Pay Attention
While you are driving on the street, drivers tend only to look straight ahead. This is especially true for drivers who are just starting. Driving on the highway requires you to have your head on a swivel so that you look at what’s ahead of you and on each side of the vehicle and behind. Good drivers need to be always adjusting their observation points to be constantly aware of their surroundings. That way, if they need to brake suddenly, they will have enough car lengths to do so.
Always Use Your Turn Signal
Using your turn signal is always important no matter where your driving, but it’s especially true when it comes to diving on the turnpike. You can’t simply rely on your instincts to figure out what the other drivers are thinking, so you need always to be using your turn signals to communicate with other drivers so they know what you’re doing and you know where they are going. In addition, you should always use your turn signal when you’re changing lanes as it lets other drivers know what your intentions are. You should always maintain a safe distance between your vehicle and others while also checking your blind spots before making any lane changes.
When you Enter or Exit a Highway
Getting that initial entry on the road can be a little intimidating, but it’s easy once you get the hang of it. If you haven’t driven on the highway in a while, you must get on the on-ramp and get up to highway speed as quickly as possible. Ensure that you’re using your turn signals and quickly look for a gap in which you can change lanes and enter the highway. When you exit the highway, again, be sure to use your turn signal and begin to decelerate when you get on the exit ramp. If you fail to slow down, you might lose control of your vehicle, which can cause an accident.
Keep in the Right Lane
If you’re uncomfortable with being on the highway or haven’t driven on it in a while, keep in mind that the right lane is designed for slower traffic and might be the best place for you until you get more acclimated. The left lane is intended for passing, while the middle and right lane is for driving. When you are ready, move into the middle lane, and only when you feel more comfortable, start passing in the left lane. Getting consistent driving patterns is all about practice, so if you’re not used to driving on the highway, it might be good to follow these tips.
Get Comfortable
If you feel that driving on the highway isn’t your thing, take the time to master city driving before you get back to driving on the turnpike. When your comfort level with driving on the regular streets reaches its peak, you might feel more comfortable with highway driving. You might also want to take along a more experienced highway driver to help you see everything on the highway. The most important thing you need to remember is that if you’re not comfortable driving on the highway, don’t do it until you’re sure you’re comfortable.
Get a Highway Ready Vehicle at Kahlo Chrysler Dodge Jeep RAM
Before you tackle the trials and tribulations of the highway, you’re going to want to make sure you have the right vehicle to handle the conditions. Luckily, that’s where we here at Kahlo Chrysler Dodge Jeep RAM come in! We have a full showroom of wonderful Dodge, Jeep, and Ram vehicles for you to see and test drive. If you have any questions about the vehicles on our lot, be sure to flag down one of our highly knowledgeable staff members, who will be more than happy to assist you. If you find a make and model that you like, we have a wonderful financial department that will help you get a great deal. You can even check out our full inventory here, right here on our website.