8 mistakes new drivers often make

New drivers often fall prey to myths ranging from bad maintenance advice to inadequate safety advice. This article is for those new to driving. If you are an experienced driver, you might want to take a look and share your thoughts with the new driver.

Mistake #1: Changing the Oil Too Soon

For years, auto service centers have recommended oil changes every 3,000 miles, and many of us have taken this advice to heart. Changing your oil too soon won’t damage your car, but it will cost you money and time.

Newer cars typically require an oil change every 7,500 miles. Some synthetic oils even say 15,000 miles. This may seem like a long time. It’s best to change your oil according to the instructions that came with your car.

Mistake #2: Using premium gasoline makes the car more powerful.

Octane number 87 is classified as regular gasoline, 89 is average gasoline, and above 92 is premium gasoline. Which type of gasoline to use depends on the compression ratio of the engine. For compression ratios below 8:1, regular gasoline should be used. For compression ratios above 8:1, average gasoline should be used. For compression ratios above 9:1, premium gasoline with an octane number of 92 or higher should be used.

Vehicles with high compression ratios using regular gasoline will experience premature detonation, causing the engine to lose power. On the contrary, vehicles with low compression ratios using premium gasoline will not cause any harm, but will not increase performance, just wasting money.

Some people think that premium gasoline has a detergent additive to clean fuel injectors. This depends on the country, in the US, the EPA requires all gasoline to have a detergent additive, not just premium gasoline. So what kind of gasoline is suitable for your car? The best way is to consult the owner's manual that came with your car. Never assume that a higher octane car is better.

Mistake #3: Regularly using dashboard and tire polish.

Over time, the dashboard will accumulate dust and the tires will lose their shine, but using wax polish does more harm than good. Experts say that a shiny dashboard will be dazzling, and the chemicals in the wax will cause the dashboard to age quickly. The same goes for tires, the chemicals in the wax will remove the protective layer of rubber, causing the tire to crack quickly.

Manufacturers often make dashboards out of matte material to avoid glare. Dashboards should be dusted with a damp cloth and tires should be cleaned with mild soap, a soft brush, and clean water.

Mistake #4: Return the transmission to N when stopping at a red light (for AT).

This myth stems from the idea that leaving the car in D (Drive) while braking wastes fuel and causes unnecessary wear and tear on the transmission. In fact, the wear and tear on the engine and fuel consumption are very small.

If you frequently shift from N to D, then step on the gas every time the green light comes on, it can wear out the gearbox and transmission system, even if it's just a little bit. After all, even if you leave the steering wheel in D, no one can measure the damage or not, it's just that some drivers have a habit of fiddling with the steering wheel. For these people (who like to return to N when encountering a red light), they should drive manual transmission cars.

Mistake #5: Talking on the phone with a headset to keep your hands free while driving is safe.

Whether it's good or bad is up to you to decide, here are the statistics. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, an estimated 1 in 12 people between the ages of 18 and 24 use a mobile phone while driving. Traffic police say that 1 in 4 traffic accidents are caused by distracted driving, and mobile phones play a significant role. People who cause accidents usually don't have their mobile phones in their hands, and they don't operate the vehicle with one hand. This proves that headphones don't keep you from being distracted.

Mistake #6: You don't need to wear a seat belt if you're in the back seat.

They rarely come out in support of this, but their actions speak louder than words. There are two dangers of not wearing a seat belt when sitting in the back seat: one is that they themselves can be seriously injured if the car rolls over. Two is that they become the bullet that shoots at other members of the car in the event of a collision.

Mistake #7: Not locking the door so rescue workers can easily get you out after an accident.

Sounds reasonable, right? No. Leaving your doors unlocked can cause you to be ejected from your vehicle in a crash, killing about 10,000 people in the US each year. The doors of some newer cars can unlock automatically when the airbags are deployed, and even if they are locked, emergency workers can still break the doors open to get to the passengers. Locking your doors is a good way to protect your passengers.

Mistake #8: Holding the steering wheel too low

Read and follow the advice of NHTSA: The steering wheel should not be aimed at the head but at the sternum with a distance of about 16 cm. But be careful, if the steering wheel is too low and the driver has the habit of driving with one hand, he or she will tend to put his or her hand on the top of the steering wheel (12 o'clock position), so in the event of a collision, the airbag will deploy from below and can break the hand.

Note that you should put both hands on the steering wheel, one at about 3 o'clock position and one at 9 o'clock position and sit straight 16 cm from the steering wheel. Sitting like that may not be comfortable at first, but after a while you will get used to it, only then will you save your life in case of a car accident.

According to VnMedia