Driving Tips from Bobby Dunphy School of Motoring

Driving Tips

Whole books are written about driving and I don't intend to add to those. However, there are some basic things that can be emphasised. The first thing to be said is the importance of learning properly. It is well established that in learning from your parents or your friends, you run the risk of picking up their bad habits. It is advisable to take lessons from a qualified instructor (see section on Selecting a Driving School).

Safe driving can be summed up by the acronym COST:

Concentration
Observation
Space
Time

Irish roads today are much busier than they were 15 or 20 years ago. Those of you who know New Ross might be surprised to learn that in 2003 when traffic flows in and through the town were surveyed there were over 20,000 cars crossing the bridge every day. It's easy to see that with those kinds of volumes, driving requires total concentration. Chatting on a mobile phone would definitely be out.

Good observation leads to early decision making. For example, seeing a cars brake lights come on 5 or 6 cars ahad will alert you to the likelyhood of having to slow or stop yourself. Or, seeing a person approaching a pedestrian crossing you can anticipate them wanting to cross.

Tailgating, driving too close to the car in front, is one of the most common faults with all drivers. The two second rule is a useful guide to maintainng a safe space in front of you and it works like this:
When the car in front has passed a stationary object, the following driver should be able to say "Only a Fool Breaks the Two Second Rule" before he reaches the same point. If he hasn't managed to fully say it, he is too close to be able to stop without running into the back of the car in front. Remeber that in wet conditions you need to double the space required.

Space is also important to the sides and behind you. Think how you would create space behind!

Good planning will give you the necessary time to execute whatever manoeuvre you need to perform.

Eco Driving

Eco driving is good for the environment, good for your car and good for you. The following tips might prove useful:

- Change up through the gears at about 2,500 revs. Over revving your engine uses up petrol.
- Drive smoothly, avoiding harsh braking and sharp acceleration. Anticipate road conditions.
- In terms of fuel consumption, the most efficient speed generally is in the region of 80kph (50mph).
- Air conditioning is a big drain on your petrol so, use it sparingly.
- Don't warm the engine. Drive away immediately.
- Use roof racks, bike carriers and roof boxes only when you need them and remove them when not in use.
- Avoid short journeys. A cold engine can use almost twice as much fuel.
- Plan your journey. Avoid heavy congested traffic, road works and getting lost.
- Check your tyre pressures regularly. Under-inflated tyres are dangerous and can increase fuel consumption by up to 3%.
- If you are stuck in a traffic jam for more than a couple of minutes, switch off your engine.
- Learn to become an advanced driver.

Q and As

Click here to download some very useful driving Questions and Answers