Whether you have just passed your test or been behind the wheel for decades, driving skills can always be sharpened up. From dealing with road rage to traffic jams, tight parking spaces to hire cars, driving instructors share their tips on how to be a better motorist in the most challenging scenarios.<\/p>\n
If you are running late<\/p>\n
Gyokhan Zlatev, of the Derin Driving School<\/a>, says there is one major problem that many drivers are guilty of: \u201cThey are always in a rush. They refuse to leave home two minutes earlier to go somewhere in time.\u201d This can make you more likely to drive in a risky way, he says.<\/p>\n But leaving more time is easier said than done given the world we live in, says Kev Field, of Confident Drivers<\/a> in Leighton Buzzard. \u201cWe want to be there before we\u2019ve actually got there,\u201d says Field, \u201cand people are in our way, or we\u2019re running late for work.\u201d Field says he spends a lot of time helping learner drivers to overcome this mentality. He asks them to imagine they\u2019re in the office: \u201cWould you run and risk running into your boss?\u201d It\u2019s best to walk, and drive, calmly.<\/p>\n If you are delayed<\/p>\n Field says that most people crave predictability, which causes stress when there are changes to our route, such as road closures, roadworks or bad traffic. The key to being a good driver, he says, is being able to react and adapt our driving when faced with such challenges.<\/p>\n Don\u2019t get too close to the driver in front if you\u2019re stuck in traffic. Photograph: Steve Atkins Photography\/Alamy<\/p>\n If you are running late and stuck in bad traffic, use hands-free to call and let someone know you are stuck to alleviate the worry of being late, says Field. Ensure you are familiar with the rules around hands-free usage, he continues, as prosecution is still possible if it distracts from driving<\/a> \u2013 if in doubt and if possible, pull over to call. Don\u2019t be tempted to text someone when in a queue, as this is against the law in the UK.<\/p>\n \u201cIn traffic, a lot of experienced drivers get really close,\u201d says Venus Ubah<\/a>, a driving instructor in Manchester. \u201cYou are supposed to give a safe amount of space for the driver in front \u2013 a car\u2019s length away.\u201d Other reckless driving that she regularly spots includes drivers running red lights or not signalling to change lanes.<\/p>\n If you are the victim of road rage\u2018People\u2019s behaviour changes when they get into a metal box \u2026\u2019 Photograph: ozgurcankaya\/Getty Images<\/p>\n As hard as it is, do not engage, says Zlatev. When someone becomes aggressive, \u201cdon\u2019t look at them, don\u2019t make eye contact, or try to prove a point. Just let them go, and create distance \u2013 it is much safer for you.\u201d We all make mistakes, says Zlatev, \u201ceven Formula One drivers\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cPeople\u2019s behaviour changes when they get into a metal box and they feel they have the right to wave their hands, shout, and act in a manner that is aggressive or bullying,\u201d says Field. To counter this, stay calm. \u201cThen think about what options you have. If the driver can overtake you, give them some space.\u201d<\/p>\n Never feel you have to break the speed limit because the driver behind you is in a hurry and tailgating, says Field. \u201cMost people have probably heard of the two-second rule \u2013 leave a two-second gap to the car in front of you. If the car behind you is really close, leave a three- or four-second gap, just because we don\u2019t want to go into the back of someone else.\u201d<\/p>\n If you are anxious about driving<\/p>\n \u201cKnow that you are in control of your car,\u201d says Field, \u201cand don\u2019t let other people control what you do. Don\u2019t feel that you have to keep up with others who are more experienced.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhen I first started driving, I used to panic a lot \u2013 like if I stalled before moving off and I got beeped or sworn at,\u201d says Ubah. How can others cope with this? \u201cDon\u2019t look at them, because that can start to bring up an emotional reaction. Look ahead and take your time.\u201d<\/p>\n If you are driving abroadBefore you travel, do some research on the road rules abroad. Photograph: Matthew Richardson\/Alamy<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t assume everywhere is like the UK,\u201d says Ubah. \u201cI do some research while in the holiday booking process. I look up the road rules, the side they drive on, speed limits, what the signs look like.\u201d<\/p>\n It is essential to check for any differences in countries you are new to driving in. \u201cIn America, if you\u2019re turning right at a set of traffic lights, you can [usually] turn on a red light,\u201d as long as it is clear, says Field \u2013 although this has been banned in some places.<\/p>\n Zlatev recently drove from the UK to Turkey and back, which he says he found fine, except for the fact that \u201csatnav doesn\u2019t work well in some countries, Belgium, for example\u201d. He says that in Germany some junctions are tough, and he saw a lot of British people clinging to the slow lane on speed-limitless autobahns.<\/p>\n If you hire a car<\/p>\n Make sure you know how everything works before you set off, says Field. \u201cIt\u2019s a bit like when you get a new car: you wouldn\u2019t just jump in it and drive out of the showroom.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAdjust your seat and mirrors,\u201d says Zlatev. Check that the lights and wipers are working: \u201cIf there\u2019s any noise on the brakes, tell them immediately.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhen I hire a car,\u201d says Ubah, \u201cI\u2019ll take a video from the office to the car, so they know it\u2019s the first time I\u2019ve come across it. Then I\u2019ll do a 360 around the car, checking all the doors, tyres, windows, the boot \u2013 videoing everything.\u201d Always make sure you are fully insured, in case of any prangs.<\/p>\n