Bad driving: the nightmare that haunts us all

From the truly dangerous, like overtaking on a blind rise, to the truly annoying, like straddling two spaces in a car park or those who floor it to beat the red light, we have all had to deal with the fallout of bad driving.

The question is, are you a bad driver?

It is a tough one. Fortunately, however, the vast majority of people can legitimately be said to respect the road and others’ safety.

But bad driving goes further than that. It can also include habits you have unwittingly fallen into, which can damage your car by placing it under unnecessary strain, thus causing you unnecessary inconvenience and expense.

Let us take a look at a few of the more common bad driving habits, and what you can do to stop them.

• Dragging the brakes downhill

Do not be heavy-footed on the brake pedal when you are going downhill. This will cause increased wear and tear on brake pads and discs, so you will have to replace them more frequently. Engage a low gear, apply light braking, then release the pedal to give the brakes a chance to cool. Repeat until you have reached the foot of the hill.

• Resting your hand on the gear lever

Yes, when you were a learner driver, your instructor drummed it into you that you must always have both hands on the steering wheel. Yet, soon enough, bad habits, like resting your hand on the gear lever, stick faster than the L-sticker on the back of your car.

This is bad for the car’s transmission, because too much continued pressure causes premature wear of the selector fork, which will cost you money to replace.

• Flooring the accelerator in a high gear

Modern cars have a gear shift indicator light, telling you when to change up or down. This enhances efficiency so as to maintain the gear shifter and achieve greater fuel economy.

If yours does not, or you never check it, beware of accelerating in too high a gear. This places unnecessary strain on the motor. So don’t! Change down, allow the revs to rise, then change up. This is crucial when carrying heavy loads or climbing hills.

• Overloading your vehicle

You may like to pack everything but the kitchen sink on a weekend away. While modern cars can carry heavy loads, be cautious not to overload them.

The greater weight will strain your brakes, suspension and drivetrain. You will also be reducing your car’s fuel economy and increasing your car’s emissions.

• Changing down a gear at the wrong time

Changing gears before they are ready to be changed, or in the wrong order, is a big no-no. Your transmission will scream in agony when you do it.

If you are going down gears, reduce speed to reach the gear position’s optimal rev range, which will reduce wear and tear.

• Hitting potholes and speed bumps

You are a South African, so you know all about this one. They are a blight on our roads. Unfortunately, nobody fixes them, so it is up to you to take evasive action.

If you do hit them, particularly at speed, you are looking at buckled wheels, lumps in the tyre, cracked alloys, messed-up wheel balancing, damage to the underside and damage to the exhaust system.

Drive slowly, especially on rural roads, and keep your eyes peeled. You have to see them to avoid them! Be very gentle going over them if you cannot avoid them at all. Your car and bank account will thank you for it.

• Neglecting warning lights

If a light on your dashboard starts flashing, or comes up permanently, do not be blind to it. While some, like “washer fluid is low” can be ignored to the next stop, some have to be addressed immediately, like “power steering failure”, “braking system failing” or “airbag malfunction”.
Pull over, check them out, and diagnose your best course of action, which is normally taking the car to the nearest garage.

• Revving the engine when cold

All vehicles start from cold, and while your engine oil does need an opportunity to warm up, do not try to achieve this by revving the engine when it is cold. Let it warm up in its own time and avoid potential wear and tear.

• Riding the clutch

This is a top 10 when it comes to bad driving. A clutch is a “wear and tear” item and not covered by a warranty. So, do not incur the extra expense. Do not rest your foot on your clutch after changing gears, but remove your foot between clutch changes. Never ride your clutch when doing a hill start, rather leave the car in neutral with the handbrake on until you are ready.

• Late braking

Sure, a time will come when you need to slam on the brakes in an emergency stop, and that is perfectly okay. But do not make it a habit, as doing it consistently will place more strain on the braking system and more strain on your wallet.

Lastly, remember, your car is your baby. Treat it as such. Do not be harsh on it or put it through unnecessary strain.

Source: QuickPic