How To Drive A Car: 28 Steps (With Pictures) - Wikihow

How to Drive a Car: 28 Steps (with Pictures) - wikiHow 27-9-14 6:32 प"
How to Drive a Car

1,812,077 views Edited 2 days ago
Four Parts: Getting Comfortable with the Car's Controls Getting the Basics Down Putting It All Together
Mastering Advanced Driving Techniques
Learning how to drive is a lot easier than it looks. It looks intimidating from the
passenger's seat, or in the movies, but once you get behind the wheel and
gently put your foot on the pedal, the process becomes very intuitive. If you're a
defensive driver and learn to take things slow in the beginning, you'll be well on
your way to mastering the basics. This article assumes you'll be driving an
automatic transmission vehicle. If you're not driving an automatic, click here to
learn the basics of driving stick-shift (manual transmission), although the
general process will still be the same.
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Part 1 of 4: Getting Comfortable with the Car's Controls
1 Adjust the seat so that your feet comfortably reach both pedals. You can
adjust your seat forward and back, as well as up and down. Some cars will have
electronic controls (usually on the left side of the seat), while older cars will usually have
a latch underneath the seat that let's you control the position of the seat.
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2 Familiarize yourself with the foot pedals. In an automatic car, the two foot
pedals control acceleration and braking, respectively. The rightmost pedal (which is
usually smaller than the other pedal) is the acceleration pedal, and pressing down on it
speeds the car up. The pedal to the left (which is usually larger than the acceleration
pedal) is the brake pedal, and pressing down on it slows the car down.
Even if you are left-foot dominant, use your right foot to reach both pedals. It will
feel weird at first if you're left-footed, but getting used to it is important because
it's proper technique and ultimately safer.
Never use both feet at once to reach the pedals. Only use one foot — your right
foot — to access each pedal. This will make it impossible to accidentally press
down on both pedals at the same time.
http://www.wikihow.com/Drive-a-Car Page 1 of 11
3 Adjust your car's mirrors so that you can see through them clearly and
effectively. Your car should have three mirrors: one rearview mirror, which allows
you to see directly behind the rear windshield in back of you, and two outside mirror
which let you see to either side of the car and protect you from blind spots.[1]
Your rearview mirror should be positioned so that when you're in your normal
driving position, you can see directly behind you and as much of the rear
windshield as possible.
The Society of Automotive Engineers has one recommendation for how to
position your outside mirrors in order to eliminate blind spots. It recommends
positioning the mirrors farther outward than normal, so that they just overlap
with the viewing angle of the rearview mirror.[2] Although disorienting at first, this
positioning actually clues the driver in to cars in her blind spots which she might
otherwise only be able to spot by looking over her shoulder.
4 Know where the parking brake, also called a hand or emergency brake, is
and what it does. The parking brake is a longer lever with a button on its very tip.
When the parking brake is pulled up, it helps locks the car in place, ensuring that it
doesn't move. When the brake is let down, it is disengaged and the car can freely move.
Make sure that your parking brake is disengaged before you start driving.
5 Get a feel for the shift lever. The shift lever is usually positioned in between the
two front seats of a car, and it controls some of the car's gears (park, neutral, drive,
reverse). Sometimes, the shift lever is on the right side of the steering wheel.
If your shift lever is engaged in Park and you turn your car on, your car won't
move forward no matter how much you press down on the acceleration.
If your shift lever is in Neutral, your car's natural momentum will continue to
carry it forward.
If your shift lever is in Reverse, your car will move backwards instead of moving
forwards when you take your foot off the brake.
If your shift lever is in Drive, your car will move forwards when you take your
foot off the brake.
6 Understand your basic dashboard controls. These gauges help show the driver
how much gas the car is carrying, how fast the car is going, how hot the engine is,
and how many RPM (revolutions per minute) the engine is clocking.
The speedometer is probably the most important dashboard control in the car. It
tells you how fast your car is traveling, in either miles per hour (MpH) or
kilometers per hour (KpH).
