There are many bad driving habits you can pick up as soon as the learner plates come off. However, some will actually cause terrible damage to your car. Here are a few examples.
Driving Too Fast Over Speed Bumps
In countries like the UK, speed bumps and potholes are everywhere. This is why you should be careful when driving. And these can get worse in winter. When you hit one at speed, you could buckle your wheels, damage the bumpers and cause a chip to become a crack on your windshield. If this happens, Google auto glass specialists near you to have it fixed immediately. The best advice is to take it easy. It isn’t worth the cost of repairs to your car in the long run.
Too Much Weight in the Car
Cars themselves are generally heavy. But they are designed to take a specific load. If you overload your car with too much weight, you can damage your vehicle. The brakes, suspension, and drivetrain can become too strained. As a result, they won’t last as long as they should. Meaning you will have to pay out for expensive repairs. Additionally, more weight also means you will use more fuel. So never leave anything in the car that really doesn’t need to be there.
Bad Driving Habits Include Ignoring Dashboard Icons
A recent survey in the USA found that half of the drivers frequently ignore the warning lights on their car dashboards. This is insane. The warning lights are there for a reason and often indicate something is very wrong. Even in a luxury car, they suggest that a disaster is incoming. So never ignore your warning lights. And take care of what your car is telling you immediately. If you don’t, you could end up breaking down in winter or even in an unfortunate incident.
Leaving Your Foot on the Clutch
If you drive an EV, you don’t need to worry about this. But the clutch is an essential part of a car. And you need to learn how to use it properly. If you don’t, you can place too much strain when changing gears. This will result in wear and tear and a shorter lifespan of the internal parts. Leaving your foot on the clutch when driving is a common bad habit. When you aren’t changing gears, your foot should be off and away from the clutch to prevent excess wear.
Holding the Gear Stick
Like resting your foot on the clutch, another bad habit is resting your hand on the gear stick. Of course, your hands should be on the steering wheel, in the ten and two position at all times. Your hand should only come off when changing gear. This is because you can place weight on the stick, causing it to contact the control rod inside the gearbox. The gearbox isn’t designed for this. And resting your hand like this will cause unnecessary wear and tear, reducing lifespan.
Summary
Your car can be ruined by some bad driving habits you can pick up. These include driving at speed over bumps, ignoring dashboard warning lights, and resting your hand on the gear stick.
Comments