Driving Tips And Tricks No Driving School Will Teach You

Driving is a crucial skill to have in today’s world. In Kenya, we learn the basics of driving through driving schools. You can only get a valid driving license after being certified by a licensed trainer. However, there are many driving tips and tricks that no school will teach you. These hidden gems can make you a safer, smoother, and more confident driver on the road.

Francis, the Peach Cars driver, shares driving tips and tricks you won’t learn in a driving school:

Find out if your car’s ready to be driven

You understand consent, right? Well, your car needs consent too. Never assume that your car is always ready to go! 

Before driving off, find out if your car’s in the mood first if you want to avoid unpleasant surprises on the road. Check that there’s enough coolant, engine oil, and washer fluid. After turning on your ignition, give the car a few minutes and check the dashboard for any warning lights. Listen also for any funny/ strange noises.

Additionally, you should also check the tire pressures (and while at it, for children and pets underneath the car). 

You’ll need patience (a lot of it)

When on the road, learn how to be patient. You’ll encounter a lot of road users who put your patience to the test, especially on city roads. If you suffer from road rage, you’ll do a lot of regrettable things. You may even find yourself in avoidable accidents. 

Driving school teaches you when you have the right of way. Experience teaches you when you should extend grace to other road users. Know when hooting solves a problem and when it doesn’t. Use your horn sparingly and only when necessary to avoid an accident. Learn the difference between defensive driving and fighting for the road (doesn’t mean you should allow other drivers to bully you). 

Saving on fuel costs

No matter the type of car you’re driving, whether a 650cc Suzuki Alto or a 4000cc Jeep Wrangler, you’ll always appreciate tips that help to improve fuel efficiency. It’s one of the areas in which you can optimize your car expenses. 

Unfortunately, the only fuel-saving tip that driving schools will teach you is to put the car in neutral when driving downhill. But there are other tricks that can help you to improve the fuel performance of your car, such as:

• Drive at a consistent speed so you don’t have to frequently use your brakes and accelerator 
• Anticipate hazards and avoid hard braking
• Maintain the recommended tire pressure levels
• Don’t load the car beyond its recommended carrying capacity

Related: 5 Easy Tips On How To Save Fuel

Learn how to use the handbrake beyond parking

Driving school teaches you that the handbrake should only be used when the car is stationary for an extended time. Essentially, use the handbrake when the car is parked. This includes when stuck in a 30-minute traffic jam and you need to give your feet a break from the pedals. Or when you need emergency braking.

But the handbrake is often the most overlooked component in everyday driving. It’s a valuable tool that’s handy beyond parking and emergency braking. The handbrake can help in slow-speed maneuvering, like creeping down a steep driveway or making tight turns in a parking lot. It can also be helpful for maintaining control during a skid or loss of traction.

Bonus tips:

• Conquer your fear of parallel parking (if you intend to park in the CBD)
• Learn to read the language of taillights (a quick tap of the brakes can signal an upcoming slowdown, while a sustained, brighter light might indicate an intention to brake hard)
• If you drive a manual car,  embrace the power of the downshift 
• Know how to feel the road through the steering wheel so you can anticipate hazards and react quickly to changing conditions.

Drive Safely and Confidently 

The most important driving tip to know is that you should be confident on the road. Other drivers, especially matatu drivers, can smell uncofident drivers from a mile way. If you give any hint that you aren’t confident behind the wheel, you are inviting bullying from other road users. However, keep in mind that being confident doesn’t mean turning into a road rage maniac or a pain in the ***. 

Remember, the road is a shared space, so treat your fellow road users with respect and courtesy.

Happy driving!