You’ve passed your driver’s test in Baltimore, MD, and the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration has issued you your license to drive. Congratulations! Now you’re entitled to drive on your own. This is a very exciting time, and we’d like to offer some tips that all new drivers should find helpful.
Don’t Speed
This is very important. You should always obey the speed limit. Speeding is, unfortunately, common. It’s also a major cause of accidents, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has linked speeding as a factor in 26% of all highway accidents alone. The faster a car is traveling, the longer the distance between hitting the brakes and stopping your car. This can mean the difference between a near accident and an accident.
A car is more difficult to control at high speeds, especially for a new driver. It’s also important to remember that speeding is illegal. If you’re caught, you will receive a ticket. The ticket you receive depends on your speed and varies from $80 for 1 mile over the limit to $500 for 40 miles over the limit. Depending on the situation, your license could be suspended.
Don’t Use Your Cellphone
Cellphones are an amazing invention, and they’ve changed the way we all live, work, and play. They provide anyone with more information than ever before, and they allow you to communicate with anyone at any time. Cellphones are also extremely distracting. Many people feel unable to go anywhere without their cellphone, and they constantly need to check their phones.
All of this sounds normal, but if you’re a driver using your cellphone, you can place yourself and others in danger. Talking on a cellphone without a hands-free car system is illegal, as is texting while you’re driving. The reason for this is that both of these practices take your eyes off the road ahead. To be a good driver, you have to be aware of everything around you at all times, and using a cellphone prevents that.
Don’t Tailgate
Tailgating is following the vehicle in front of you too closely. Sometimes drivers do this because they’re nervous and want to stay the same speed as the vehicle ahead. At other times, it can be a sign of road rage that an angry driver is trying to force the car ahead to move over or speed up. Regardless of the reason for tailgating, it is a dangerous practice.
The most important rule on distance from the vehicle ahead of you is the 3-second rule. This means that it should take at least 3 seconds for you to reach the position of the vehicle in front of you. If it takes less than three seconds, you’re following to close. If the driver in front of you hits the brakes, you’ll likely hit him.
These are just a few tips to get you started. If you’d like more tips & tricks, click here. If you’re in the market for a car as a new driver in Baltimore, MD, then be sure to check out our deals at DARCARS Toyota of Baltimore today!
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