Driving has become a tedious task nowadays, especially in cities. You have to be mindful of traffic, pedestrians, and bikers simultaneously. And the lack of respect for driving laws by many Indians definitely doesn’t help this case. It’s challenging to make every driver abide by the rules, but you can make an effort for yourself.
To make driving easier and potentially help save your or someone else’s life, here are some driving tips.
High-Beams
The purpose of high beams is to improve your visibility in extremely dark conditions. Many Indian roads still lack proper illumination, and so high beams could be life-saving in such places. However, high beams also have an adverse effect on the oncoming traffic. The high beams completely blind the oncoming driver, and repeated exposure to such intense light puts significant strain on the eyes. It is an unspoken rule between drivers to turn off the high beams when you see an oncoming vehicle, and turn them back on the moment the car has passed.
Highways are usually well-lit, and it is very rare to need high beams on them. Yet people keep using them and fail to consider the safety of oncoming drivers. And with LED headlights becoming standard on all cars, the lights are brighter than ever. Such a mistake could be particularly dangerous on vicious roads or on tighter turns.
Moreover, many ignorant drivers use high beams to signal the driver ahead to move out of their lane. The high beams are reflected off the mirror onto the driver’s face, distracting the driver and causing a distraction to the car in front, as well as to other vehicles on the road and on the other side.
Constant exposure to high beams can tire a driver, leading to many accidents. Using high beams carelessly severely risks the lives of people on the road, and you should stop doing so and advise others to do the same.
Gentle Acceleration
During stop-and-go traffic, we often try to accelerate just as the car ahead moves to avoid other vehicles cutting us off. However, this kind of hard acceleration affects your fuel efficiency. Every time you accelerate hard, the engine experiences a higher load than usual, requiring it to burn more fuel than necessary. You would notice the downsides of sudden acceleration when checking out your car’s fuel efficiency.
To maximise fuel efficiency, you should accelerate gently rather than pressing the throttle hard. Such a small change can be crucial in the long run. Additionally, if you drive a manual, the clutch wear would also be significantly lower.
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Scheduled Maintenance
The owner’s manual provides the manufacturer’s advice on when the car should be serviced. The interval varies across different vehicles. However, it is recommended that you get your car serviced once or twice every year, or if your usage is high, after every 15,000 kilometres. Such practice could help keep your engine healthy for a long time.
The motive of regular servicing is to get the oil and oil filter changed. Oil is vital in keeping the engine running smoothly. A damaged Oil filter or dirty oil will not lubricate the engine components effectively. This would accelerate wear on all engine components. If the oil isn’t changed regularly, it is very likely your next bill at the service centre will be pretty long.
Other components, such as fuel and air filters, also need replacement, but not as frequently as oil filters. It is also recommended to replace all four tyres after every 50,000 km or 5 years. These practices will keep your vehicle healthy for a long time.
Tailgating
Sitting behind a car in traffic can be frustrating at times. Many drivers try to stay as close to the car in front as possible to avoid vehicles from other lanes or to switch lanes as quickly as possible. This is a common habit among many novice drivers, even on highways and open roads.
The issue with such a practice is that if the car in front brakes abruptly, the cars behind are at imminent risk of a crash. If the driver decides to apply the emergency brakes, the tailgating follower has very little time to respond, setting off a chain of accidents. To avoid such issues, keep two car lengths of space on highways and half a car length of space in heavy traffic.
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Hi, I’m Ravindra Meena , a bike and automobile enthusiast. I share honest reviews, mileage tests, and latest updates about bikes, cars, and EVs to help you make the right choice. Stay connected for real-world insights and trending auto news! 🏍️🚗