. You can also visit The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for more resources on safe driving practices.

The phrase “blind spot” is enough to terrify any new driver, which is why we’ve decided to help you avoid this problem by telling you the right way to adjust your mirrors. For some reason, this technique is rarely taught to new drivers and they end up adjusting their mirrors improperly, just like everyone else.

What, This Is Possible?

Absolutely! People have been setting their mirrors wrong for decades, placing significant portions of their vehicles in the mirror for no good reason. As a result, people rarely use these mirrors and have learned to either rely on their inside mirrors or to physically turn their heads to check blind spots. According to the National Safety Council, proper mirror adjustment is essential to avoid collisions.

While the latter method is still the safest, there’s no reason you need to buy “blind spot mirrors” to eliminate these dangerous areas. All you need to do is adjust your interior mirror and your two side mirrors properly and the size of your car’s blind spot will shrink to practically nothing. This will help new drivers like you avoid silly accidents.

How Do I Adjust The Inside Mirror?

The inside mirror isn’t just for making faces at your friends in the backseat (in fact, stop doing that!). It is designed to give you a view of what is directly behind you. Obviously, it doesn’t give you a full view, but that’s why you use your side mirrors. However, you still need to adjust your inside mirror properly.

Start by sitting inside the car in the posture you typically use when driving. Now, look up into the mirror and adjust it with your hand until you can see out the back window in a complete and level fashion. This simple adjustment should take no more than a few seconds. The AAA Exchange provides a detailed guide on mirror adjustments.

What About The Side Mirrors?

The truth is, most drivers are doing just fine with adjusting their inside mirrors. It’s still worth knowing how to adjust it, but you probably would have done it right anyway. That said, you and probably everyone you know are adjusting your side mirrors wrong.

For the passenger side window, you need to sit in your seat and look in the mirror. Adjust it until you can no longer see the side of your car. You need to do this at the threshold of being able to see the car, moving it just one step beyond that point. Adjust its height until it is parallel to the ground. Repeat the process with your driver’s side window.

Now, when you are driving, you can check each mirror to get a great view of the lanes to your left and right. By also assessing the situation with your inside mirror, you can get a complete and unparalleled look around your car without turning your head. The Car and Driver magazine also offers an excellent resource for mirror adjustment techniques.

Does That Mean I Shouldn’t Check For Blind Spots Anymore?

Not quite: all it means is that you greatly reduce your danger of accidentally running into someone when changing lanes. Relying entirely on your rearview mirrors to check blind spots isn’t a good idea because it takes control out of your exact perception and relies entirely on reflected perception.

Even if your mirrors are accurately positioned, they may not be giving you a 100% accurate position of the vehicles around you. In tight driving situations, precise positioning is crucial when changing lanes. So while you can rely on your mirrors when there are few cars on the road or they are far behind you, make sure to visually check the vehicle’s position in your blind spot if another vehicle is much closer.

By following these simple tips, you are helping yourself become a safer and more confident driver. You will avoid problematic accidents and help promote a safer driving environment around you. For more driving tips and resources, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website.

As a new driver, you might encounter some challenging terrain and weather conditions that you didn’t face during your driving lessons. One common scenario is driving alone in heavy rain. Trusting your instincts and following some essential tips can help you navigate safely.

Here are some tips for new drivers when they are driving in the rain, along with some valuable resources to help you stay safe on the road.

Turn on your headlights, no matter how light the rain is. This not only improves your visibility but also allows others to see you. Check your local laws for regulations on using headlights in rain.
Slow down. Prioritize your safety and that of other drivers and pedestrians by reducing your speed. Give yourself extra time to reach your destination. If someone is waiting for you, they will understand.
Exercise extra caution after a long dry spell. Oil and grease build up on the road, and after heavy rain, surfaces can become very slick. Drive carefully until the residue washes away.
Maintain a safe distance between vehicles. This gives you more time to react to unexpected situations.
When braking, apply gentle pressure and allow yourself more time to stop. This also gives the vehicles behind you more time to react.
Follow the tire tracks of the vehicle in front of you. This can help reduce the amount of water your tires have to displace.
Keep a safe distance from large trucks and buses. Their large tires can splash water onto your windshield, impairing your visibility. However, avoid passing them in the rain, if possible.
Ensure clear visibility through your windows at all times. Use your defrosters to prevent windows from fogging up.
Stay on the road. Avoid veering off onto muddy or unstable surfaces.
Approach puddles with caution. They could be deeper than they appear, so try to go around them if possible.
Never drive through moving water. You can’t accurately judge its depth, and your vehicle may be swept away.
Don’t hesitate to pull over if visibility becomes poor. In some situations, it’s much safer to stop driving until conditions improve.
If you hydroplane, remain calm and avoid overreacting. Instead of hitting the brakes or turning the wheel abruptly, release the gas pedal slowly and steer straight until your car regains traction.
Prepare your car for rainy conditions. Maintain well-functioning windshield wipers, adequate tires, and brakes on your car.

