Just started to drive any tips???

[Ttaskmaster]

The reality is you will be in the outside lane doing 70 (ok 75) and a Merc/BMW/Audi/[insert other nob mobile] will arrive rapidly growing in your mirrors until it tailgates you flashing its lights because you made it slow down from 100+.

If you're going THAT slow, you probably deserve it. They DO own the road, you know...!!
For all the complaints about speed-demon bikers, whatever speeds I've been doing (and some could probably have lost me my licence outright, mind) it's always been a Beemer going *way* faster, trying a tailgate-overtake.

However, if you're in Lane 3 doing 70 and passing a lorry doing 60 in Lane 2, as it passes another doing 55-ish in Lane 1, that's just how it goes.
Keep calm, carry on and pull into 2 as and when safe to do so.

[sneakerhead]

Keep your eyes on the road, stay cool and be a defensive driver.

[ik9000]

be a defensive driver.

But I am doing it right
what;s wrong with that?
There's no need to roll your eyes you know
Will you stop trying to brake when you're in the passenger seat! I know what I'm doing...
Look, it was on amber ok?
It might be wet, but I have disc brakes and I'm only 20 so my reflexes are still good so give it a rest will you.
That was two seconds, you're just not counting properly.
I did have right of way. They hadn't even reached the crossing when I got there

[Chadders87]

Don't get over confident.
Don't stop remembering there are other idiots on the road and never stop compensating for them.
Service your car yearly, and check the tires at least monthly.

And don't let boy-racers pace make you feel like speeding up just to get them out of the rear view.

I was on a Dual Carriage way last night and in the right lane preparing to turn right at the roundabout a few hundred yards ahead. Boy racer comes up my rear-view at 90+ then throws his hands in the air when I don't let him pass. As he continues to tailgate me, wave at me and ignore acceptable braking distance, I slow down to 20 mph.

Even better is he was turning right too and he eventually overtook me....and then tried applying "karma" by doing the same to me. I just laughed as my actions still caused him to go slow whether he was behind or in front.

[Ttaskmaster]

Service your car yearly, and check the tires at least monthly.

Check weekly, if you can!
POWER - Petrol, Oil, Water, Electrics, Rubber.

Service intervals vary quite a bit, though.
Oil changes can be as frequent as 5,000 miles even on some modern cars.
Check the manual.

[Jonj1611]

I don't think the OP is coming back. 21 posts cough cough.

[OilSheikh]

Beware of one handed drivers that drive with one hand outside their car. Noticed one the other day in front of me driving at 30mph on a 50mph road and this idiot was even suddenly braking sharply in the dual carriageway for absolutely no reason. I am glad my car came away intact.

[peterb]

Beware of one handed drivers that drive with one hand outside their car. Noticed one the other day in front of me driving at 30mph on a 50mph road and this idiot was even suddenly braking sharply in the dual carriageway for absolutely no reason. I am glad my car came away intact.

No luck involved if you were driving at the appropriate distance behind and paying attention!

Tip to the OP,

Avoid driving anywhere where OilSheikh might be on the roads!

[OilSheikh]

no luck involved if you were driving at the appropriate distance behind and paying attention!

Tip to the op,

avoid driving anywhere where oilsheikh might be on the roads! :d

lol.

[OilSheikh]

Another tip for the OP, if someone sounds their horn behind you, COMPLETELY ignore them! Don't be provoked into moving off just because they want you to.
The other day, came to a halt behind a bus and wanted to overtake it but there were three cars coming towards me and I had to wait until I could go to their lane and then overtake. Idiot behind me starts tooting .. yeah.. you expect me to go and ram into the cars, mate ?

[Ttaskmaster]

Another tip for the OP, if someone sounds their horn behind you, COMPLETELY ignore them!

Unless it's me, in which case I'm likely beeping you because your 'clutch control' sucks and you're rolling backward toward me!!!!!

I don't think the OP is coming back. 21 posts cough cough.

Yeah, but I'm also taking driving lessons at the minute... and have kinda hijacked the poor fella's thread, it seems!

[penelope]

Concentrate on the road and dont let other people or things distract you. Also just put your phone away and ignore it when you drive and you will be safe

[AGTDenton]

Something I see all the time is drivers who don't know where they are going or know where they are get into a panic mode and proceed to drive slowly, over to one side, brake randomly with nothing in front and perform maniac swerving manoeuvers all while looking at their satnav or map.
Find the next safe place to pull over turn off the engine and find out where you are then find out where you are going.
Always plan your route to give you some idea of what signs you need to look out for, junction numbers you need to join or come off at etc.. etc... Satnav is not the be all and end all, it gets it wrong or like mine frequently does, shows me pointing in the wrong direction making it confusing as to which exit you're supposed to come off at a roundabout.
I often challenge the satnav rather than rely on it.


If you are in the wrong lane and have to miss your turning or junction keep going until you can turn back on yourself, DO NOT cut someone up because you were in the wrong.


Once you've passed, that doesn't mean you're an expert. If you want to gain confidence and experience in your shiny new car get onto some empty dual carriageways where there is often more time to react, you start to learn how to handle your car and become more instinctive with it like without looking at the gear stick or where the handbrake is and generally become more confident on the road.
If you only drive in a built up area you have a lot more things around you to focus on which can be daunting for new drivers. Once you've gotten used to a decent dual carriage way, you'll have a lot more confidence on the motorway.

Recommend a black box for insurance purposes. You'll halve the cost in a year if you drive well.

[MrComputerSaint]

ALWAYS check blind spots. Even if you think you're alone on a country road, just check them! IT can save you from soooo many crashes!

Also...

Something I see all the time is drivers who don't know where they are going or know where they are get into a panic mode and proceed to drive slowly, over to one side, brake randomly with nothing in front and perform maniac swerving manoeuvers all while looking at their satnav or map.
Find the next safe place to pull over turn off the engine and find out where you are then find out where you are going.
Always plan your route to give you some idea of what signs you need to look out for, junction numbers you need to join or come off at etc.. etc... Satnav is not the be all and end all, it gets it wrong or like mine frequently does is shows me pointing in the wrong direction so you get confused as to which exit you're supposed to come off at a roundabout and you don't learn anything.
I often challenge the satnav rather than rely on it.


If you are in the wrong lane and have to miss your turning or junction keep going until you can turn back on yourself, DO NOT cut someone up because you were in the wrong.

...

I agree with the above. I keep a map in the car as well as my Satnav as what if the satnav fails? the battery fails and then the charger, you'll be like... hmm I have to go down the M6 but when...

[Mister]

Get a dash cam. Cheaper insurance and it makes claiming much easier if someone runs in to you. You can also use it as mobile CCTV if you leave it running while the car is off. Those black box things are often a bit of scam. Some insurers will find ANY excuse to avoid paying (especially the big ones) out and these things just provide them with more excuses

But yea, it will take many years of daily driving to get to the point where you can "read" the road and predict what other drivers are going to do. So just be careful really.

As for maintenance...Make sure you check the tyres once in a while and don't let them get below 1.5mm. Otherwise it's £1000 fine per tyre if your caught with any lower than that. Always change tyres in pairs unless theres only a tiny amount or wear on the good one. Also, avoid budget tyres! Oil shouldn't be to much of a problem so check every few weeks unless you suspect a problem. Check every week if driving a car with a turbo, since bad oil can kill them very quickly.

[abaxas]

Don't do dash cam unless you want to be branded a peado.