http://civilwarbummer.com/ALFA_DATA ‘Highway’ – the word itself tells us that it is a long way where we can’t imagine how fast the vehicles move. Generally, on highways, the speed limit of the vehicles is more than 80 mph (miles per hour) where it includes cars, buses and trucks. No wonder, the experienced drivers drive their vehicles at the mentioned speed (approx. 80mph) or more than that without any anxiety. However, the anxiety remains with those who are beginners or never had any experience in Highway driving. For them, it is like a daunting thing, which they ignore rather than facing it.
On highway, every vehicle moves at high speed and a single mistake could create mishap or crash. Due to this, the fear of driving on highways grows and those who fear become incapable of overcoming this. We must understand that for driving on Highways, a good level of driving skills is needed, and a maneuver of both http://davidpisarra.com/book-review-zig-the-autobiography-of-zig-ziglar manual and Automatic Driving Lessons will help us to some extent with safe driving tips. And if we talk about those who have Driving Phobia on Highways, then they definitely need to know how to overcome the fear of driving on Highways.
Pic by – Vladislav Bezrukov
In this article, we have divided our tips into two parts. In the first part, we have mentioned some tips that will make you ready before heading to the Highway and in the second part; we have mentioned the tips that will overcome fears while driving on the Highway. These tips will also help you to improve the mistakes that are often made while driving on local streets or on Highways.
At the first stage, we have mentioned the things that must be looked upon before heading towards a Highway.
- Learn Defensive Driving
In order to overcome fear, there’s one thing that we first need to make sure about driving- it must be safe and defensive. A defensive driving makes us aware of the surroundings like alertness, driving in weather conditions, control speed etc. This also encourages us to drive safely on streets. Our response time in observing and hearing while driving will also get improved and likewise, the level of driving skills will also increase. If we talk about the beginners, their initial stage is to learn driving first, however, in case of those who have Driving Phobia on Highways, one word must be introduced in between “Learn Driving” i.e. Learn Defensive Driving. In Peterborough (cathedral city in Cambridgeshire, England), the driving schools help beginners to Learn Defensive Driving. The reason why this place is mentioned here is because the Automatic Driving Schools here offer their own set of driving courses where the students pass from a level, which enables them to overcome fear while driving. Having someone with us who has better knowledge about the driving will decrease the level of fear.
- Comprehensive Car Knowledge
While driving a car or vehicle, we must know about the things that we use while driving. A car basically has brakes, steering, gears etc. which we often use while driving. Moreover, the related things like mirrors, headlamps, etc. must be known before starting to drive on Highways. A proper knowledge about the car and the things that are included while driving will assure us that we will not make any mistake while driving.
We must carry the right tools, Stephanie and car jacks in case of emergencies like car break-down, tyre punctures etc.
- Understanding Road Lanes
Another thing that we need to take care is the Road lanes. If we look at a normal road, we may see there are several lanes and being knowledgeable about these lanes would be beneficial. Mostly, a road has three lanes and those are:
- 1st Lane- The rightmost one is for the slow-moving vehicles.
- 2nd Lane- The left one beside the first lane is for the medium speeding vehicles. This includes bikes, vans, and trucks.
- 3rd Lane- The last one beside the second one is the most dangerous and it is for the fast moving vehicles, those vehicles whose speed is more than 80mph use this lane.
- Road Signs & Markings
Sometimes, ignoring a road sign could also lead to an accident. All the road signs must be known as they indicate what one must do and do not while driving. Furthermore, the violation of traffic rules is also a legal offense. So make sure, you know about all the road signs. A better solution for this is to prefer Driving Schools; in their driving course, we can learn all the road signs.
We believe that the above tips have developed some sort of encouragement to those who have Driving Phobia on Highways. Now, it’s time to drive miles away i.e. Highway driving. Here are the things that will help us to overcome the fear of driving on Highways i.e. the Second stage.
- Merging Highway
The Highway merging is always threatening, as it connects a road to the Highway without any stopping signals, but yes we may see a warning signal which blinks in yellow or orange color and this is just a warning for merge or interception road ahead. At Merging, we are just about to enter the highway where the cars move at high speed. We, first of all, must assure that while heading to Highway we are not going to intercept into any vehicle’s path. As the vehicles won’t stop on the Highway, and we need to move our vehicle in such a way that, we could pass to 1st lane safely. No matter which hour it is, peak hours or non-peak, if we successfully move our vehicle to the 1st lane after merging road, then we are at the safe place as the vehicles move slowly on this lane.
- Changing Lanes
This is yet another step which one needs to do while on the highway. This is again threatening and stressful, and in heavy traffic, it won’t be possible for those who have fear. In this case, the best thing we can do is, use the mirrors and turn on the left indicator. An indicator blinking can be noticed and the cars coming from behind can see it easily as the intensity of an indicator light is high as compared to other lights. And likewise, we can shift to the 2nd lane and increase the speed.
Note: Don’t change the lane suddenly. Take time after turning on the indicator; probably 1 minute, look in the rear view and side mirror and then plan to change the lane.
- Highway Speed
Now, the third step is to drive at the speed that is faster. Choose the speed which is comfortable for you and can handle the car easily.
For Ex, if you are driving in 50mph and changed the lane and moved to the faster lane where we have to maintain at least 70 mph speed, don’t feel anxious, slowly accelerate the vehicle. If you accelerate it, the vehicles which are at rear side can manage their speed, because your vehicle is going to reach at 70 mph and the rear coming car if, at 80 mph, a slight braking can make its speed equal to your vehicle’s speed and likewise, you can create a comfort zone with a contact speed of 70 mph.
If you are a beginner, then it is better for you to keep the vehicle on the right side. It allows fast moving vehicles to pass away from the faster lane. And, we are also safe. A fear is nothing but our mind’s illusion which may or may not happen, but if we overcome it, then the level of confidence will increase gradually.
