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The pre licensing course NYC offered at Drive Rite Academy makes your safety as a driver a priority. Quality driving courses aim to teach you skills behind the wheel while providing education about basic vehicle maintenance. Some of the key points covered as part of a comprehensive driver’s training course may include information about how to keep your vehicle in top working order. Here are a couple of things to think about before you hit the road.

Wiper Blades

A hard rain blows in while you’re on the highway and visibility decreases. You turn on your wipers only to discover that the rubber wiper blades are in poor condition and don’t work. This scenario doesn’t have to happen this way. By checking the wiper blade performance at home before driving, you can ensure that visibility will not be a problem in a rainstorm.

Be sure to examine wiper blades for cracks and tears that could signal it’s time for a new set. While you’re at it, pop the hood and check the levels on your wiper fluid. Keeping the reservoir full will ensure that you can keep the windshield clean when the driving gets messy.

Tire Pressure

As the weather o26utside changes from hot summer days to cold winter nights, the air pressure in your tires also changes. Air molecules become denser in cold weather, causing your tire pressure to decrease. The opposite happens in hot weather as the heat lowers density in the air molecules and air pressure within the tire increases.

A simple check with a tire pressure gauge can tell you if you need to add or release air to keep your tires at their optimal levels. Over-inflated tires can rupture, and under-inflated tires create instability. You can prevent both of these problems by inspecting your tire pressure on a regular basis. The ideal recommended tire pressure on an automobile is typically between 30 and 35 PSI.

Students at Drive Rite Academy pre licensing course NYC learn these basics of vehicle maintenance and safety and more during their classes. Teaching and empowering new drivers to be safe on the road is always a top priority.

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Keep Both Hands on the Wheel

It is always a good idea to keep both hands on the wheel, but it is essential if you are driving in windy conditions. A driving school Bronx NY would advise you to place your left hand at the nine o’clock position and your right hand at the three o’clock position. This allows you to maintain maximum control of the automobile.

Be Aware

While you should use your mirrors to spot other traffic around you, keeping an eye out is essential when you are driving in windy conditions. While you do not want to take your eyes off the road ahead of you for long, knowing when a semi-trailer or a vehicle pulling a trailer is approaching helps when it is windy. These vehicles often have more trouble with the wind, so give them plenty of room.

Slow Down

While driving the speed limit will help you avoid a ticket, it is especially important to not drive over the speed limit when it is windy. A driving school Bronx NY can give you great tips on wind safety, including going a few miles under the speed limit to give yourself more time to react.

Watch for Falling Objects

It is more likely that an object will fall into the roadway when it is windy. Pickups are more likely to lose things out of the back of the truck when the wind blows. Therefore, you need to always be alert for the potential of something unexpected ending up in the roadway and be prepared to stop quickly. The instructors at Drive Rite Academy remind you that it can take up to 720 feet to stop a car that is traveling at 70 miles per hour. Those same instructors can help you drive safely in the wind by keeping control of your vehicle and giving others around you plenty of space in case they lose control of theirs.

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Take a Defensive Driving Course

Defensive driving is the best way to handle road rage. When you drive defensively, you can save lives, money, and time. Defensive drivers control their own speed. They also look ahead and anticipate what other drivers may do. Furthermore, defensive drivers are alert and ignore distractions that might otherwise bother other motorists. Since it’s important to master these skills, you may want to consider taking an online defensive driving course NY.

Concentrate on Your Breathing

If you feel road rage, concentrate on your breathing. Take a deep breath and let it out very slowly. Keep breathing this way until you feel yourself calm down. The magic of this technique is that the aggressive driver will speed on down the highway leaving you alone before you take off after them. You are also less likely to become another statistic in the 66 percent of car accidents that involve road rage.

Don’t Personalize the Incident

Remember that the other driver is just having a bad day, and we’ve all been there. It’s nothing personal against you. Instead of focusing on your anger, play some music or simply pull off the road into a safe place. It’s important to note that 37 percent of aggressive driving accidents actually involve a firearm. There’s no reason to escalate an incident any further than necessary.

Control Your Mood

At Drive Rite Academy, the instructors put an emphasis on dealing with road rage. By taking an online defensive driving course NY, you could learn ways to stop other people from controlling your mood. Realizing that everyone makes an occasional mistake often helps you move on. If you are still feeling aggressive, pull over in a safe place until you are back in control of your own actions. The result is that you won’t be involved in one of the approximately 33 murders and 4,200 injuries resulting from road rage each year.

Remember, if the police see you driving aggressively, they can give you a ticket. Therefore, driving safely can also help your pocketbook in many ways.

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Practice Consistently

The only way to improve upon any skill is to practice. Ideally, drive every day for at least 15 or 20 minutes. Consider the driving classes NYC has to offer so that you can have some professional feedback on your progress. The practice should include a mixture of daytime and nighttime driving so that you can get accustomed to the changing light. At some point, the vehicle should feel like an extension of your body as you move around the community.

