What Should Novice Drivers Pay Attention to When Driving?

[MacReagan]

Novice drivers should pay attention to speed, remember to use turn signals, maintain following distance, and remember to honk the horn. Below are the specific things novice drivers should pay attention to when driving: Pay attention to speed: The speed should not be too fast or too slow. For beginners, it's best to maintain a speed between 30 to 50 km/h. Use turn signals: Novice drivers must learn to use turn signals proficiently. Remember to signal in advance when turning or changing lanes to let the vehicles behind know, and only turn the steering wheel after confirming safety. Maintain following distance: When driving, remember to keep a sufficient safe distance. Do not follow too closely when there is a vehicle in front, and avoid suddenly slowing down or braking hard when there is a vehicle behind. Remember to honk the horn: When approaching a blind curve, remember to honk the horn in advance. Always remember to honk when overtaking, changing lanes, or when pedestrians on the road do not notice the vehicle. However, do not honk when encountering a large group of livestock on the road, as it may cause them to panic.

[DiAbel]

When I first got my driver's license, I was most afraid of reversing and lane changing. The rearview mirrors should be adjusted to show about a quarter of the car body, and the side mirrors should be positioned to minimize blind spots as much as possible. Actually, it's better to hold the steering wheel more relaxed, just lightly resting at the 3 and 9 o'clock positions, otherwise, your wrists can easily get injured when encountering bumps. Remember to brake by first applying light pressure and then increasing it gradually, making judgments about 200 meters in advance, and decisively slowing down when you see a yellow light at an intersection. When changing lanes, never rely solely on the rearview mirror; always turn your head to check the blind spot, and count to three after signaling before steering. The most easily overlooked thing is adjusting the height of the seatbelt; if the buckle is pressing against your neck, sudden braking can cause cuts, so be sure to lower the adjuster on the B-pillar by two notches. On rainy days, remember to turn on the rear window defroster so the rearview mirror won't look like frosted glass.

[DiAlina]

During my novice driving period, I diligently kept a driving journal for three months: Always wait for the tachometer to drop to 800 rpm before shifting gears during cold starts, and for automatic transmissions, pressing the shift lever button while braking is the correct operation. Following distance is crucial—I learned a practical trick from my driving instructor: start counting when the car ahead passes a roadside marker, and if you haven't reached that marker by the count of four, it's considered a safe distance. I used to get dazzled by high beams during night driving until I discovered the anti-glare tab at the bottom of the rearview mirror—flipping it instantly improved visibility. Not piling plush toys on the rear window isn't just about avoiding fines; a friend once missed seeing a child darting out due to obstructed view. Magnetic phone mounts are now my go-to over vent clips—they stay firmly in place during turns without wobbling to distract attention.

[VonEden]

Thinking back to the experience of stalling over a dozen times still makes me laugh. The instructor taught me a great trick: for hill starts, don't use the handbrake—press the brake with your left foot while lightly touching the throttle with your right foot, then raise the left foot to the clutch engagement point when the RPM hits 2500 before releasing the brake. Now I find the AutoHold feature in new cars even more convenient. Here's a little tip for judging distance: when the lower edge of the car in front's bumper is obscured, you're about 20 meters away; when it completely disappears, you're down to 5 meters. The colored lines on the reversing camera are most accurate—red means 0.5 meters to an obstacle, yellow 1 meter, and green 1.5 meters. During heavy rain, avoid using the windshield washer fluid as the wipers will blur faster; setting the AC to defog mode is most effective.

[Ellie]

As a female driver, I used to dread parallel parking the most, but later realized that rearview mirrors are the key. Before entering the spot, align your rearview mirror with the taillight of the neighboring car, turn the steering wheel all the way and reverse at a 45-degree angle. If the car body becomes tilted, straighten the wheels and continue reversing. Wiper blades need to be replaced every three months—if they leave streaks on the windshield in clear weather, it's time for a change. New drivers often forget dashboard symbols: if the temperature gauge needle enters the red zone, pull over immediately; if the battery light comes on, don’t turn off the engine and wait for assistance. Avoid using alcohol spray for interior disinfection, as it can crack leather seats—diluted white vinegar is the best option for wiping. Brown-tinted sunglasses are the least likely to interfere with traffic signal visibility and can also be worn for night driving.

[MaciFitz]

The most common complaint at driving school is turning the steering wheel too aggressively. Only when you actually hit the road do you realize you need to downshift and slow down before a curve, reducing speed below 40 km/h before entering the turn. For small-displacement cars, it's best to utilize manual mode—third gear provides much more power than Drive (D) when climbing mountain roads. Driving schools never teach you how to handle a flat tire: grip the wheel firmly, avoid braking, check the rearview mirror for safety, then apply gentle brakes seven times before pulling over. Keeping band-aids and chocolate in the car is surprisingly practical—new drivers often get so nervous they experience low blood sugar. Recently, I discovered a handy little gadget called blind-spot convex mirrors. Stick them on the bottom-left corner of your side mirrors, and you'll have a clear view of pedestrian crossings when making right turns—just 15 yuan solves a major problem.