The New Year always signals a round of resolutions: We will stop smoking, drink less, work harder, spend more wisely, etc. But have you ever thought of improving your driving and keeping your vehicle in tip-top shape as a resolution? Here are some tips you can think of to help keep motoring safe, fun, enjoyable and more stress-free.
1.) I will maintain my car better this year—all too often, people forget that the car they use every day is an instrumental part of their lives. They just get in, drive and go without thinking. A well-maintained car is a safer car to use, and will less likely endanger not only yourself, but also the lives of other motorists on the road. If you are unsure of your car and don’t want to be bothered by the technical aspects of your car, then bring it to the casa or a reputable and trustworthy independent service shop so they can go through your vehicle thoroughly, spot any potential headaches, recommend repairing/replacing old, worn-out parts and do simple things such as tightening loose nuts, bolts and screws.
2.) I will drive with purpose—again, all too many people drive around senselessly, not minding their proper lanes, being distracted by billboards, talking/texting on their phones or listening to music, thus losing focus on driving. Driving is a skill that requires proper technique, patience, concentration and focus. You can’t just get in and drive without putting yourself and other people/motorists at risk by not focusing on the road ahead. Pay attention to traffic lights, street signs, pedestrian crossing zones and the speed limit.
3.) I will mind my car’s gaps all around me—all too often, in bumper-to-bumper traffic, people just park their cars lazily and sometimes do other things while in bumper-to-bumper traffic. Sometimes, cars inch up ahead or behind you. It is a good idea to lessen/decrease the gap between you and the car ahead of you. Why? Large gaps mean motorcyclists will zoom in and out of the gaps, weaving through the tight spaces. This opens up your vehicle to being hit by rushing motorcyclists. I’ve suffered a badly scratched chin spoiler and a banged-up side mirror and the best thing motorcyclists do is smile sheepishly, apologize and zoom away even before I can react. Another issue is for emergency vehicles. If the gaps all around you are big, emergency vehicles such as fire trucks, ambulances and police vehicles that are responding to an emergency will have a harder time squeezing through. This leads to your next resolution.
4.) I will consciously keep pedestrian zones and intersections open and clear at all times—all too often, in bumper-to-bumper traffic, we also try to speed up and inch up on the last few meters prior to an intersection and often end up stopping right smack in the middle of the intersection, blocking traffic flow from other lanes and directions. If we were more conscientious and actually looked more than the car ahead of us, like 5-10 cars ahead in stop and go traffic jams, we can better gauge if, when the traffic stops, we’ll be right smack in the middle of an intersection or safely past it, or we should stop right away. People are also afraid to be the one to stop last right before an intersection. Have courage. Stopping right before the intersection requires strength, commitment and no fear from being honked at by the insensitive motorist behind you who only cares to get ahead with no concern for other people.
5.) I will map my route for the day ahead of schedule—too often, people waste a huge amount of time and money crisscrossing the metropolis for multiple errands when they can avoid this by planning their route in advance, thus saving on fuel and time. A map or GPS is always handy when planning your route, and you can take into consideration rush-hour traffic in these areas better, set aside more time as needed to accomplish each task. No amount of safe, fuel-efficient driving techniques will make up for thoroughly planning on where you will go each day. Driving aimlessly, even on short distances, will always consume more fuel and accomplish less, if anything at all, than driving with purpose and a plan.
6.) I will drive much more efficiently—fuel economy and fuel efficiency seem somewhat similar, but the real-world application and net effect of both are very different. Economy is an absolute figure but with no end-goal in mind other than achieving a low fuel consumption number. But efficiency takes into consideration your time, effort and achieving your goals. Driving like a slow toad MIGHT net you better fuel economy, but you would just have wasted your time, energy and efforts for no real goal in mind. Hence, focus on efficiency, wherein you take into consideration both time and the least consumption of resources to achieve your goals. A good example: If you have to drive to and from a destination 120 km away, drive as close as possible to the maximum legal limit, rather than traveling barely over the minimum limit. You save time, your engine spends less time running and you cover more distance quickly. If you drive slower, your engine will be running much longer and will be consuming more fuel for a given amount of time as compared to driving a little bit faster. You can also turn off your engine sooner, basically.
7.) I will drive much more safely—safety is of paramount concern and importance. By following everything listed here, you will be driving much more safely because you are focused on the road, not rushing at all, and driving with a plan or end goal in mind and not just driving aimlessly, conscious of other motorists and pedestrians around you, in a car that is in reliable and in tip-top shape. Look well ahead, get a feel for the flow of traffic, check the road conditions, take a mental note of sections of road with poor surfaces so you can avoid them, slow down at every intersection and pedestrian crossing, honk your horn aggressively in advance, and turn on your lights as soon as you need to. Additionally, check your brakes, wheels and tires for wear, bite and tire tread depth to ensure that your car will stop on a dime, grip the road even with standing water and feel alive in your hands. Your tires and wheels are the components of your car touching the road, so make sure they are in the best of condition.