Driving in the rain can be intimidating, especially for new drivers. Give yourself extra time, drive cautiously, and remember that experience will help you become more comfortable over time.

If the rain is particularly heavy and you have the option, consider waiting for the downpour to pass before hitting the road. Assess whether your trip is necessary or if it can be postponed. If you’re already driving and visibility becomes dangerously low, pull over to the side of the road, ensuring that you’re completely off the roadway to avoid collisions with other drivers who may not see you.

If you’re not comfortable driving in the rain, don’t hesitate to ask for help. Your parents or another experienced adult may be willing to accompany you during rainy conditions, helping you gain confidence and become a safer driver. You can also enroll in advanced driving courses that cover driving in adverse weather conditions, such as those offered by the Traffic School Online program.

Remember, practice and experience are the keys to becoming a skilled and confident driver in all types of weather. As you gain more experience driving in the rain, you’ll develop the skills needed to navigate safely and responsibly. Stay cautious, be prepared, and don’t be afraid to seek help or additional training when necessary.

With the holiday season upon us, it’s important to alter our driving habits and pay closer attention to the roads. In this article, we offer useful advice to make your driving a little less stressful this holiday season. If you’re a new driver — or a driver still taking driver’s ed — you’ll find these tips especially helpful as you practice your driving habits in real-world environments.

Beware of Increased Pedestrian Traffic

With Christmas break right around the corner, you’re going to see a lot more young children playing in neighborhoods. From snowball fights to a game of catch children love to congregate outside while they’re not in school.

You must take extra precautions while traveling through neighborhoods. This time of year, it’s even more important to watch out for young people playing outside. Poor weather conditions combined with streets getting dark earlier make it hard to see pedestrians clearly. Be aware of children who may jump out into the street to fetch a ball. Be on the lookout for kids who might not be able to tell where their snow-covered front yard ends and where the snow-covered road begins.

Be Aware of Changing Road Conditions

Christmas is synonymous with snow. Even parts of California have reported snowfall in December at one time or another. As the snow falls, you need to alter your driving habits. Cold weather can create slippery road conditions. If you must drive, reduce your speed and don’t follow too close to the vehicle ahead of you. You never know when you’ll need to slam on the brakes.

If you live or are visiting an area where you expect snow, make sure you have tire chains or cables with you. It’s a good idea to practice putting them on your vehicle to ensure you are familiar with how to install them before you’re in a situation that requires them.

Watch Out For Drunk Drivers

It’s sad but true. As more and more people attend holiday parties, more and more people will make the mistake of driving drunk. Make sure that you can identify when someone is too drunk to drive. If you notice a drunk driver on the road, call the police. You could help prevent a serious accident.

Be Aware of What’s Going On Inside Your Car

It’s important for all drivers to be aware of what’s going on inside their vehicles. During the holiday season, it’s common for friends to travel together. Whether a long-distance road trip is in the cards or you’re just traveling to the local ice skating rink down the street, you might find yourself driving friends and family more often.

Keep passenger safety in mind. Ensure that all passengers in your vehicle have their seatbelts fastened. If someone chooses not to wear a seatbelt, refuse to move the car out of the park. Chances are, if they’re threatened with losing their ride, they’ll buckle up pretty quickly. It’s your responsibility as the driver to ensure your passengers are safe.

Don’t Get Distracted With Holiday Lights

There are a lot more distractions around town this time of year as well. As you take note of the beautifully lit trees and brightly decorated homes this holiday season, it’s important to take note of the traffic lights and signals that those holiday lights may drown out.

Pay attention to the road ahead. Be aware of all conditions around you. Check your mirrors every 3-5 seconds and don’t get distracted by those holiday lights. They may look good, but the traffic light ahead is where your eyes should be focused.

Watch for Emergencies

Remember, with more people on the road this holiday season — and with poor road conditions in some parts of the country — you’re likely to see several emergency vehicles out on the road. Help promote safe driving. Fire trucks, ambulances, and police cars will make their presence known with flashing lights. Remember the importance of letting emergency vehicles pass. Be sure to pull over to the right as soon as you see the flashing lights of an emergency vehicle.

Have Fun Out There!

