Road safety charity the IAM is offering weekly motoring tips from Britain’s top advanced driver, Peter Rodger. This week, he is advising on ways to improve your driving for the New Year:
Night driving: You must be able to stop in the distance you see to be clear. Use your lights on full beam where it is dark and it won’t dazzle anyone else, and keep windows and mirrors clean to maximise your view.
Eyesight: The NHS suggests having an eye test every two years. It is your responsibility to ensure you’re fit to drive.
Weather: Heed weather warnings all year round. If the weather is really bad, consider whether you need to travel just then. If so, there are sometimes alternatives to driving to think about.
Year-round maintenance: Clean your windows, lights, mirrors and number plates regularly. You should spend around 10 minutes every week checking your vehicle’s fluid levels, tyre pressure, lights, tread depth and windscreen wipers.
Eco-driving: A planned drive is an economical drive – having a good sense of your vehicle’s power and gears will save fuel, and it is a safer way to drive as well.
Anticipate: Consider what the traffic and other people around you may do, especially at traffic lights, roundabouts and junctions.
Refuel: Be sure to keep an eye on your tank, especially when embarking upon long journeys. Running out of fuel causes hundreds of motorway breakdowns every year.
IAM chief examiner Peter Rodger said: “The New Year is a common time for people to reflect and evaluate their goals for the upcoming year. Why not begin by incorporating your driving behaviour into your list of resolutions for 2014? Why not resolve to make it better this year?”
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