How to Drive Better: 10 Weird (And Life-Saving) Tips to Become a Better Driver

Did you know getting in a car accident is a very easy way to get yourself killed?

About 1.3 million people die in car accidents every year. So hopefully, these numbers make you want to become a safer driver.

But you probably heard all of the same and boring advice from your parents and driver’s ED teachers. But there are some unheard of rules when getting behind the wheel of a car.

If you want to know how to drive better, remember these 10 weird driving tips.

Drive safe!

1. Your Car Shouldn’t Be Visible in Your Mirrors

You probably pay attention to your rear-view mirror and adjust it like crazy. But what about your side-view mirrors? You probably mess with them every once in a while or maybe you never even adjusted them at all.

To properly see your blind spots, make sure your car isn’t visible in your side-view mirrors. This will give you a large range of vision when you need to switch lanes or do any activity where it’s necessary to see your blind spots.

2. Pay Attention to the Traffic and Not Road Signs

We pay too much attention to road signs. It’s obvious why — it was drilled into our heads during driver’s ED.

But do you pay attention to the traffic around you? Maybe when a cop is following your tail, and that’s if you don’t have an undetectable radar detector.

The best way to avoid an accident is paying more attention to the actual traffic than the sign.

Let’s take the speed limit for example. If you’re a driver who tends to be a lead foot, you often see a speed limit sign and are reminded that the speed limit is 10 miles lower than what you’re driving.

But what if every other car is driving the same speed you are?

If you suddenly slow down, you risk being hit.

The accident risk becomes more severe when you’re driving slowly in the left lane on a busy street, the lane that’s famous for being the speeding lane.

3. Listen to Certain Genres of Music

Maybe in driver’s ED, you were told listening to certain types of music makes you a reckless driver. But you probably shrugged it off. You want to listen to the music you like while driving.

Listening to certain styles of music will make you want to drive faster and recklessly. But the music genres that influence reckless driving are the unsuspecting ones.

The worst music genre to listen while driving is *drum roll please* techno.

Compulsive fist pumping aside, techno is dangerous because it increases your heart rate which will make you more excited. Which means when the beat drops, you’ll want to drive faster and crazier.

What’s the best genre of music to listen to while driving? The answer is also surprising: no music. That’s right — dead silence will leave you to relax and better concentrated. But if you have to listen to music, just don’t listen to techno.

4. Always Leave Your Headlights On

Wait — really? Doesn’t that kill the car’s battery? Probably — but it also reduces your risk of getting in a car accident. By a whopping 32 percent.

The answer to why is simple: your car is lit up and you’re more visible. Visible headlights also wake up sleepy drivers, forcing them to focus.

So why don’t more drivers use their headlights all of the time? We’re taught to use headlights during the evening or during a storm. But this is required by law so drivers feel compelled to drive with their headlights only when it’s necessary.

5. Always Use Your Emergency Brake — Even When Parked On Flat Land

Yes, when you’re parked on flat land there’s a near impossible chance your car will drift off. But that’s not the reason you should always use your emergency brake. If you don’t use it often, your emergency brake won’t work as well.

The best way to get into the habit of using your emergency brake is using it constantly, even when it’s not necessary.

6. Don’t Brake When You Tire Blows Out

All drivers have experienced this issue — you’re in the middle of driving when all of a sudden your tire blows out.

What’s a driver’s first reaction? You slam on the brakes.

But if you brake after a tire blows out, your car will go completely out of control — especially when driving at high speeds.

The best course of action is decreasing your speed enough to where you can slowly brake and park at the side of the road.

7. Take a Defensive Driving Course

But wait — you already passed driver’s ED at 15 years old. Why should you take another driver’s class? Well, do you remember the speed limit in a residential zone? Or which way your wheels should be turned when parked uphill?

Take a defensive driving course every year. This will refresh your memory and will also reduce the cost of car insurance.

8. Never Rely on Car Mirrors or Cameras

Cars today are nifty. They have cameras to help us back up and mirrors to better help us see our blind spot. But don’t 100% trust them. Glance at the mirrors and camera, but also look back and to the side.

9. Keep Your Hand at the Proper Wheel Position

Where do you place your hands on the steering wheel? If you can’t answer this question without actually being in the car, you’re probably doing it wrong.

The right answer is keeping your hands slightly lower than the middle of the wheel. This gives you more control and is actually better for your hands and wrists.

10. Never Brake While Hydroplaning

If you never endured the terror of hydroplaning, let’s hope it never happens to you. But when your car is gliding on water, in the pouring rain, and you can’t control the vehicle, you resort to braking.

But this will actually make your car glide even more. Instead, try and straighten out the wheel. This will give you more control than simply screaming and praying for your life.

Now You (Hopefully) Know How to Drive Better

Driving is necessary but can be scary. With blind spots, drunk drivers and on-road car issues, it’s easy to get into an accident.

To ensure your safety, everyone should know how to drive better. These tips may sound strange but they could save your life.

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