If you are not yet used to driving, do you always feel scared every time you get behind the wheel?
The reasons why people are afraid of driving can be broadly summed up into four categories.
① There are some operations or scenes that you are not good at
② Difficult roads in the city
3) Traffic rules are vague
④ Causing an accident and negligence in relation to it
In other words, you can eliminate that fear by thoroughly "overcoming your weaknesses in driving techniques and road conditions" and "making thorough preparations before getting in the car."
Here we will explain in detail the specific reasons why people are afraid of driving and how to solve these problems.
If you follow the tips in this article thoroughly, you will definitely be able to get rid of your fear. Give it a try and enjoy your drive.
table of contents
1. For those who feel scared of driving
Here are real voices from people who are afraid of driving.
[Part 1]
"I'm not good at changing lanes when driving a car. I think the main reason is that I can't judge the distance between me and the car behind me."
[Part 2]
"Unlike the suburbs, most city roads have cars coming up behind you constantly."
"There are just too many one-way streets."
[Part 3]
"I got a ticket for turning right at an intersection where you can't turn right during the morning and evening hours!"
[Part 4]
"I had an accident the other day and since then I've been afraid of driving."
There are many other opinions, but as I mentioned at the beginning, fear is mainly born from the following four factors.
① There are some operations or scenes that you are not good at
② Difficult roads in the city
3) Traffic rules are vague
④ Causing an accident and responsibility for it
In order to solve these factors, it is necessary to keep the following points in mind.
① There are some operations or scenes that you are not good at.
2. Difficult city streets
→ "Understand your weak areas"
3) Traffic rules are vague
4. Causing an accident and responsibility for it
→ "Be fully prepared before boarding"
Let's take a closer look at the following items.
2. Tips on driving operations that beginners tend to have the most difficulty with
We will focus on ``changing lanes'' and ``parking,'' which beginners tend to have difficulty with.
lane change
Changing lanes is essential when driving on major roads. Let's check the process again.
①Do not reduce your vehicle speed before changing lanes.
If you slow down before changing lanes, the car in the lane you are changing to will catch up and you will lose your timing.
② Check the following vehicle visually and in the mirror.
When actually driving, there is not much time to visually check everything behind you. Adjust your mirrors and check your field of vision before driving. Visual inspection is an image that compensates for the blind spot of the mirror.
③Turn on your turn signal early
Once you have enough distance from the vehicle behind you, signal as soon as possible. If you notice the turn signal, you will be able to secure space for the car you are driving.
④ Change lanes according to the car in front of you
If you try to match the car behind you, you will slow down and be very dangerous. Please drive with the image of sticking to the car in front of you. However, be careful not to get too close!
Parking
Have you ever had the experience of not being able to fit into the frame and having to switch back and forth over and over again? Once you start your car, it won't stay running forever. I'll definitely park there. Please keep the following points in mind to park your car in one go.
①Pull up to where you want to park!
First of all, it is essential to secure a space to turn the car around.
②Basically, park based on the car on your left.
When parking, start by aligning the tip of the left frame line with the left rear wheel. This is because if you adjust to the car on your right, you may not be able to get a good sense of the distance between you and your car, and you may end up rear-ending the car.
③Do not operate the steering wheel and reverse the vehicle at the same time.
If you are not used to it, if you turn the steering wheel while backing up, you will not be able to grasp the position of the tires, and it will be difficult to fit them in the frame. Turn the steering wheel sufficiently and then reverse the vehicle repeatedly to calmly park the vehicle.
3. Things to be aware of in urban road conditions
The city center has a lot of traffic and people, and there are many dangerous places that are not found in the suburbs.
road with heavy traffic
While it is essential to have a wide field of vision and be careful not to jump out of your blind spot, you should be especially careful of the following on roads with heavy traffic.
① Pay attention to the road ahead when turning left or right.
At intersections, first pay attention to the flow of pedestrians and oncoming traffic, but the road ahead of the turn may be congested. If you get stuck at an intersection, your progress will be obstructed. Keep an eye on the situation ahead and stay where you are if necessary.
② Get a feel for the width of the vehicle
It is important to understand the width of your vehicle, especially when driving on narrow roads. Basically, the center of the hood is the left tire, and the extension of the accelerator is the right tire. However, relying only on your senses can lead to a serious accident, so don't forget to keep an eye on yourself and drive slowly.
③ Be careful not to overlook the sign
Urban streets are filled with "one-way" and "no trespassing" signs. Don't be so focused on driving that you overlook the instructions on the traffic signs.
Urban expressway driving
Urban expressways differ from regular expressways in that they weave through the narrow spaces of large cities. For this reason, there are unique difficult points such as sharp curves, tunnels, and junctions, making it one of the most difficult roads for drivers. Let's look at some points.
① Before driving...
Although the structure is complicated, the guide boards and signs installed on the roads are rough. Therefore, it will be quite difficult for those who are not yet accustomed to the route to rely on the guide boards. Planning your route before getting on is a must.
For example, the Metropolitan Expressway that runs through the center of Tokyo has set up a driver's website that provides necessary traffic information and route searches for drivers.
