Highway driving tips

[Robyn]

So I've been using the highway for a while, but I'm still a bit uncertain at times. I mostly struggle with checking blind spots and trying to let cars that are merging in do so.

Any tips?

I use a van in USA.

[Patrick [ASE]]

Before setting out next time, get someone to help you set your mirrors, with a van you can just about forget about the internal one.
Hopefully you have decent sized wing or door mirrors.
Get a friend to stand in a position where you'd expect to see a vehicle behind but in the next lane, do both sides.
then get the helper to walk across slowly bbehind so you can identify any blind spots, decide if that blind spot is important.
Reset mirrors appropriately.
Now look through the mirrors, look for reference points on your van so you are able to reset the mirrors yourself if they get moved.

I tend to have mine set a bit wider, so moving forward in the seat a little i can just see the side of my car, but also more of the next lane (if i'm in lane 1, i can just see lane 3), and set down a little so vehicles behind don't blind me with their lights, this also helps seeing the kerb when reversing.

If you have any blind spots you need to cover, see about getting some 'clip on' mirrors, they sometimes attach to the edge of the door, get a helper to help you decide on the best location.


Allow plenty of room in front of you so others can slip in, you should not need to adjust your speed for them, they should adjust for you, though you can if you want to be curteous.

[brokenmalice]

It depends. Are you driving a minivan or a 15-passenger-type van?

[Robyn]

Oct 6, 2010 16:08:16 GMT -8 Patrick [ASE] said:

Before setting out next time, get someone to help you set your mirrors, with a van you can just about forget about the internal one.
Hopefully you have decent sized wing or door mirrors.
Get a friend to stand in a position where you'd expect to see a vehicle behind but in the next lane, do both sides.
then get the helper to walk across slowly bbehind so you can identify any blind spots, decide if that blind spot is important.
Reset mirrors appropriately.
Now look through the mirrors, look for reference points on your van so you are able to reset the mirrors yourself if they get moved.

I tend to have mine set a bit wider, so moving forward in the seat a little i can just see the side of my car, but also more of the next lane (if i'm in lane 1, i can just see lane 3), and set down a little so vehicles behind don't blind me with their lights, this also helps seeing the kerb when reversing.

If you have any blind spots you need to cover, see about getting some 'clip on' mirrors, they sometimes attach to the edge of the door, get a helper to help you decide on the best location.


Allow plenty of room in front of you so others can slip in, you should not need to adjust your speed for them, they should adjust for you, though you can if you want to be curteous.

Yes I'm still playing with the mirrors, trying to find the comfortable spot.

I'll try doing that and see what I can do.

Oct 6, 2010 16:22:23 GMT -8 @brokenmalice said:

It depends. Are you driving a minivan or a 15-passenger-type van?

Minivan

One problem is part of the time I'm driving is at 5 am and so i have headlights on and rely on the headlights of vehicles. But then I can't do that during the day...

[James [a_leon]]

Oct 6, 2010 16:22:23 GMT -8 @brokenmalice said:

It depends. Are you driving a minivan or a 15-passenger-type van?

To be completely honest, I'm much more comfortable driving a 15-passenger van.

---

Just do a very quick shoulder check for blind spots, and if someone wants to merge in front of you, flash your brights a couple times. That let's 'em know it's okay.

[The Count]

Oct 6, 2010 15:38:40 GMT -8 Robyn said:

Any tips?

Drive aggressively, speed, don't use your blinkers, play loud music, and flip off other drivers as you pass them. ;D




Or not.

[Marty Seppy]

avoid merger rights at all times as poss. it hard for you get off the next point when it heavy traffic.

[Will]

Don't ride with your brights on, and dont go slow in the fast lane.

[AndrettiFan]

Watch out for the ricers, they tend to race each other.

[The Lizard King]

do *NOT* hog the left lane. do. not. do. it. seriously. ever. don't. hear me? don't. robert? i mean it.

[Storm]

Surprised it's not mentioned. Don't ever tail gate an 18 wheeler or another car. Just don't.


But knows how you feel, I remember when I was first learning how to ride my motorcycle on the highway. That was pretty scary at first.

[Kami]

this probably isn't advice along the lines you had in mind, but be polite. if someone lets you into their lane, thank them by flashing your lights. if a trucker is trying to get over, let him in by flashing your lights (old school truckers will thank you back).

[Hero]

If you can avoid the highway, do so. I learned to drive in Houston and I'm currently living in Phoenix. I've only had to get on the highway twice in the 4ish years I've been driving - once for my test and another time to run to a burrito place with a friend who was leaving on a mission (or whatever you crazy mormon's call it! ) to Sweden for 3 years.

I know it seems like you'll get to places faster, but I've found that the there's less stopping on the roads next to the highways (whatever they're called ) and you can get to places faster that way.

I'm like you though Robert (), I absolutely hate driving on the highway, probably because of an accident I was involved in in 10th grade a couple months before I was about to take driving lessons (lady fell asleep at the wheel, crossed the median, and hit us head on at about 85 miles an hour, she died instantly and my parents + brother ended up in the hospital for a couple weeks). Definitely taught me that speeding = not so great though, which is probably why I've never even gotten a warning. (Although I have been a little disappointed that I haven't been pulled over for looking to young to drive. >.>).

Checking Blind spots and letting cars merge with come naturally the more you drive, so don't worry too much about those.

[iDunk]

Be aware of everything around you. When I'm driving (not even just on the highway) I'm always using peripheral vision, and very quick precise glances keeping track of everybody around me. That way, you know that there's a guy flying up your lane, and that your best odds are to pass the slower gentleman who's occupying the right lane and allow the guy on the left to proceed. That way he's not tailgating you.<-- If that little scenario doesn't make sense, just think of it this way: The more you know about conditions and people around you, the quicker you can make decisions that'll keep you out of harms way. Defensive driving.

Whatever you do, do not stay in the left lane[/b]. Unless there is heavy traffic, pass whoever you're going to pass and get back to the right lane. (Talking multi-lane highways) Not only will that help you keep speeders from tailgating you, but emergency vehicles going down the median (if it's a turn-lane/paved median) will be able to get through more easily.

Another thing, is if somebody is in the emergency lane, when possible you should move over to the left long enough to pass them. (In some states this may be required when emergency vehicles are in the emergency lane/shoulder)

[huskette]

Be mindful to keep a safe distance between you and the car in front of you and always assume that everyone around you is an idiot and is going to do the stupidest thing they can, because this is usually the case.