1. Prepare your car
When people drive on the highway for the first time, one of their biggest worries is that theywill break down. One of the most important tips for driving on the highway is to give your car a quick check to make sure it's in great shape before you leave. It doesn't take long to checkthe engine coolant level, lights, brake fluid, radiator coolant, tyre pressure and tread depth. This will give you extra peace of mind.
2. Slow down on roads that slip
If you're scared, you might want to slow down or even stop when you're trying to get on thehighway from the slip road. The slip road, on the other hand, is there so you can match your speed to that of the cars on the left. Don't stop moving; instead, wait for a safe space to jointhe flow of traffic. If you need to, slow down before you get to the end of the accelerationlane so you don't have to stop. Make sure you get into the left-hand lane early when you want to get off the highway. Most of the time, there are clear signs about 1.5 miles before an exit on a highway. In 100-meter chunks, three signs show how far away the exit point is. At 300 metres, you should start toindicate and slowly slow down until you reach the exit. Tell in plenty of time. Try not tobreak until you get to the slip road if you can. After getting off the highway, make sure youcheck your speed to make sure you've slowed down enough.
3. Follow the two-second rule
One piece of advice for driving on a highway is to pay attention to the speed limits for cars and bikes. This is 70mph in the UK. Heavy goods vehicles (HGVs), articulated goods vehicles, and buses or coaches longer than 12 metres are all allowed to go 60 mph. Follow the two-second rule all the time. There should be at least two seconds of spacebetween you and the car in front of you. When it's raining, you should leave at least four seconds between each step.
4. Stay in the left lane
The fast lane doesn't exist. Drivers should always stay in the left lane (lane 1) unless theyneed to pass slower traffic, in which case they can use lines two and three. If you are passinga bunch of slower cars, it might be better to stay in the middle lane instead of switching lanes all the time. But once you're done passing, you should always return to lane one easily.
5. Look in the mirrors
You probably learned a lot about how to use mirrors in your driving lessons. This is still oneof the most important things new drivers should know about the highway. Make sure youalways have your mirrors out so you can see what's going on around you. Keep in mind that every mirror has blind spots, some of which are big enough to keep you fromseeing a car or motorbike coming up behind you. Before you change lanes, make sure you look over your right shoulder to make sure everything is okay. It could save your life.
6. Have a break
Take breaks at least every two hours if you're going to be on a long trip. Being tired makes you behave less quickly.
7. Learn about the signs on highways
The government website's Highway Code part is a good place to find information, and it has alot of helpful tips for new highway drivers. On its website, it says that motorway signs let drivers know when there is a danger ahead, like an accident, fog, or road workers on the mainroad. All lanes are controlled by signals in the centre reservation, while amber flashing lights indicate a danger ahead or a temporary top speed limit. If there is a red "X" on the overheadsignal and red lights flashing above your lane, you must not go past that signal in that lane. You can't go past a signal with flashing red lights in the centre barrier or on the side of theroad. This is true for all lanes. There is a white straight arrow above you that tells you to change lanes in that direction. Should you happen to break down on the highway, you should move to the hard shoulder andturn on your warning lights. Get out of the car and wait behind the barrier on the side of theroad, away from the cars that are going fast. After that, you can call your recovery breakdownteam or the emergency phones, which will be easy to find.
8. Make sure your life is safe
People who drive on a highway, a public road, or in a public area are required by lawto havethe right car insurance. In the UK, third-party insurance is the bare minimum for car insurance. If you're caught driving without insurance, you could face a fine of £300 and six points onyour licence. This fine can go up to an unlimited amount if the case goes to court. You couldalso lose your licence and/or have your car seized, so it's very important to make sure you'reprotected.
It can be hard for new and learner drivers to find cheap car insurance. Because Endsleigh is awell-known student insurance company, they have decades of experience insuring youngdrivers and can offer solid coverage at a low cost.