Metropolitan Expressway Drivers Site: http://www.shutoko.jp/
②While driving...
There are three points to keep in mind while driving:
Sharp curve/lane change/merging
You will always encounter sharp curves when driving on urban expressways. Unlike ordinary roads, the speed is high, so you will need to slow down sufficiently on straight sections. Always use the brakes to adjust your speed when making turns. In addition, the roads may be paved in red around curves where accidents occur frequently. When approaching a sharp curve like this, be careful and drive carefully.
Please refer to the above article for important points when changing lanes. In particular, the Metropolitan Expressway is dotted with many junctions. Be sure to change lanes in plenty of time, rather than just before you reach a fork.
Finally, there is "merging." Usually, the merging lane on expressways is on the left side, but on the Shuto Expressway, there are also merging lanes from the right. However, the points to be aware of are the same, so there is no need to be scared.
Generally speaking, the key to merging is to "turn on your blinker early and turn it back on late" and "accelerate quickly after turning on your blinker." This is actually similar to the trick for changing lanes, so merging is something that people who are used to changing lanes on regular roads can quickly master. However, since the merging lanes on urban expressways are short, you may get into an accident with the car behind you if you do not accelerate quickly. Therefore, when merging on urban expressways, it is especially important to "watch the car in front of you" and "accelerate quickly."
4. How to avoid panicking in the event of an unexpected situation
Things to check before riding to ensure you can drive with peace of mind
Signs to remember at least
Signs learned in academic class. It's common to forget the meaning of a car if you haven't driven for a while. Ideally, you would pull out your subject textbook and memorize it, but it takes time and effort, so at least remember the following signs.
① “Stop”
When you see this sign, you must stop at the stop line. Although it is the most basic sign, some people unexpectedly overlook it when it is dark. By the way, a "temporary stop" is a state in which the vehicle is completely still.
② Prohibition of entering outside the designated direction
You can only move in the direction of the arrow. If you overlook the road and proceed to an undesignated road, you could be charged with a violation or cause a serious accident. Please be sure to comply.
③One-way traffic/No entry allowed
As mentioned above, the streets in the city center are full of one-way streets. No entry signs are often placed at the exits of one-way roads, but if you enter without knowing it, you may end up driving the wrong way and cause a head-on collision. Be sure to remember them as a set.
About accident punishment and countermeasures
Various efforts are being made to eliminate tragic traffic accidents in Japan, but unfortunately they will never be reduced to zero. Here, we will mainly explain the penalties and countermeasures for "vehicle vs. pedestrian" accidents.
There are three situations in which accidents with pedestrians occur frequently:
·pedestrian crossing
・In the parking lot
Children running out
Another point to keep in mind is the ``fault ratio.'' The percentage of fault indicates which party is responsible for the accident.
This is just an example, but I will introduce the following case.
Case 1: Crosswalk
In cases where a vehicle going straight ahead collides with a person crossing a crosswalk (regardless of whether there is a signal or not), the pedestrian's fault percentage is basically 0 (the car's fault percentage is 100). If a pedestrian ignores a traffic signal or walks outside of a crosswalk, the pedestrian's at-fault rate increases. (For example, if the vehicle traffic light is green, the pedestrian's culpability ratio increases to 70%.) However, in any case, the car's culpability ratio will never be 0.
Case 2: Inside the parking lot
If there is someone in the parking space and an accident occurs, the car's at-fault ratio is 90. The same percentage applies if you hit a pedestrian while driving on the premises.
Case 3: Child jumping out
It is possible to claim some degree of negligence on the part of the pedestrian due to the carelessness of the guardian. However, the percentage of fault on the part of the vehicle is almost never 0.
To avoid accidents...
1. Thoroughly protect pedestrians
Remember that cars are the strong and pedestrians are the weak. As shown in the case, the car's fault is almost never zero. If you see a pedestrian near a crosswalk (especially one without traffic lights), be extremely careful and be prepared to stop at any time. Remember to drive slowly in the parking lot.
2. Keep a distance of at least 1.5 meters between pedestrians and cars.
This is the distance that allows both parties to pass safely. (On roads where this cannot be ensured, it is essential to drive slowly.) Please keep this in mind.
5. Summary
Take advantage of paper driver training as well.
Some driving schools offer courses for people who haven't driven for a long time. (Please note that they may not be available depending on the season, so please make sure to inquire.)
"If you're looking for a course for paper drivers in Tokyo, check out these 9 recommended schools!"
https://www.paperdriver-navi.com
This site introduces recommended schools in Tokyo and information on paper drivers. Please use it as a reference.
Feeling scared is important!
In fact, thinking ``scary'' allows you to drive more carefully to avoid accidents. On the other hand, please be careful when you get used to it. Many drivers have accidents and violations when they are just getting used to driving. Don't forget your initial intentions! is not it.
lastly
In order to start thinking that driving is fun, you need to drive many times and master difficult techniques and situational judgment. Of the points mentioned in the article, I don't have enough! Keep those thoughts in check and actively challenge yourself to drive. You'll definitely love driving.
