10 driving tips you never learn in school but are essential on the roads

Last Updated on 2016-05-19 , 1:53 pm

Just managed to pass your TP and obtain the long coveted class 3 license? Well you might think you’re a total pro at driving, but check out the following 10 tips to become a better driver!

Speeding does not help to save time
Speeding doesn’t help in a small country in Singapore–there are so many traffic lights, and during peak hours, there are simply too many cars. Speeding in this case will not help. Furthermore, it’s illegal and dangerous.

Always leave your headlights on
It is scientifically proven that you can reduce your risk of being involved in an accident by up to 32 percent simply by driving with your headlights on at all times. When something is lit up, it is more visible, at any time of the day

Don’t leave valuables in car
This one is more of common sense. It is not taught in driving school but theft can occur if you leave your valuables in the seat of the car.

Don’t look at the car infront of you, but the one before that
We often keep an eye on the vehicle infront of us – if the vehicle infront of you brakes suddenly, emergency breaking has to be applied to avoid collision. A smarter strategy is to look at the car infront of the one infront of you to know when to break so you’ll have a bit of preparation.

Give yourself ample leg room
Always adjust your seat such that you have ample leg room–this includes adjusting the seat such that your shoulders and arms will not be tense. A balance must be struck between having ample, sufficient leg room and not having to reach too far to hold the steering wheel.

For long drives, wear soft pants
This applies to long distance driving – if you’re wearing tight, rough material for pants, such as starchy jeans, it’s gonna get real uncomfortable being stuck in the same position over an hour. These materials cut and scratch your skin, making the drive really unpleasant.

Simply, don’t be a jerk
We know of rude drivers that like to flip the finger at other drivers as they drive pass. That’s rude, and not mentioning distracting to the one giving the finger and the recipient when driving.

Mandelbaum Effect on Windshields
It is scientifically proven that the Mandelbaum Effect, which is the naturally focus of the eye on the closer object, applies to windshields. If your windshield is dirty and grimy, you might naturally pay a bit more attention to the dirt instead of the traffic.

Avoid parking below trees
Birds love hanging out on trees and they love to shit from tree branches too. So if you don’t want to spend time scrubbing off bird poo from your beloved car, avoid trees.

Don’t listen to techno music while driving
Scientists have found out that techno music actually distracts you more than any other genre of music! While listening to music is fine, techno is a no-no.

Top Image: Komar / Shutterstock.com