The RPM gauge tells you how hard your engine is working. Most RPM gauges
will have red areas starting at 6,000 or 7,000 RPM. When the dial in the gauge,
travels into the red, learn to ease off the acceleration.
The gas gauge tells you how much fuel your car has. It usually has a dial that
travels between "F" and "E," with "E" signaling "empty" and "F" signaling "full."
The temperature gauge in the car tells you whether your car's engine is
overheating. It usually has a dial that travels between "H" and "C," signaling
"hot" and "cold." Your dial should normally be in the center of the gauge.
Part 2 of 4: Getting the Basics Down
1 Always start your car with your foot on the brake. When you turn it on, a car
will move forward automatically if your foot isn't on the brake. With your foot on the
brake in starting position, you're ready to start driving!
2 Put on your seatbelt. In most places in the world, driving without a seatbelt is
illegal.[3] Seatbelts greatly reduce the possibility of serious injury or death if you
happen to get in an accident.
3 Turn on the engine and release the parking brake, if necessary. Put your keys
in the ignition, which is usually to the right side of the steering wheel, and turn
clockwise. Note that in some newer vehicles, provided the keys are actually inside the
car, all you need to do is push the "Power" or "Ignition" button for the engine to start.
Fancy!
4 Learn how to back your car out. If your car is parked in a lot or a driveway,
chances are you're going to need to back your car out in order to begin driving.
Although it may seem intimidating, there are only a couple of things for you to
remember:
Put your car in Reverse and double-check. If your car isn't in Reverse, your car
won't go backward.
Look over your shoulder and turn your head to get a good view of where you're
going.
Gently remove your foot from the brake pedal and do not put your foot on the
acceleration. For your first couple times backing out, don't worry about putting
your foot on the acceleration. You can move your car simply by removing your
foot from the brake. Your car will move slowly, but you won't risk accidentally
running into something or someone.
Remember that the steering wheel is "reversed" in Reverse. When driving your
car forward, if you turn the steering wheel to the right, your car will also turn to
the right, and vice versa. This is because your wheels turn that way. When
going in reverse, turning the steering wheel to the right will make your car turn
to the left, while turning the steering wheel to the left will make your car turn to
the right. Keep this in mind as you back your car out.
Use your brake whenever you need to slow down. Press your foot gently but
firmly on the brake pedal to slow the car down.
5 When you're ready to move your car forward, come to a complete stop and
shift the car into Drive. Put your foot on the brake pedal, shift your car into Drive
so that it can begin to move forward, and then take your foot off the brake pedal. Slowly
press down on the acceleration pedal with your foot to get the car to move forward.
Accelerate until you've reached the speed limit, and then take your foot off the
acceleration, hovering it over the brake pedal in case you need to start breaking.
6 Hold both hands on the steering wheel at the "9 and 3" position. Image that
the steering wheel is a clock. Place your left hand where the 9 would be on a clock,
and your right hand where the 3 would be on a clock.[4] Especially for beginners, do not
try to hold the steering wheel with only one hand.[5]
7 Use your blinkers. Your blinkers are flashing red lights on either side of the car's
rear, next to the brake lights. They are really important in driving. They let other
cars know that your switching lanes or turning. The blinker switch is located on the left
side of the steering wheel. Press it up to turn to activate your right blinkers (for turning or
switching lanes to the right) or press it down to activate your left blinkers (for turning or
switching lanes to the left).
8 Learn how to turn the car using the hand over hand method. Turning is quite
easy once you get the hang of it. Like most things in driving, it's very intuitive. If
you only need to turn the car slightly, turn the steering wheel in the direction you want to
turn but try keeping your hands at the 9 and 3 position.
If you're making a harder turn, use the "hand over hand" method.[6] Say you're
turning right. Turn the steering wheel clockwise, leading with the right hand.