The holidays are a time for celebration. So fasten your seatbelt, drive safe, and have a great time out there — no matter where you’re headed and whom you’re headed there with.

Everywhere we go, various things and people compete for our attention. As a driver, your focus should always be on the road ahead, as well as your rearview and side mirrors. Both new and experienced drivers can easily be distracted by their surroundings. While many driving distractions are beyond our control and challenging to avoid, being aware of them and making a deliberate effort to dodge them can significantly improve road safety for everyone.

External Driving Distractions

Billboards and Advertisements

Advertisements play a vital role in driving our economy. However, they can also be a trigger for unsafe driving. Billboards on buildings, real estate ads on park benches, and flyers posted on traffic poles all demand our attention. If you enjoy observing ads, opt for a magazine or wait until you’re stopped at a light to check them out. There’s no need to risk driver safety just to read a catchy headline or glance at an intriguing image. Remember, taking your eyes off the road, even for a moment, can lead to minor accidents or more severe consequences. Make a conscious effort to ignore billboards when you’re behind the wheel.

People and Pets

It’s natural for our eyes to be drawn to interesting or visually appealing things, including people. You might be captivated by a lady wearing a funny hat, an attractive gentleman in a well-tailored suit, or a woman jogging. As any driver education program will emphasize, pedestrian safety is just as important as driver safety.

While it’s crucial to be mindful of pedestrians and your surroundings, try not to stare or become too distracted. Pedestrians with pets can be particularly attention-grabbing. Be conscious of them, but maintain your focus on driving safely.

Glare

Reduced visibility, such as glare, can be very distracting and challenging to avoid. Driving towards a sunrise or sunset can make it harder for you to see and remain safe on the road. Although this distraction is inevitable, a pair of sunglasses can alleviate the issue. Consider keeping sunglasses in your car at all times. Additionally, keeping your windshield clean can help. Take a few minutes to clean the windshield while you’re at the gas station.

Internal Driving Distractions

Various items inside your vehicle can also be highly distracting. Being aware of these distractions and planning accordingly can help you avoid them.

Cell Phone

Cell phones can be lifesavers, offering drivers a way to contact help during emergencies. However, using a cell phone while driving can significantly jeopardize the safety of the cell phone user and other drivers on the road.

Any activity involving a cell phone is distracting. Making or answering calls, sending or reading text messages, and sending emails should all be avoided. Even when using a hands-free device, the conversation itself can still be a distraction.

GPS / Navigation

While having a navigation system in your vehicle can be incredibly helpful, it can also be very distracting. Make sure to input your destination into the GPS unit before starting your trip. If necessary, ask a passenger to enter the address for you.

If your car doesn’t have a built-in navigation system, be aware that traditional maps and printed directions can be equally distracting. If you need to consult your directions, ensure you pull over to a safe spot on the side of the road, turn on your hazard lights, and then check your map or written directions. It might take a few extra minutes, but it will help you stay safe on the road. Alternatively, you can ask a passenger to act as a navigator and refer to the map for you.

Preventable Distractions

Numerous drivers engage in unsafe driving habits daily, endangering the lives of fellow drivers and pedestrians. They distract themselves from the road by engaging in non-driving-related activities, often unaware of the potential dangers on the road.

While the following items might not be the biggest driving distractions, they still pose a risk and should be avoided:

Eating

From sandwiches to bowls of cereal and plates of spaghetti, we’ve seen it all. Eating while driving can be highly distracting, especially if you spill something hot or make a mess. In such situations, your concentration will likely shift from driving to dealing with the food-related issue.

Applying Makeup

Checking your mirrors before putting your car into the drive is essential to ensure your blind spot is clear, as emphasized in driver’s education. However, using your car mirrors for makeup application is not their intended purpose. While it’s fine to apply makeup when your car is parked, avoid doing so while driving, as it’s unsafe.

Reading

Surprisingly, some people attempt to read books while driving. Regardless of whether the book is about driver’s education, it doesn’t belong behind the wheel. If you’re engrossed in a book, please finish it before getting in your car.

Changing Your Attire

It should go without saying, but changing your clothes while driving is not safe. Not only is it distracting, but if you need to quickly brake while putting on pants, you might be unable to do so due to your foot being caught in the pant leg.

Hopefully, this list of driving distractions seems absurd and ridiculous, because they are. Whether it’s one of the biggest driving distractions or a seemingly trivial one, it’s still unsafe and should be avoided for the sake of safe driving.

Whether the distraction is outside or inside the vehicle, it’s crucial to be aware of them and avoid them whenever possible. Remember, convenience should never take priority over safety.

