There are so many things that we get taught in school and a chunk of loads more we possess all by ourselves. The everyday act of driving requires many of these self-taught lessons besides those we can acquire from LTrent Driving Lessons. Imagine getting stuck by the side of the road with a flat tire; you have no spare tire, tools, or knowledge to do anything about your situation. Don’t you think you might have done better in this situation? Some of those self-taught qualities and behaviors are to be highlighted below.
Read on to find out which they are and which you possess. The more you have, the better.
Patience
There is only much you can do, and that is controlling your car. The number one attribute you must have as a good driver is patience. You must be patient with other drivers and with typical road events like traffic jams. When you understand that, you will not encounter road rage and will not take other people’s road rage outbursts to heart. You will then drive with the right mind and right attitude.
Cautious
A good driver is a cautious person who looks at all eventualities in their actions before getting to do it. Crossing the red light may seem like an achievement, but it may leave so much damage in your rare mirror. That said, consciousness protects not only you but all other road users as well.
Courtesy
Having the will to let another driver have their way whenever you can is one of the qualities a great driver must have. Courtesy means that you are willing to let someone enjoy the privilege you have—such as having another person take your parking space or giving way in a traffic jam. These small gestures go a long way, and if you are courteous, you get excuses from other drivers on the road.
Responsibility
A great driver must be responsible for understanding that their actions might very well affect other road users. And this covers everyone around them. For instance, a driver has a social responsibility to park in designated areas; parking in front of gates and businesses can disadvantage businesses. They are committed to driving safely and switching lanes by indicating and mostly caring for the car to protect the environment. Such a character is something you will be told in school but should be built into you.
Alertness
Regarding matters of the road, you might not be the one in the wrong, but someone else. What might save you is staying alert throughout your drive and watching how different drivers use the road. If you observe one driver on the road is a bit reckless, switching lanes without indicating, keep your distance. Alertness calls that you use all the mirrors as eyes to check all sides of your car.
Knowledgable
The best drivers on the road know their way around an obstacle, which may sometimes be a traffic jam. Look for alternative routes to avoid the traffic jam, saving time and fuel. Be willing to try new trails and find out where they lead. Yet another front of being knowledgeable is taking the initiative to discover fundamental things about cars. These are things like changing a tire to sorting out real engine issues like overheating and oil refilling. You may get a bit more by learning to take care of your car correctly and much more.
Self -sufficient
Being self-sufficient will borrow a bit from the knowledgeable bit. Being autonomous means you can do something related to your car without needing help. As aforementioned, things like changing a tire. Ensure you learn all you need to know about changing a tire and practice in your free time because that is how you get better. Being self-sufficient also means having the tools required to carry out essential servicing for the car, like a spare tire, tools to change the tire, bolts, jumpstart cables, and so much more.
Proactive
Being proactive means doing things without being forced or reminded to do them. If you change the tire and the spare needs a fix, take it for servicing as soon as you remove it from the wheel. Take the car for a wash, fix the cracked taillight, and replace the broken wipers. When done early enough, these small fixes save you much money in repair and replacements.
Organized
A good driver must also be very organized. Driving in a messy car can be a bit disorienting since you are in constant turmoil trying to remember where your pen is; for instance—being organized means having only what you need in your car. If you must change clothes in your car, have a maximum of two sets; anything more is too much. The organization also ensures that your car insurance and servicing schedules are up to par. Keeping these records and ensuring they are done in time will save you many issues.
Take away
In conclusion, we can say that being a good driver takes more than just passing the driving test to get a license. It goes beyond that and extends to who you are as a person. As seen above, each of the characteristics mentioned above is a conscious decision you make daily. No one is born responsible or organized; they learn to do that, and how they do it is by practicing it every passing day. So, while you drive your dream car, be patient, cautious, alert, courteous, knowledgeable, proactive, self-sufficient, and organized, and you will realize a significant shift in your driving experience. And most of all, you will be better positioned to ensure your safety and other road users you share this resource with.
