ur1stcar top tips for new drivers
Tyres
These are probably the most important parts of any car as they are the only things that connect you to the road. Always make sure they are in good condition and that they are at the correct pressures. When the time comes to change them, buy the best you can afford. To nick a well known phrase, “Because you’re worth it”.
There's an increasing number of 'budget' tyres on sale that are largely imported from China and Asia but you'll be pushed to find one that works as well as brands you'll have heard of. You might not notice too much difference in the dry but you will when it rains and it does rain a lot in the UK. Take a look at tyres being tested and why you'll want to use the best.
Once the tread depth is below 2.5mm tyres start to lose grip in the wet and you should get new ones. Low tyre pressure will cause uneven wear, make the steering heavier and waste fuel. High pressure will reduce the tyres grip on the road and also cause uneven wear. Also don't be too surprised if your tyres seem to grip less when it gets cold — they don't. It's due to the type of rubber we use in tyres in the UK - they use a different type in winter tyres used extensively in Europe and other places where it stays colder for longer. Special Winter tyres are becoming more widely available in the UK and it's well worth considering buying a set, especially if you live in an area that is well gritted, but you'll need to have somewhere to keep the set that isn't on your car.
Check your tyres frequently by looking for uneven tread wear and 'bumps' on the sidewalls. 'Bumps' probably indicate that the tyre has been damaged, perhaps by hitting the kerb or when you you didn't see that huge pothole last week. Uneven tread wear indicates that your wheels aren't pointing the way they should and you'll need to get the car to a garage or tyre centre to get the wheel alignment sorted. Hard cornering has the effect of wearing out the outer edges of the tyres - the front usually much more than the rears - keep an eye on these parts of the tyre as you might have to rely on them someday and when they're gone, they're gone and it's time for some new tyres.
Statistics
Don’t become one. Young drivers, especially blokes, are far more likely to be involved in accidents, too often serious or fatal ones. 1 in 5 young drivers will be involved in a motoring accident in the first year after passing their test. That's worrying.....
It might not be fun to be reminded but drive sensibly, don’t drink and drive, don’t drive when you’re tired and don’t show off. The consequences might hurt much more than your wallet. If you know somebody who's like this, have a look at the Deadly Mates site to see if you can help them stay alive.
Also wearing a seatbelt is just common-sense. If you're involved in an accident and you're not wearing one then your chances of surviving are very much reduced. Don't rely on just the airbag (if you've got one) to save you, as it probably won't - the seatbelt holds your body, and very importantly your head, in the right position for an airbag to be most effective. Belts also are more likely to keep you inside the car during a big accident - get 'ejected' from the car and your chances of survival get very slim indeed.
The police and insurance companies also take an interest in drivers (and passengers) not wearing a seatbelt. If you're involved in an accident and found to be not wearing a seatbelt then the police may well prosecute you and your insurance company may significant reduce any injury payout as, in effect, you've contributed to your own injuries.
Are you sitting comfortably.....and safely?
Not sitting correctly in the driving seat will affect both your comfort and your safety. Luckily you should be able to find a seating position that satifies both requirements.
Firtsly get the height of the seat right, many cars have height adjusters that will let you sit high enough to see out properly but still avoid bumping the roof-lining with you head - if you have an adjuster, move the seat up until there's the width of about 4-fingers between the top of your head and the roof.
Then you'll need to move the seat fore-and-aft to get you in the right position for the pedals. Press down the brake- and clutch- pedal (if you've got one) and move you seat to a position where your knees are a little bent. You don't want to have your knees straight out because you'll not be able to press the pedals properly and in the the event of an accident you are more likley to injure your legs and pelvis as you probably be pressing hard on the brake pedal to try and avoid what's in front of you.
If you have an adjustable steering column, move it up or down so that the steering wheel clears your knees and allows you to see all the instruments. Many people don't realise that their car has an adjustable steering column - the newer the car the more likely it is to have one. If unsure, have a read of the vehicle's handbook or have a look under the steering column ( not while you're driving ! ) to see if there is a release lever tucked away. Some cars, the original Ford Ka for example, have the bonnet release lever under there, so don't get confused.
Next set the backrest angle by stretching your arms out straight and resting both you wrists on the top of the steering wheel rim. Adjust the backrest until it touches your shoulder blades. Some cars also have the ability to move the steering wheel fore-and-aft too, if yours does then use it to can get the optimum positions for your hands and your feet. Now when you put you hands the correct "a quarter-to-three" position, your elbows will be slightly bent. You do not want to be too close to the steering wheel as that would reduce the effectivness of your seatbelt (which you'll aways wear....) and your airbag, if your car has one.
You can now adjust your interior and extertior mirrors to give you the best view behind.
If you can't get to this seating position - you're still sitting too low, for example, you might well be sitting in a car that doesn't suit you. Best to find this out before you buy it, so go through this sequence when looking for your ideal first car.
Choose ESC
Who doesn't like a little help if they're in trouble? Electronic Stability Control (ESC) can give you just that. If you find yourself in a dangerous situation where you may lose control of your vehicle, ESC will work with the braking system and engine to try to help you maintain control. It cannot achieve the imposible but it will give you a better chance of staying in control. When buying (or renting) your first car, look for one that has ESC fitted. If buying a new car most cars have it fitted either as standard or as a cost-option costing £200-500 - money well spent. If you're buying second-hand then your choice is much more restricted and you'll be lucky to find many cars fitted with ESC, especially if it's over 3 years old. Taking additional driver training, skid pan training for example, wouldn't be a bad idea either.
Choose the right car
ur1st car is probably not going to be uronlycar, so you probably won’t be driving urdreamcar but grin and bear it. If you buy the right one - one that doesn't cost the earth to insure or lose most or all of its value while your driving it, you’ll have some dosh to put towards urnxtcar. Use the ur1stcar car chooser to help you make that right choice.
