Essential Safety Tips for City Drivers
City driving is often essential, especially if you need to commute to work. It’s also quite stressful, particularly when there is rush hour traffic, congestion charges, and difficulties with parking. Even an experienced driver can struggle with driving in a city, which is why it is helpful to know how you can stay safe and drive with confidence. Here are some tips to overcome your fear and ensure you’re a safe driver.
Use a Sat Nav
It is not always easy to know how best to navigate a city, especially if you are new to the area and/or you are driving during rush hour. Sat navs and Google Maps offer real-time traffic updates, meaning you find ways around rush hour traffic jams or roadworks. You’ll also know exactly where you need to go in new cities, since signage isn’t always the best. This should help you navigate the streets with confidence and arrive on time at your destination.
Anticipate Hazards
Cities are filled with pedestrians, cyclists, buses, and other cars, which creates a constant hazardous situation. It’s important to keep your eyes on the road and avoid being distracted so you can stop in an emergency or change lanes safely. A rear-view camera is a useful upgrade for city driving that will allow you to see what is directly behind you, making it easier and safer to change lanes as well as to parallel park – parking can be particularly tricky in the city!
Avoid Congestion Charges
Familiarise yourself with local driving regulations and congestion charges. For example, try to avoid entering zones during peak times, park only in designated/permitted areas, and pay when required. You also need to understand zones that are for pedestrians/buses/taxis only, and stick to the speed limits, especially in 20 mph zones.
Control Your Anxiety
Keep your worries to a minimum by properly planning your journey, setting off in good time, choosing a familiar route, driving with someone else in the car, and avoiding too much caffeine. Music can also help, but make sure it’s not distracting and keep it at a low volume or switch it off when you need to concentrate. City driving can be stressful and daunting, but when you prepare properly and know what to expect, it can become a lot easier.
The advice in this post should help improve your city driving and reduce anxiety. Navigating city roads can be tough when a lot is happening all around you, but by focusing on the above areas, you can drive with confidence.
