10 things to 'keep in mind' when driving on the highway

(Baonghean.vn) - Driving on the highway may be easier than driving in crowded areas with many traffic lights or alleys. However, the risk of serious accidents is much higher. The following notes will help you drive more safely.

1. Vehicle inspection

Before you hit the highway, check to make sure your brakes, headlights, turn signals, steering wheel, transmission, and all other parts of your vehicle are working properly. To be sure, have your vehicle inspected and serviced if necessary.

Highways are where accidents are most likely to occur because vehicles operate at high intensity, while maintenance stations or stops along the way are very limited.

2. Obey the rules on the highway

When traveling on highways, take the time to look at the road map, especially the intersections and branch roads, to determine where you are going.

The most basic rules when driving on the highway are to never turn around, reverse, or drive in the wrong direction on the highway; and never drive in the emergency lane or on the shoulder of the road.

3. No tailgating

Tailgating is a no-no for a driver on the highway. To keep a safe distance, it's best to memorize the 3-second rule.

The "3-second rule" was researched and discovered by road safety experts. To simplify, multiply your vehicle's speed by 3 and divide by 10 - the result is the minimum distance you need to keep between your vehicle and the vehicle in front. For example, you are traveling at 60km/h. So the minimum distance you need to keep from the vehicle in front is 60 x 3/10 = 18m.

However, when driving in bad weather conditions, limited visibility (fog, heavy rain, slippery roads) you need to increase the safe distance.

4. Always be careful when performing non-driving activities.

Never adjust the air conditioner, sound system or use a mobile phone while driving, because when driving at high speeds, even a slight mistake can cause loss of control. When driving, it is best to use a Bluetooth-connected phone or use a headset.

5. Don't change lanes arbitrarily

On highways, vehicles often travel at high speeds, so arbitrarily changing lanes can cause drivers to have unnecessary accidents.

To successfully change lanes, you must first obey traffic laws, only change lanes where there are lane markings that allow lane changing. When changing lanes, it is very important to turn on the turn signal. Observe the vehicles moving in front and behind, it is important to maintain a reasonable speed, avoid entering the blind spot of the vehicle in front and create the widest conditions to observe the vehicle behind.

6. Don't pass and then slow down

When driving on the highway, many drivers have the habit of pressing the accelerator to pass the car in front and then suddenly releasing the accelerator to slow down, thinking that once they have passed, it is safe. This is wrong. At the very least, drivers need to maintain the same speed as the car they passed to ensure a safe distance.

7. Determine rest stops in advance

On the highway, there are often rest stops for vehicles that have problems or for tired people who want to rest. You should not suddenly cut in front of a line of cars in the lane closest to the curb to get to the rest stop. You need to determine the location in advance, then signal and gradually move into the most suitable lane near the rest stop.

In addition, many people, after stopping to rest on the road, get in their car and step on the gas to enter the traffic lane without knowing what is behind them. Drivers need to calmly observe the front and rear, turn on the signal to enter the lane until the oncoming vehicles recognize and give way before slowly entering the lane.

8. Slow is not always safe

The notion that going slow is safe is not always true, especially on the highway. At an average speed of about 80 km/h, driving at 60 km/h would be very dangerous if the car behind did not accurately perceive the speed and did not slow down in time. Slow and fast are relative concepts, each driver needs to move at a speed appropriate to the general traffic flow.

9. Enter the highway

When the car is on the outside road and starts to enter the highway, the first thing to do is look to the left to avoid entering the highway when there is a car right next to it.

Look at the left rearview mirror to avoid entering the freeway lane when the car behind you is completely blocking your view, because then the car behind you is very close to your car. Make sure that the above two conditions are not met before accelerating to get onto the freeway.

10. Get off the highway

Plan ahead when you will exit the freeway and gradually move into the exit lane. Do not stop in the middle of the road or back up if you have missed the exit. It is best to go straight and turn around at the next exit.

Ngoc Anh

(Synthetic)