Having a smoother drive doesn’t require one to go out and purchase a new luxury car.
What you should actually be doing is focussing on your driving techniques and your vehicle. Here are five tips for a more seamless journey.
SMOOTHER DRIVE TIP #1: REDUCE YOUR HONKING
While it is certainly tempting to keep honking (or “horning) at motorists who road hog or stray into your lanes, don’t.
Constantly using the horn just stresses you and other road users out. When you give in to your temper, your driving can suffer.
Save the horn for emergency situations instead.
SMOOTHER DRIVE TIP #2: KEEP YOUR INPUTS GENTLE AND CONSISTENT
The surest way to make your passengers sick is by constantly going on and off the accelerator pedal.
It is a bad habit that some taxi drivers have. They put their foot down, wait one second, and then lift off.
When you do this power-on, power-off routine, it causes the vehicle to lurch back and forth. It also causes you to consume more fuel.
Save your petrol and prevent occupants from puking in your car by applying the throttle gently and consistently.
If your car doesn’t have cruise control, light pressure on the accelerator is enough to maintain a constant speed.
SMOOTHER DRIVE TIP #3: ANTICIPATE, NOT BRAKE LATE
Having good situational awareness and concentrating on the traffic conditions around you enable a driver to anticipate other road users’ behaviours.
Make sure you always look as far ahead as you possibly can. This lets you spot LTA warning signs and road hazards well in advance so you can switch lanes accordingly.
Don’t be the foolish driver who always has to brake hard and brake late. This could be fatal in an emergency situation, especially if the car skids.
This makes for a smoother drive and more seamless journey.
SMOOTHER DRIVE TIP #4: CLEAN YOUR CAR INTERIOR!
You are not going to have a smoother drive if your car cabin is a complete mess.
The clutter is a bad distraction, and scrambling to find things like a spare cashcard or charging cable can leave you flustered and frustrated.
The best way to reduce clutter is to not treat your car like a storage locker. Also, never eat or consume sugary drinks in your vehicle.
You run the risk of inviting unwanted pests, whose sudden appearance could cause an accident.
SMOOTHER DRIVE TIP #5: MAINTAIN YOUR CAR!
You can’t have a smoother drive, or any drive, if your car has broken down.
You’d be surprised at how many anecdotes we hear about owners who not only forget to, but refuse to service their cars!
Believe us, there are people who think that certain brands are so reliable that they can skip the servicing or arbitrarily extend it.
We might sound like broken records for constantly repeating this: Service your car according to the recommended intervals!
It’ll extend your vehicle’s lifespan and help ensure that smoother drive!
