When you are driving a stick shift car, proper timing on when to change gears is important. Other than saving on fuel, the load that your engine would have needs to be considered as well. There are cars that end up needing an overhauls because of bad gear shifting and surely this will be something we can all avoid. Don’t be in a hurry to shift gears (since most people believe that the early shifter can save on gas). Actually, that is true but it also affects your car engine as far as proper revolution and advances in timing.
As far as wanting more power by shifting late, engines are going to bear that toll. Remember, there are engines the give way due to excess revolution to which the load may eventually lead your engine to shut off and need an overhaul. Aside from driving in the wrong manner, you may find yourself spending for the overhaul and waiting for your car to be finished in the process as well (about 2 to 3 weeks depending on the extent of the damage).
Finally, don’t leave you foot resting on the clutch. Some would use this as a practice so that they can avoid the pains of stepping and then releasing. Remember, when you step on the clutch, load is going to the clutch lining. If you are not careful, you may end up burning those clutch lining and discs and leave your car to need a brand new clutch replacement kit in the end.
For most drivers today, getting a ticket for allegedly erratic or reckless driving can be a pain. Outside that of having a mark on your driver’s license, it can also be a pain as far as trying to retain a clean slate in instances where you have to pay for tickets and fines for irresponsible driving.
So how does one avoid the tickets? Well for one, go back to the driving basics and avoid the risks if you already know you will get into trouble. Speeding, beating the red light, swerving or the simple busted tail lights are normally the main causes of being given a ticket. With that in mind, you just have to wonder if drivers either ignored them when they were taking up driving lessons or plainly don’t care.
Do not take these violations personally. They are mean to protect and save anyone from accidents and the pedestrians as well. They were not placed for other reasons and this is something that both old and new drivers should carefully ponder on. They may not seem important for now but they are main factors in responsible driving today.
Do not be daring nor dare to cross the lines of being adventurous. These are normally the issues that have to be addressed and most drivers learn only after they have done it. Curiosity killed the cat as they say and the same curiosity may kill the person behind the wheel if he is not careful.
If you haven’t heard yet, transportation authorities based in the Philippines have implemented a speed limit in key roads of the metropolis to put a stop on the spate of accidents that have been occurring lately. This is perhaps to cover up the boo-boo made by one Metro Manila Development Authority Chief who months back said that “There is no Speed Limit”, paving the way for more reckless drivers and accidents at that. So while that is covered, now we hear the bus companies complaining that they may cause traffic. So what?
Given a choice, would you choose traffic or accidents? It is no secret that the same bus operators are also responsible for the accidents and it is they too who have been ignoring speed limits. You would think they were driving smaller vehicles that could ride above 100 KPH! If they slow down, the matter that they re concerned about is the number of trips that they can finish in a day which will surely be diminished. But if they were as careful and law abiding in the first place, would this speed limit be lowered at 40 KPH?
The last request was to make it at 60 KPH. But seeing the bulk of these buses, that is fast for a large vehicle. And to think that Manila is packed with lots of pedestrians and private cars, they can still do a lot of harm.
So as far as the speed limit goes, it is a good move. Safety comes first and the bottom-line is that regardless of the speed you are driving, you will get to your point of destination anyway right?
The season of cheers is 52 days away and this early, people are thinking of gives to give and parties to go to. It has become a tradition that Christmas parties and social gatherings are apparent and aside from feasting on the various food and menu preparations, you cannot discount the fact that excessive drinking is included in the mix.
So what does this have to do with driving? Well for one, we are all aware that we are constantly warned about drinking and driving. This Christmas season, expect a lot of drinking and driving as well as people hope from one place to another, catching them at the wee hours of the morning. Now as far as drinking is concerned, there is usually no limit to how much you consume. But if you own a car and drive it from one place to another, make sure you don’t overdo it and intoxicate yourself.
A large portion of drivers today experience accidents mainly because they drink too much and commonly find themselves fall asleep behind the wheel while cruising at a certain pace. While the issue of drinking too much cannot be avoided, just make sure you do think rationally. If you feel that you are not fit to drive your vehicle then don’t.
Some take coffee to wake them up while others take short naps. On the road, you can choose to pull over and take a nap to somehow organize your driving sense. It is better to be aware of the road and yourself rather than waking up and finding yourself in the hospital. In fact, some don’t even wake up at all.