Taking a driver’s education course can be lots of fun, especially if you opt for an online driver’s education class that lets you learn the rules of the road from the comfort and convenience of your own home.

But once you complete the in-class educational component of driver’s education and learn everything you ever wanted to know about road safety, the next step to being comfortable with road safety and applying your driver’s education knowledge is obvious: Get behind the wheel to practice everything that was preached.

But where do you start? Is it safe to just get behind the wheel and drive?

That’s where parents come in. Once you have your learner’s permit, you’ll be eligible to get behind the wheel as long as someone with a driver’s license and years of experience is in the front seat with you. Here are some tips on some great places to start learning how to drive.

Start in an Empty Parking Lot

Empty parking lots can help simulate a real-world road environment while minimizing the dangers that come with actually being out on the road. One of the best places to start learning how to drive is in a school parking lot after hours. Wait until it is the weekend, later in the evening, or over a holiday, and the school parking lot will likely be empty. You can also typically find an empty parking lot by going to a closed shopping center.

The first time a driver’s education student gets behind the wheel could very well be with his or her parent. Having never been behind the wheel of a car before, the last thing you want is to be out in the middle of a busy intersection without being comfortable operating a motor vehicle.

A wide-open parking lot can help you get comfortable with steering, stepping on the gas, braking, and turning. Sure, you’ve heard how to properly make that left turn in a driver’s education class. But talking about it and actually doing it are two completely different things. You’ll be able to get a feel for how a vehicle actually responds to human control in a safer environment.

What’s more, with all those empty parking spaces, you’ve got the perfect opportunity to practice parking. Make a right turn into a spot. Make a left turn into a spot. Back into a spot. Do a three-point turn to turn around. The possibilities for applying your driver’s education knowledge are endless.

You can even turn that parking lot into a simulated main street. Set up pylons and simulate parked vehicles, pedestrians, curbs, stop signs, traffic lights, and other things that you’d experience out on the road. This will help you prepare for your in-car driver’s education class before you get out on the road in a real-world environment.

Move up to More Crowded Parking Lots

Once you are feeling comfortable with the basics of driving (steering, braking, turning, reversing, parking) move up to a larger, more crowded parking lot. You can go to a mall or a shopping center during business hours.

Take the skills you are learning and start using them around other drivers. Now, instead of parking in an empty lot, try parking next to an already parked car. Then reverse out with another row of cars behind you.

You can circle around the parking lot and pretend they are actual streets. There are several areas in parking lots that act as small intersections. The important piece is to start feeling comfortable with other vehicles on the road.

Practice on Various Types of Road

Make sure that you practice driving on different types of roads such as asphalt, dirt, and gravel. The car will handle differently on different types of roads so it’s important to get a good feeling for each. You may notice the steering and accelerating will vary depending on the road.

Find back roads that aren’t as commonly traveled to practice your driving skills on these different road types.

Find Roads with Different Speed Limits

Drive on roads with varied speed limits so you can start to get used to how it feels to travel at 25 mph versus 35 mph, versus 40 mph. Once you have enough practice you’ll be able to get a good sense of your speed without even looking at the speedometer.

For now, just practice at one speed until you get comfortable with it, and then move to a faster speed until you get comfortable with it. Remember to move back to the slower speed afterward so you can get a good sense of how it feels at each speed.

Drive on Roads with Different Weather and Visibility Conditions

Practice driving in different weather and visibility conditions. Try driving in the rain and snow. The road is much different when there is rain or snow, especially if it is the first rain of the season. You should also make sure you can put on the proper snow equipment such as cables or chains.

You should also practice driving at night. Driving at night adds new challenges because of the decreased visibility and the need to be extra cautious of other drivers and pedestrians.

Once you are feeling comfortable with driving in the rain and driving at night you should combine the two. Though it is more difficult to drive at night in the rain it is an important skill to have and a situation you will likely come across often.

Practice Using Freeway On and Off Ramps

Once you have mastered the basics of driving on varying road types with varying speed limits and in different weather and visibility conditions you should move on to the freeway. Start by getting used to entering and exiting the freeway. Enter the freeway and then take the next exit, you can loop back around and do the reverse. Make sure you feel very comfortable with getting on and off the freeway and getting up to freeway speed.

In Closing…

Remember, when it comes to applying everything you’ve learned in driver’s education, safety always comes first. Even when practicing in an empty parking lot, always exercise caution and be sure that you are obeying the rules of the road and the laws in your area.

Drive safe, no matter where your car may take you.

◉ Common Mistakes Many New Drivers Make