
7 Good Driving Tips For Beginners And Experts
Whether you’re a new or seasoned professional driver, one thing’s for sure: your work revolves around driving to places for a living, sometimes visiting multiple destinations each day.
As you can imagine, being a professional driver of a truck, bus, train, or some other method of transport requires a significant degree of focus, skill, and anticipation.
Good driving practices ensure you and your cargo, whatever that may be, arrive at each destination safely and on time. They also help you to avoid going through the procedures expected after a minor accident.
The following points illustrate some tips and tricks for you to keep in mind so your driving is safe, timely, and efficient:
1. Ensure You Get Plenty Of Rest Before You Drive
It goes without saying that you should get plenty of rest before you embark on any journey.
If you get behind the wheel of a vehicle you use as part of your work, and you lack the focus and concentration required for your driving, the consequences could be catastrophic.
Always try to have a minimum of seven hours of uninterrupted sleep each night. Doing so will decrease the likelihood of fatigue or feeling lethargic when driving a vehicle – especially over long distances.
As the experts at Hipskind & McAninch, LLC opine, it will lower the risk of getting involved in an accident.
2. Carry Out Full Vehicle Inspections Each Day
Each day, whether you’re driving a vehicle you own or one belonging to your employer, you should conduct thorough inspections before you start driving.
Doing so is essential for several reasons. Firstly, it ensures your vehicle is safe to drive and won’t potentially leave you stranded somewhere.
Secondly, you’ll probably need to do it as part of regulations mandated by the DoT. Lastly, it ensures you know if any issues weren’t flagged by the previous driver of your vehicle.
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3. Get Any Safety Concerns Addressed Immediately
If your inspections bring up some safety issues, or you notice any problems during your journeys, you must take reasonable steps to address those issues as soon as possible.
Also, if your vehicle got struck by a truck, for example, you should get in touch with a truck accident lawyer as the damage may have compromised some safety features of your vehicle.
Don’t assume that anyone who drives into your vehicle in an accident will have any repairs carried out quickly or even at all.
4. Keep Yourself Hydrated

How well do you keep yourself hydrated during each journey? If the answer is “not at all,” you need to change that habit. It’s crucial that you don’t feel dehydrated when you’re on the road, especially during a hot summer’s day.
Water is the best drink to have as it won’t have a diuretic effect on your body like caffeine, and it’s good for you because it contains no calories, so it’s the perfect accompaniment to any diet.
Consider keeping a few bottles of water in your vehicle with you, and if you feel dehydrated, pull over for a few minutes to drink a considerable amount.
5. Take Plenty Of Rest Breaks
Managing sickness and absence from work can be avoided all together when you prioritize taking a break.
Some professional drivers, both new and seasoned, make the mistake of driving for long distances without having many rest stops (or any at all). As you can appreciate, that’s never a good idea as you need breaks to stretch your legs, have something to eat and drink, and use the restroom.
If you feel drowsy when you drive, pull over somewhere safe and get as much rest as possible before continuing your journey. Don’t ignore what your body is telling you!
6. Allow Fresh Air Into Your Vehicle

Having fresh ventilated air circulating around you while you drive helps you stay alert and focused on your drive.
You might think that you don’t need to keep your windows open or let air from outside enter your vehicle if you use air conditioning. But, there are some reasons why you need fresh air from outside.
For example, it helps dispel hot air inside your vehicle on a sunny day. Plus, air from outdoors will contain moisture. You won’t you feel thirsty or light-headed as it does with air conditioning.
7. Undergo Annual Eye Examinations
Last but not least, you should undergo at least one eye examination each year. Annual or bi-annual eye examinations help identify any issues that could affect your vision. Something which you rely on as part of your work driving for a living.
You may find that corrective eyeglasses, for instance, help you have better clarity when driving. It also ensures you can anticipate actions from other road users that could potentially result in a collision.