Driver's education is meant to teach us good driving habits
We're supposed to learn those habits, have them instilled in us as second nature, and then use those habits for the rest of our lives.
Unfortunately, it doesn't work that way. It seems like we take weeks or months of driver's education, but then only retain a small portion of what we should remember. As soon as we drive out of the driver's education parking lot, we immediately forget several important lessons.
Here are some things you might have forgotten after driver's education
- Keep both hands on the wheel. This maximizes your control of the vehicle and ensures that you never lose control if one of your hands is suddenly wrenched away from the wheel. Instead, as soon as we leave driver's education, we hang one arm out the window and "palm" the steering wheel wherever we need to go
- Check your blind spots. This makes sure that there aren't any vehicles lurking in an area that our mirrors can't see. Instead, we glance at our mirrors and throw caution to the wind when we turn
- Maintain the speed limit. This makes sure that we have adequate control over the vehicle for the type of road we're on. Instead, we speed out of the driver's education parking lot at ten or twenty kilometres an hour over the speed limit!
- Stay focused. This helps us to spot dangers and maintain the best control over our vehicle. Instead, we leave the driver's education office, get a sandwich and a coffee, call our friend on our mobile device while playing with the climate controls, and talking with the people in the back seat
- Don't follow too closely. This gives us plenty of room if the vehicle in front of us stops suddenly. Instead, we get right up on their bumper to remind them to speed up slightly
- Don't stop on the merge lane. We're supposed to get up to speed on the merge lane and then merge safely with traffic. Instead, we drive to the end of the merge lane and stop to wait for traffic
- Come to a complete stop at stop signs. We're supposed to stop for three full seconds before going again. Instead, we cruise through stop signs while maybe dropping our speed slightly
Driver's education should keep us from doing these things. But we forget almost as soon as we graduate. Take a moment to remind yourself of these important skills and reintegrate them back into your driving.
If you're happily and safely driving along and someone else forgets these lessons and collides with you, bring your vehicle to Boyd Autobody & Glass. We'll take good care of your vehicle to get you back onto the road for more safe driving!
