Most
drivers have at least one bad driving habit.
Maybe
you accelerate a little too quickly when the light turns green. Perhaps you
brake later than you should, rest your hand on the gear stick or occasionally
reach for your phone while driving. When you have been driving for years, these
small habits can become so automatic that you barely notice them.
But
behind the wheel, small habits can have bigger consequences than we expect.
They can increase fuel consumption, accelerate wear and tear, cause unnecessary damage
or, more importantly, compromise your safety.
And
when you are driving a rental car,
there is another reason to pay attention: you may be driving a vehicle you are
not familiar with, on roads you do not know.
So,
which driving habits are worth leaving behind?
1. Accelerating and braking too aggressively
There
is a difference between confident driving and aggressive driving.
Repeatedly
accelerating hard and then braking suddenly puts unnecessary stress on the
engine, transmission, tyres and brakes. It can also make the journey less
comfortable for everyone in the car.
A
smoother driving style is usually better for both the vehicle and your fuel
consumption. Look ahead, anticipate traffic and give yourself enough time to
slow down instead of waiting until the last possible moment.
This
becomes especially useful when driving a
rental car. You may not yet know exactly how sensitive its accelerator or
brakes are, so a gentler approach is a
good way to get comfortable with the vehicle.
2. Treating the clutch and gearbox roughly
If
you are driving a manual car, your
left foot and right hand can have a surprisingly big impact on the vehicle.
Keeping your foot on
the clutch pedal when you do not need to, holding the car on an incline with
the clutch or changing gears too aggressively can contribute to unnecessary
wear.
The same applies to forcing the gear lever instead of making smooth gear
changes.
With
an unfamiliar rental car, take a moment to understand how the clutch and
gearbox feel before you get into busy traffic. Every car is slightly different.
3. Taking potholes and speed bumps too fast
A
pothole may look harmless. A speed bump may seem like something you can simply
drive over without slowing down.
Your
suspension and tyres may disagree.
Hitting potholes,
kerbs or speed bumps at excessive speed can damage tyres, wheels and suspension
components.
Rental-car operators also commonly list wheels, tyres and undercarriage
components among the areas that can suffer from careless driving.
The
simple solution? Slow down, especially when you are unfamiliar with the road.
4. Driving while distracted
We
all know that using a phone while
driving is dangerous, yet
distractions are not limited to texting or making calls.
Changing music,
adjusting the navigation, eating, searching for something in the car or turning
around to talk to a passenger can take your attention away from the road.
This
is particularly easy to do in a rental car because you may spend the
first few kilometres trying to figure out where everything is.
Set
your navigation before you leave, adjust the mirrors and seat, connect your
phone if necessary and get familiar with the basic controls while the car is
parked.
5. Following the car in front too closely
Tailgating is one of
those habits
that can feel normal in heavy traffic, especially when everyone seems to be in
a hurry.
It leaves you with
less time to react if the vehicle ahead suddenly brakes. Keeping a reasonable
following distance gives you more time to respond and makes driving
considerably less stressful.
It
is also particularly important when you are driving in unfamiliar surroundings.
You may not know the road, the traffic patterns or what is about to happen
ahead.
6. Ignoring warning lights and unusual noises
Photo: https://www.pexels.com/photo/pictographs-on-dashboard-in-car-16341407/
A strange noise does not necessarily
mean that something serious is wrong.
But
ignoring it completely is rarely a good idea.
The
same applies to warning lights on the
dashboard. When driving your own car, you may already know which sounds are
normal and which are not. With a rental
car, you do not have that advantage.
If
something suddenly feels or sounds different, do not simply assume it will go
away. Find a safe place to stop and contact the rental company if necessary.
It
is much better to ask about a problem early than to continue driving until a
small issue becomes a bigger one.
7. Forgetting about the size and handling of the car
You
have driven hundreds of kilometres before, so driving another car should be
easy, right?
Not
necessarily.
A compact hatchback,
SUV and larger sedan can feel very different from behind the wheel. Their dimensions,
visibility, turning radius and braking response may not be the same.
Before setting off in
a rental car, take a few minutes to adjust your seat and mirrors and get a feel
for the vehicle.
Pay attention to its width and length, especially when parking or driving
through narrow streets.
Those
few minutes can save you from a very unpleasant surprise later.
8. Being careless when parking
Many
minor rental-car damages happen not on the motorway, but at very low speeds.
A concrete pillar, a
kerb, a narrow parking space or another car's door can cause scratches, dents
or damage to the wheels.
Take
your time when parking. If the space is tight, there is no prize for getting
into it in five seconds.
And
before leaving the vehicle, make sure you are parked legally and safely.
9. Driving as if the road conditions cannot change
Good
weather and a familiar-looking road can create a false sense of security.
Rain, fog, strong
wind, poor visibility, wet surfaces or unexpected road works can change the
conditions very quickly. A speed that felt perfectly comfortable ten minutes ago may
no longer be appropriate.
Safe
driving is not simply about following the posted speed limit. It is also about
adjusting your speed and driving style to the actual conditions around you.
10. Forgetting that a rental car deserves the same care as your own
Perhaps
the biggest mistake is thinking: “It
isn't my car.”
Actually,
that is a good reason to be even more careful.
A rental car is
someone else's vehicle, and careless driving can result in damage, additional
costs or an unpleasant end to an otherwise enjoyable trip.
You
do not have to drive nervously or treat the car like a museum exhibit. Just
drive it with the same basic care you would expect someone else to show if they
borrowed your own car.
Good driving is mostly about good habits
Photo: https://www.pexels.com/photo/white-car-passing-by-green-trees-3010106/
You
do not need to be a perfect driver to avoid most of these mistakes.
Slow down when
necessary. Keep your attention on the road. Give other drivers enough space.
Learn how the car feels before you push it. And when something seems unusual,
do not ignore it.
These
habits are useful every time you get behind the wheel, but they become even
more important when you are driving a rental
car in an unfamiliar place.
After all, the best
rental experience is a simple one: you pick up the car, enjoy the
journey and return it in the same good condition in which you received it.
Cover photo: https://www.pexels.com/photo/businessman-driving-car-on-rainy-day-31627609/