When your right hand gets to the 4 or 5 position, release it and cross it over
your left hand. Re-grip the wheel and continue your turn.
To straighten out the car after a turn, simply loosen your grip in both hands and
the steering wheel will automatically begin correcting itself. Apply more pressure
to slow down the correction; apply less pressure to speed it up. Your hands
should stay stationary as the steering wheel moves back to its original spot.
9 Learn how to switch lanes. At some point in your driving, you'll need to switch
from one lane to another, sometimes quickly. Doing so is easy, but you have to
remember to indicate with your blinkers to let other drivers know that you're planning on
switching lanes. Here are some things to keep in mind while you switch lanes:
Indicate with your blinkers for at least two seconds before beginning to switch
lanes.[7] This lets other drivers know what you are planning to do.
Quickly scan your mirrors and look over your shoulder to check for any cars in
your blind spot(s). Don't just rely on your mirrors to tell you where other cars
are; use your eyes to quickly look for yourself before actually switching lanes.
Slowly move the car into the other lane. Turn your hands on the steering wheel
ever so slightly in order to change lanes. It's a very slight movement. It should
take anywhere from 1 to 3 seconds for you to change lanes. Any less and
you're doing it too quickly; any more and you're doing it too slowly.
10 Stay a healthy distance behind other cars (don't tailgate). How far you
should stay behind the next car in front of you depends on how fast you are
traveling. You want to give yourself and your car 2 to 5 seconds to react, depending on
your comfort level. If the car in front of you were to abruptly come to a halt, at your
current speed, would you have enough time to both react and calmly slow your car down
without rear-ending the car in front of you?
To judge this, watch as the care in front of you passes a fixed object on the
road, like a billboard. As soon as the car passes that object, begin counting:
one-one-thousand, two-one-thousand, three-one-thousand.... How many
seconds does it take for your car to pass the same object on the road?[8]
Part 3 of 4: Putting It All Together
1 Drive defensively. Driving defensively is a very important concept that too many
drivers either take for granted or don't understand. Driving defensively will help
save you money, ensure a pleasurable driving experience, and — most important —
help you stay alive. Driving defensively is an umbrella term for several different
concepts:
Don't assume that people will follow the rules, or pay attention, or be cautious.
Rules of the road are enforced to make sure that everyone is safe. Often those
rules are broken by selfish or clueless drivers. Don't assume that drivers will use
their blinkers before they turn, for example. Don't assume that drivers will slow
down for you to merge. Don't assume that drivers won't run red lights.
If you see a potentially dangerous situation, avoid it before it happens. Don't
linger immediately to the right of a big semi truck, for example. Don't try to pass
a drunk driver who's swerving in and out of lanes.
Use all your senses to be aware, at all times, of what's happening on the road.
Drivers often learn to tune out the rest of the world and "get in the zone," simply
because they've done the same thing hundreds, if not thousands, of times.
Don't get too complacent behind the wheel. Use sight to monitor other cars'
speeds and their habits. Use hearing to listen for car horns and the sounds of
screeching. Use smell to be aware of burnt rubber or other caustic aromas that
may indicate an accident.
2 Stay in the right lanes for slower speeds and the left lanes for faster speeds.
On highways, and to a lesser extent on streets, the leftmost lanes are usually
reserved for faster traffic, while the rightmost lanes are reserved for slower traffic. It's
rude (and dangerous) to tailgate someone going slower than you in the right lane. At the
same time, it's selfish to hog the left lanes when you're going considerably slower than
other traffic. Get in a lane that's going roughly your speed and stay there until you need
to turn or get off.
3 Whenever possible, pass cars on the left side instead of the right side.
Because the general speed of traffic increases going right to left, it's important to
pass on the left. Your speeding your car up and going faster than the car ahead of you,
so you want to pass using a lane that's meant for faster cars. Follow this general rule of
thumb even if it's not a "law" where you drive! Remember: drive right, pass left.[9]
Try to never pass a truck on the right. Trucks and semis are far larger than
normal cars, meaning that their blind spots are far bigger. Trucks often stay in
the rightmost lanes and switch lanes to the right, rarely switching lanes to the
left. Passing trucks on the left, therefore, means you're driving your car out of
their territory, lowering your risk.