Be Aware of “Moving” Eyes and Turn-Signal Use

During your practice and driving test, you should be using proper observation skills. Your eyes should always be moving or scanning the world around you. Keep your eyes on the road ahead of you, but use the mirrors as an extension of your view. Don’t forget to use the turn signals for every change in direction. Testing personnel will take points off of your score if the turn signals aren’t used as necessary.

Drive Defensively

Everyone should be driving defensively on the road. Practice this mindset as you head out on each driving session. Rapidly brake if a person cuts you off. Allow enough space between you and the car ahead of you, too. Don’t get upset if an issue occurs on the road, such as someone honking at you. Being a defensive driver simply keeps everyone safe on the road.

Work Professionally with the DMV Tester

After taking the driving classes NYC offers, you should be fully prepared for the road test. Approach the experience with the DMV tester as a professional one. Be courteous and receptive to their comments. In return, they should offer you the same respect.

The driving test lasts about 20 minutes. Your instructor simply gives you a set of commands to follow throughout the process. Complete the instructions, and you should pass without any issues.

The best way to prepare yourself for a driving test is by working with a qualified school, such as Drive Rite Academy. They can give you every tip in the industry to make any driving test an easy one to complete.

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To learn more driving tips and tricks, visit the Drive Rite blog page!

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1911—Electric Ignition

Prior to 1911, you could not just get in your car, turn the key in the ignition and expect your car to start. In fact, before the electric ignition was invented, starting a car was actually quite dangerous, as there were different methods that would achieve the same end result. Some of the first cars required a hand crank to start the engine, others used gunpowder cylinders to get the engine running. Thankfully, in 1911, the first electric ignition was installed in a Cadillac and the rest is history.

1930—Car Radio

For some it might be hard to image the days when you did not have a radio in your car to keep you entertained while driving. This all changed in 1930 when the Galvin brothers invented the first car radio. At the time though, their new invention wasn’t a cheap option, so most cars still went without a radio. In 1930, a car radio cost $130 which was roughly a quarter of the price of the car!

1956—Power Steering

If you’ve ever driven a car where the power steering has gone out, you know how much upper body strength is required to turn the steering wheel. In 1956, thanks to hydraulics, the need for upper body muscles was no longer required to safely navigate your car around turns and curves. By 1960, roughly a quarter of all cars were equipped with the new power steering technology.

1959—Seat Belts

The most important thing that you can do when you first get into your car is to put your seat belt on, and ensure that any passengers with you also put their seat belts on. Because there has been a big emphasis placed on the importance of wearing a seat belt, it is challenging to think that there ever was a time where they were not standard in cars. In 1959, Nils Bohlin invented the seat belt which first appeared in a Volvo. It wasn’t until 1984, 25 years later, that different states in the U.S. started passing laws that required both drivers and passengers to wear seat belts when in a vehicle.

1971—Anti-lock Brakes (ABS)

The purpose of ABS brakes is to help a vehicle stop more quickly in slippery road conditions. Prior to becoming common in newer vehicles, ABS brakes were first introduced on aircraft. In 1971, Chrysler and Bendix were the first developers of what was considered to be the first true four-wheel version of ABS for cars. Many other manufacturers followed suite soon after, with ABS being a standard safety feature today.

1984—Airbags

Airbags had been experimented with long before 1984, but it wasn’t until this year that they became a common feature in new vehicles. In 1984, Ford offered airbags as an additional add on option to vehicles, and in 1988, Chrysler was including them as a standard feature. The airbag is a lifesaving feature in vehicles, as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that nearly 2,000 lives are saved every year due to airbags.

2000—GPS Navigation Systems

Prior to 2000, paper maps were what you would use to find your way around. Nowadays, we simply input our destination into a GPS system, and listen to the instruction as they are told to us while driving. GPS navigation systems have been around prior to 2000, but it wasn’t until then President Clinton signed a bill that ordered the military to stop scrambling satellite signals that GPS navigation systems in cars were born!

While it may be fun to look back and see how cars have evolved and changed over the years, it is important to remember that cars will continue to change with new technology that is developed and new safety features that are invented. Drive Rite Academy, a Bronx driving school, will remain consistent in teaching safe driving skills for all drivers. Contact Drive Rite Academy today to sign up for quality driver’s education.

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Some of the most common fears that new drivers experience the first couple of times they are driving include:

• Other cars driving too close to them
• Driving at higher speeds
• Making the wrong maneuvers and causing an accident
• Passing other cars in traffic
• Driving at night
• Driving with strangers (i.e., driving instructor)

While these are all valid fears, it is important to remember that every driver on the road probably felt this way at one time or another. It is completely normal to experience anxiety when first learning how to drive, what is more important is learning how to overcome your fears and become a better driver.

