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Highway Driving Hints and Tips for Every Car Driver
Highway driving is not scary or something to be feared. Many new and seasoned drivers fear highway driving. In reality many drivers including myself find it easier than driving in congested urban areas with stop and go traffic or rural roads that have numerous blind turns and other hazards. Highway driving seems more disciplined and has fewer obstacles or variables such as pedestrians, traffic lights, cars running stop signs through an intersection... Read on for some tips on how to drive safely on our highways and freeways.
Learn To Look Ahead
One of the best things to start doing from day one is to look far ahead up the road as one drives. Many new drivers tend to focus at what is directly in front of them and this is what can get you into trouble. Look further ahead and one will be able to read the road and traffic better. You'll also gain a wider perspective even if you can't really discern details clearly. You'll be surprised at what you will start to notice for example: a truck up ahead entering your lane from the right, a slower moving vehicle, your lane about to end/merge... You'll have more time to react since you are looking further ahead even if you can't see all the details clearly. DON'T WORRY ABOUT MAKING OUT EXTREME DETAILS--JUST LOOK!
Watch the cars ahead of you. If you see their brake lights go on assume that there may be something up ahead even if you can't make it out and slow down as well. Likewise, if you see all the cars ahead of you on your lane switching lanes it could be that your lane is about to end, but you haven't seen the merge sign yet or there is road construction up ahead... Always err on the side of caution.
Don't Rely Soley On Your Mirrors
As for changing lanes, you should ALWAYS do a quick "head check" and not rely soley on mirrors because of the blind spots. Taking a very quick glance over your shoulder to do a head check requires practice as some may swerve their car in the direction they turn their head, but it is simple to master. Also, avoid staring when doing a head check. It should be a very fast turn of the head that lasts only about a second. Staring any longer can cause you to slam into the car in front of you as you can cover quite a bit of distance in a few seconds.
Keep Track Of Vehicles Around You
ALWAYS keep tabs of the cars around you and even behind you. If you noticed a pickup truck in your rearview mirror and now he is gone then he may very well be on your side in the blind spot. Always, always, always keep your eyes moving and check ALL your mirrors every few seconds.
How To Exit From A Highway
Plan ahead. Know ahead of time what exit you'll need to get off at. If you know that you need to exit at Exit #7 then start counting exits ahead of time so you can anticipate it. Do keep in mind that this is not foolproof as there may be exits labeled as 7A, 7B... that you will need to take into account. Get over to the proper lane well in advance of the exit especially if the exit is on your left.
NEVER STOP IN A LANE OR ATTEMPT TO BACK UP TO GET ONTO AN EXIT!!! If you miss your exit simply continue driving and turn around at the next exit. If you are driving with low vision you must accept the fact that you may miss an exit, the entrance to a gas station or a street and take more time to get to where you are going. Remain patient and don't worry if you have to travel a little further or pay an extra toll because you missed your turn or exit.
If you pass a turn in an urban area it is best to make a series of right turns instead of lefts to get back to where you want to be as in many cities a left turn may not be allowed and you may not see the "no left turn" sign and possibly get a ticket. Making right turns just seems safer and quicker since you can normally make rights on reds, and is something I learned from my father who was a bus driver.
Cruise Control Is Your Friend
Maintaining a steady and safe speed is important on highways. It is very, very easy not to notice that you are doing 70 miles per hour in a 55 MPH zone especially if you have difficulties seeing your speedometer. Using your car's cruise control function is not only convenient, but it can also save gas and prevent you from getting a speeding ticket, which can cost you points and increased insurance costs. Most cars will automatically maintain their cruise control speed even when going uphill, which is great because you may not have to keep close tabs on pushing the accelerator down further and watching the speedometer at the same time.
I always use my cruise control to set my base speed and then accelerate manually if I need to pass knowing that when I let off the gas my car will go back to the preset speed. Priceless convenience, which also helps with safety. Just make sure to use cruise control when there isn't much traffic. If you find you are getting too close to a car in front or encounter traffic, either change lanes or simply click on the crusie control stalk or tap on the brakes to disengage it.
How To Handle Toll Booths
Approaching or deciding on which lane to use at a toll booth plaza can be made easier with a little planning. Firstly, get one of those EZ Pass monthly subscriptions / electronic devices that allow you to drive through without having to take your eyes off the road and fumble for cash. (Some states have different names for them so check first) EZ Pass lanes are usually well marked so they are easier to spot on the approach. In New Jersey they use bright purple signs and in Maryland they use a checkered flag on a yellow background to denote EZ Pass lanes and on some toll roadways you can use any lane/booth-even a manned booth if you have EZ Pass.
If you don't have one of the passes then always try to have your money / tokens prepared ahead of time or have a passenger do it. Learn to identify which lanes accept cash, exact change... so that you can easily maneuverer to that booth/lane. Although not foolproof, I find that lanes that have cars piled up and sitting for more than a few seconds usually indicates that it is a cash lane.
When exiting the toll plaza watch BOTH sides AND in front of you as cars start funneling back into the narrowing roadway!!!
Hope the above helps and if you have other tips please share them by using the comments form below.
YOUR COMMENTS ON THIS DRIVING ARTICLE...
Im considering moving to the us to try my chances at getting a resricted daytime licence and find out about driving with a bioptic. Im 21 and have been told my vision isnt good enough to drive, this website is such an inspiration. thanks to all involved
Adam,
Thank you for posting! I'm so happy to hear that you are inspired to seek more info and possibly move. I take it that you are from the UK or is it Canada?
