Before you get behind the wheel and head out on the road, you’ll want to have some essential skills to ensure your safety and the safety of other drivers. No matter whether it’s your first time driving or you’ve been at it for years, you can always do more to increase safety while you drive. In this guide, you’ll learn some of the basics that every driver should know.
4 Essential Skills All Motorists Need
1. Maintaining the Tires
Your car’s tires are the only point of contact it has with the road, which is why maintaining them properly is so important for safe driving. Tires that are improperly inflated not only reduce gas mileage, but they also have a tendency to cause flats and blowouts. Some vehicles are equipped with a tire pressure monitoring system that makes it easy to see the psi level of the tires. You can find out what the proper psi is for your tires by checking the sticker found on the pillar inside the driver’s side door.
2. Checking the Oil
Oil is what keeps your car’s engine and other major components functioning properly. Vehicles need to have their oil changed regularly, as it gets dirty and stops working as it should. To check your oil, open the hood and look for the oil dipstick, which is typically labeled so you can find it easily. Pull it out and wipe it off. Place it back in the hole and pull it out again.
You’ll want to take note of the oil level as well as the oil’s color and consistency. The dipstick is marked where the oil level should be, and if the oil looks black or gritty, it’s time for a change.
3. Driving in Bad Weather
Regardless of where you live, you’re sure to encounter bad weather at some point when you’re traveling. Knowing how to handle weather conditions like snow, ice, and heavy rain will help you drive with increased safety through these types of conditions. Wet, slippery roads affect the handling of any vehicle. Make sure you drive slowly in inclement weather and don’t hesitate to pull off the road if you don’t feel comfortable continuing.
4. Braking Suddenly
Sometimes, things appear in the road suddenly, causing you to have to stop quickly. Sudden braking isn’t recommended, but if you do have to stop quickly for some reason, you’ll want to stay in control of your vehicle. When you apply the brakes hard and fast, you can easily start to fishtail. This is when the back of your car sways. If this happens, ease off the brake and don’t overcorrect by steering rapidly in one direction or another. You may have to slowly pull off of the road in order to regain control.
Don’t drive without knowing these essential skills. Having the right knowledge and experience will make you a better, more courteous driver. If you’re in need of a safe, reliable vehicle that will get you around in comfort, stop by Romeo Ford of Kingston and they can help get you into the drivers seat of some of America’s most reliable and trusted vehicles.
Photo courtesy of Ford.
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