5 basic mistakes new drivers often make when driving

Forgetting to adjust the rearview mirror, release the handbrake or not turning on the turn signal when changing lanes or changing direction... are often basic mistakes that new drivers often make when driving.

New drivers often make basic mistakes when using cars /// Tran Hoang

According to some "new drivers" in the first 2-3 months of driving, lack of experience as well as anxiety or distraction... often cause them to make the following basic mistakes:

Forgot to adjust the mirror and lower the handbrake

Adjusting the rearview mirror and lowering the handbrake are considered basic operations when getting into the driver's seat. However, in reality, not all drivers perform these operations before starting the car.

According to Mr. Duy Thinh, a person with many years of experience in training car drivers, said: "With the mentality of how to make the car move, some "new drivers" when getting into the car often focus too much on the steering wheel, gear lever, accelerator pedal or entertainment system and ignore adjusting the rearview mirror. This leads to limited vision, making it difficult for the driver to see the surroundings, causing danger when driving when the viewing angle is not guaranteed."

Meanwhile, a "new driver" also admitted that many times when the car was rolling, he felt the weight of the car when accelerating or through the warning light and sound system, only then did he realize he had forgotten to release the handbrake.

According to Mr. Dinh Viet Quang - Director of Saigon Ford service, if this happens frequently, it is easy to damage the brake system, because the large friction between the brake pads and the drum will generate heat when the car is running, causing the brake pads to burn. Therefore, to ensure the viewing angle, limit blind spots when driving, and at the same time avoid damage to the handbrake system, "new drivers" should get into the habit of performing the following four steps in a row: adjusting the driver's seat, adjusting the mirrors, fastening the seat belt, lowering the handbrake... before moving the car.

Do not turn on the turn signal when changing lanes or direction

It seems to have become a habit when driving a vehicle in traffic, but in reality, many "new drivers" often make this mistake when driving a car every day. "New drivers" forgetting to turn on the signal lights or turning them on too suddenly when changing lanes or changing direction is not only dangerous for themselves but can easily cause accidents for other vehicles participating in traffic.

Currently, according to Decree 46/2016, car drivers will be fined from 300,000 to 400,000 VND for changing lanes in unauthorized places or without signaling.

Switch between reverse and forward gears when the vehicle has not come to a complete stop

This is a mistake that many “new drivers” often make when driving. Normally, switching between reverse and forward modes is often used when parking in areas with limited space.

Some “new drivers” often have the habit of applying the brakes but when the car has not stopped completely, they shift the gear lever from D to R or vice versa to “shorten the time” and “operate more quickly”. However, according to Mr. Quang, if this habit happens frequently, it will damage the gearbox.

Mistaking the gas pedal for the brake pedal

Some new drivers, especially those who switch from manual to automatic cars, have mistakenly stepped on the gas pedal and brake pedal many times. In fact, there have been many accidents when drivers mistakenly operate the gas pedal and brake pedal. According to a car salesman in Ho Chi Minh City, there was a customer who bought a car for the first time and when test driving the car, caused an accident because he mistakenly pressed the brake pedal instead of the gas pedal.

This is a serious mistake for new drivers. Therefore, to avoid this error, drivers should get used to operating the brake and accelerator pedals before the car starts. When driving, the heel must always be placed close to the floor of the car, creating a comfortable foot position so that the foot can switch between the accelerator and brake in a V shape. When not accelerating, the foot should be placed loosely on the brake pedal.

Forget to turn off the lights and air conditioning system when leaving the car

This is considered a common mistake that new drivers often make. Everything seems simple when only need to perform a few operations, but there are still many drivers, when leaving the new car, still forget to turn off the headlights or air conditioning system.

According to Mr. Trung Kien in Thu Duc District, Ho Chi Minh City, a person who has only used a Toyota Vios for 3 months, shared: "There was a time when the car's battery was drained and I had to ask other cars to help jump start the battery. It sounds quite funny because the reason was because I forgot to turn off the light system when leaving."

Not only Mr. Kien but also many new car users often do not have the habit of turning off the air conditioner and lights when leaving the car. In this case, if the car is parked for a long time without being used, the battery will be exhausted. Therefore, to avoid this situation, before parking the car, the driver should get into the habit of turning off the air conditioner and lights in the car.

According to TNO