If you come to the States, please consider seeing Dr. Park at the Wilmer Eye Institute at John Hopkins in Baltimore, Maryland as he was instrumental in helping me get on the road. If you need any help or other info please ask and I'll try to assist.
Hey, I am taking Bioptic Driving Lessons now too. I've been practicing for about 4 months now, and I seem to be having "drifting" problems. WIth my Nystagmous / Nystagmus, I keep oversteering and jerking the wheel left to right, do you guys have any tips on how to get over that? I am starting to notice looking further ahead helps alot and she says i don't "drift" as much when I look further ahead, just hard to get in that habit as I was born with Congenital Cataracts and I'm not used to looking around me and far up ahead. I'm also having a "glare" issue during the day when sun is out, I got some yellow tinting glasses but Amber works so much better but eye doctor doesn't have Amber color, and yellow makes it hard to make out the yellow signs sometimes. main thing is my drifting and lineing the car in my lane so I don't drift too far to the right or left all the time, I'm gettng kinda discouraged at the momment.
My son was born with congenital cataracts and he is now driving with a permit - he also has a hard time with the "glare" when the sun is out - what are bioptic driving lessons?
I searched the internet for bioptic driving lessons - thank you in advance - My son is not required to use a bioptic.
Hi Tom,
If your eye doctor doesn't have amber tint, find a low vision clinic who will offer you a full range of tints and other aids. Go to www.afb.org for a directory of clinics.
The right tint may help with your glare issues.
That website directory of clinics you posted Edie does not show any listings for my area. The eye associates is the best in the entire United States, and it is not possible to tint my eyewear because my prescription is too strong. All they have is yellow, orange, green, grey, and black, thats IT, and all those colors impair my vision more then anything. closest match would be yellow, every other color blocks too much light, and yellow makes the yellow lines and yellow signs blend in too much. Light Amber works the best, but nobody has light Amber fit overs.
besides, they discontinued my driving lessons because my instructor felt my drifting was too severe to get over.. I guess she thinks my Nystagmous - Nystagmus is too severe, which I think is a load of CRAP, so I am finding a different voc rehab counselor and a different driving instructor.. I can get over my drifting issues with enough practice I don't care what she says! besides, they only gave me 30 hrs to learn, which was stupid I've never driven in my life of course its going to take me longer then 30 hrs to get over drifting, its just a steering issue that I'll get over with more practice.
Why are you people on the road if you can't see to drive. I feel it puts other's at risk because you are too selfish to surrender your permits. Give it up ..please. Why not take a cab it's cheaper and saves lives as well.
Darcy,
It is regrettable that you make such ill-informed statements without truly understanding the issues.
You wrongly assume that we can't see. That is not the case. Obviously, people who CAN'T see shouldn't be driving. The real issue is that many who can drive are precluded from doing so because of laws, regulations and testing that vary from state to state that unfairly prevent many from driving. When a person with a vision disability is granted the right to drive they must go through a strenuous evaluation, testing and instruction that far exceeds those given to others.
Perhaps if you put some effort into curbing drunk and reckless driving by those with perfect vision then you COULD actually save lives.
I absolutely agree with Barnie. And for Darcy, in all her/his ignorance, to manage to utter her ignorant comment: calling us selfish! To top it off with even more ignorance… Take a cab…. What about the visually impaired people who live in rural settings? Miles before you get to a store, or work, or school. Darcy, will you provide cab fare for us all? Will you drive to our house and pick us up every day? Would you rather ride with a drunk person, or a person visually impaired? At least we know to pull over or to stop if we were dragging your child down the dam block! Stop if you hear sirens… And to shed some more light your way, because you are obviously lost and your ignorance will not allow you to understand the issue… “Blind means you cannot see” Put your hands over your eyes. Try it, because I know you’re dieing to do it! Can you see anything? Now, visually impaired is when you actually can see… Drivers cleared to drive, can see. You probably never knew that!
As for Tom… You are you’re drifting problem. Don’t be discouraged. Even people with normal vision who start driving also have that same drifting problem. Here are a few tips. First of all, remember that you don’t need much ‘play’ with your steering wheel. Of course you should make corrections to get around cars and such, but when you are in your lane, you don’t need to be moving the wheel left and right. Keep your hands still on the wheel. Also, use the lane markers to stare you straight. Use the nose of your car, the hood to keep you straight. You can use other vehicles to help you out as well if you are on the highway… You must keep straight on highway driving because you don’t want accidents! Driving vehicles that are higher up, I find, it a lot easier to steer. Also, when passing a bike, and close curb, or close vehicle. First, SLOW down. Practice driving in a large lot so you know what your vehicle looks like when you pass close obstacles. That way, when you are driving, you know by the looks of things, that you are close but not going to make contact with the object. Drifting will get easier for you as you drive more often. Take things slow and you will get it.
I hope that you can use the input. Take care, and drive safe.
I used to drive on a narrow-beam "Spot Light" in the UK. I pointed it at the near-side curb and never needed full-beam headlights.
Is "Spot Light" the phrase used here in USA for a similar narrow-beam light?
Or does "Spot Light" in USA mean a wide-beam driving light?
David Hoyte
dhoyte@comcast.net
Many Thanks to posting this. I'm in driver's ed. as we speak. This really does help out. And your little tips honestly might make things so much more simple. Myself being a teen, gets confused about things easily, but this is very clear.
Thanks again for the insight.
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