Step 1: Stay Calm

Remember that every driver has started out where you are. Chances are, your brain is overthinking everything due to information overload and as a result, you are starting to feel fear and anxiety. Try to take a few deep breaths and remain calm, when first learning to drive you will be accompanied by a licensed driving instructor or a legal parent or guardian who has a valid drivers license. They will be able to help you feel safe and confident behind the wheel. When you are in the driver’s seat, remember to take a deep breath. You’re going to be okay and you’re going to do great!

Step 2: Don’t Be Afraid to Try New Things

It is scary to go out and try new things, often times it is easier to stay in our comfort zones and only do the things that we know how to do or that we are comfortable doing. When learning how to drive, it is important to try new things even though it might be scary. The best way to learn and grow is to do those things which we are afraid to do. If you are afraid to drive on the freeway, or scared to parallel park, the best thing to do is to try; you’ll have someone with you to guide you through the experience. You’ll gradually work up to being able to do more technical maneuvers, and when you are ready, your driving instructor will be there to push you to try driving on the freeway, increasing your speed over 25 mph, or parallel parking! Trust that you know the basics and you’ll be prepared to try new things!

Step 3: Believe in Yourself

The first few times that you drive, it will be scary, intimidating, and nerve-racking. The only way to overcome your fears is by actually driving! Be prepared for times when cars will drive too close for comfort, you’ll have to drive in traffic, at higher speeds, change lanes, and eventually you’ll have to drive in inclement weather conditions. When these events happen, trust your training and know that you are prepared to handle whatever situations arise when driving. Being a good driver takes skills, and the only way to develop skills is through patience and practice. The more experience you have with driving, the more confident you will begin to feel. Trust yourself, believe in yourself, you got this!

Over time, and with practice, patience and persistence, you will be able overcome your fear of driving and will become a confident driver! Once you feel confident in your driving abilities, you can confidently schedule you Staten Island road test!

Drive Rite Academy can help you learn the valuable skills you need to be a safe and confident driver. Schedule your driver’s education with Drive Rite and learn all of the basic skills of driving, and be on your way to further developing your skills and confidence in your driving abilities.  

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Most of the time, aggressive drivers are those who think that they need to go faster than everyone else on the road, either because they are impatient, running late, or just have an innate need to go fast all the time. These people will generally react negatively if they believe that there is another driver or obstacle in their way that is preventing them from going their desired speed.

Other times these drivers might be young, new drivers, fresh from a driving school Brooklyn NY, who think they have something to prove. Perhaps they are trying to show off to all of their friends now that they have their own license and their parents are not along for the ride.

Whatever the reason, aggressive drivers are a reality of driving, and can be found everywhere and pose a danger to not only themselves, but to everyone else around them. Having a stranger “push” you down the road, or lay on their horn to encourage you to drive faster than you feel safe, or move over can be distracting and intimidating, especially for young, inexperienced drivers. As a result, these actions could cause someone to be uncomfortable, or even do something that is unsafe. So, how do you handle aggressive drivers and keep yourself safe while driving? Here are a few tips to keep in mind when you encounter an aggressive driver.

Don’t Be One

Probably the most important piece of advice, is to not be an aggressive driver. You will encounter plenty on the road, don’t add to it by being one yourself. Be sure to leave on time so that you have plenty of time to reach your destination without feeling rushed. Remember that driving is not the time or place to be showing off your driving skills by going fast. Put others and your own safety first, focus on your driving and be smart behind the wheel.

Remain Calm

When you encounter an aggressive driver, do your best to remain calm. Breath, stay focused on driving and don’t react in an unsafe manner. Chances are that they will pass you the first chance they get. Reacting to their aggression could potentially put yourself and others in danger.

Even worse is reacting with your own aggression, such as slamming on your brakes to startle someone who is following too closely, or speeding up to prevent someone from passing you safely. The risk is too great to make it worth engaging in. Resist the urge to acknowledge and react to aggressive behavior from other drivers to keep yourself and those around you safe.

Let Them Go

In most instances it is going to be in your best interest to move aside and let the aggressive driver be on their way. Either move over, or find a safe place to pull off if necessary to allow for them to pass you safely. Maintain your speed, don’t speed up or slow down, as this will only aggravate them more. If they attempt to pass you in an unsafe spot, such as on a windy road with little to no visibility of oncoming traffic, slowly ease off the gas and slow down. This will allow you to be out of the way incase they need to swerve back into your lane.

Learning how to be a safe driver is a beneficial skill to learn early on. At Drive Rite Academy driving school Brooklyn NY our students are taught the necessary skills to be safe, and how to handle aggressive drivers on the road. If you are looking for the best driving school in Brooklyn, contact us today and learn more about the services we offer and how we can help your teen driver be prepared to drive NYC!   

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