Crucial Tips for New Drivers

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carl-turnley-drivingThere are over 200 million people in the United States who regularly get behind the wheel of an automobile. Earning your license is certainly a major accomplishment, but it comes with a lot of responsibility; you need to make sure you are driving both safely and responsibly, so consider these crucial tips.

Keep Practicing

Just because you’ve earned your license doesn’t mean that you are suddenly an expert driver. In fact, you’re probably far from it. No matter how much you think you know about driving or how good you may be, you can always improve. Pay attention to how others drive, stay on top of changing traffic laws, and keep practicing.

Slow Down

This tip really cannot be stressed enough. Not only will speeding get you in trouble with the police, but it will kill you or someone else if you’re not careful. The faster you drive, the harder it will be to control your car or stop, especially if the weather is less than perfect. As much as you may want to drive fast, you should keep your speed down to a manageable level if you don’t want to crash.

Avoid Distractions

Distracted driving has become a serious problem throughout the country, and it will almost certainly get worse as time goes by. When you drive, cut out as many distractions as you can. This means no texting, no talking on your phone unless you have to, and no changing your radio station unless you’re stopped. Keep an eye on the road ahead of you at all times, no matter how much you want to read the text you just received.

Obey All Traffic Laws

Traffic laws are there for a reason. Even the ones that seem arbitrary or too much of a hassle are in place to keep you and other drivers safe. Stop at every stop sign and red light, keep your speed manageable, signal whenever you turn or switch lanes, and avoid tailgating the vehicle ahead of you.

Drive Defensively

You have no control over what anybody else is doing on the road, but you do have control over your own vehicle. Keep a close eye on all of the other vehicles on the road, and stay away from drivers who are speeding or weaving in and out of traffic. As long as you keep your distance from them, they can’t crash into you.

Avoiding Common F1 Racing Mistakes

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auto-racing

Formula One racing is exciting. Drivers race around the twisting and turning tracks to gain position and obtain a coveted place on the podium. Each year, there are a few new drivers in Formula One as some drivers retire and others realize that they just don’t measure up. It is important for new drivers to learn from the mistakes of others so that they have the potential for a long and successful Formula One career.

In Formula One racing, initial race position is of critical importance. The best racers on the best teams will do everything in their power to hold off drivers trying to come up from the back of the pack. Unless there is an accident or major error by a driver in the front two rows, those in the back of the pack rarely win a Formula One race.

New drivers should make sure to drive to the best of their abilities during the qualifying rounds. Any let down in performance will result in a poor starting position and few race points.

Another key for a new driver is to get the most out of the best tires for the track. Formula One drivers are required to use two different types of tires during the course of the race. One type is usually a hard tire while the other is a soft or super soft tire.

Invariably, one type of tire will perform better on a track on a given day. It is important that the driver make the most of the drive time available on the better performing tire.

A new driver to Formula One needs to make sure that all of the intangibles are working in his favor. Everything in Formula One is calculated by the team. The team engineers know just how much fuel is needed, when to make a pit stop and how the car needs to be set up for the race.

A new driver needs to make sure to listen to the team at all times. It’s vital that a driver get in for pit stops when they’re called by the team. Any mistake can cost position and points.

Finally, a new driver should review as much film as possible of previous races on a track. This is the next best thing to on track experience. Seeing how great drivers of the past raced is an important learning experience.