4 Abide by the speed limits. Speed limits are there for a reason. They're not there
to make driving less fun; they're there to make the road a safer place for all. Make
sure that at most, you're only traveling 5 mph faster than the speed limit. At least in
America, cops will rarely write a ticket for speeding if you're only traveling 5 mph above
the speed limit.[10]
5 Be extremely careful in abnormal driving conditions. When the weather acts

up, tone it down a notch and drive even more defensively than normal. When it
rains, for example, the water interacts with the oil on driving surfaces, making it very
slick and slippery. In these conditions, it's hard for your tires to get good traction.[11] In
heavy rain, when small pools of water have accumulated on asphalt, you're especially at
risk of hydroplaning.
Winter time creates more difficult driving situations. Learn how to drive your car
during the winter time.
6 Be courteous on the road. Being courteous simply means acknowledging that

there are other people on the road, each with his or her own agenda, and many of
whom don't want to be stuck in their car. Make their life on the road a little easier if it's
easy for you; the thought is that they'll pay it forward at some point, and you may be the
beneficiary of their largesse.
Use your horn to alert other drivers, not to chide them. A horn is a powerful
device. Use your horn when someone merges into your lane without seeing
you, or when a light has turned green but they're still daydreaming. Don't use
your horn because you're stuck in a traffic jam.
Use a wave to thank someone. When someone let's you into their lane, wave
your hand to thank them. It doesn't take much effort, and it's a nice
acknowledgement of "thanks" for keeping you in mind.
Don't disobey the rules of the road just in order to be courteous. This is
important. If you stop at a four-way stop and you get there first, you're the one
who gets to go first. Don't stop and let the person who got there after you go. It
holds up efficiency and often creates confusion.
7 Have fun. Driving can be dangerous, and there sure are a lot of rules that you
need to remember, but it's important to have fun while you behind the wheel. Even
while staying responsible, driving can be incredibly exhilarating. Just remember that the
road doesn't belong to you alone and you should be fine.
Part 4 of 4: Mastering Advanced Driving Techniques
1 Learn how to parallel park. Paralleling parking is when you have to back your car
into a tight parking spot, usually a very difficult maneuver. There are a couple tried
and true tricks to parallel parking, which you can learn here. A very important part of
urban driving.
2 Learn how to merge in heavy traffic. Merging onto a highway can be a difficult
thing to do, especially if the traffic is denser than expected. The important thing to
do here is accelerate enough and judge whether you're going fast enough to fit safely
between two cars.
3 Use a roundabout. They may not be popular in America, but if you've ever driven
outside the U.S., you'll know that they can be quite tricky. Often used instead of
stop signs, roundabouts are efficient but need to be understood before conquered.
4 Learn how to drive uphill. Driving uphill can be challenge, particularly if you're
driving a stick. Master the art of downshifting when going up a thorny hill.
5 Save gas. With the rising cost of gas or petrol, driving smart means more than just
avoiding accidents. Those drivers who can save gas while they drive ultimately
have more money to spend on car accessories.
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Tips
If you are a new driver, always ride with an experienced driver until you
are confident.
Be careful with other cars.
Practice makes permanent, so practice good habits (e.g. turning your
head to check your blind spot) instead of bad ones (e.g. checking
mirrors without turning your head).
Always follow safe driving practices. Don't drive recklessly fast,
accelerate suddenly or brake unexpectedly. Also, don't weave in
between vehicles on the highway - it is very dangerous, and can cause
highly damaging collisions.
Service your car within the mileage or age ranges recommended by
your manufacturer or dealer.
When driving big cars, make sure you are clear of the road ahead
before overtaking
Wear your seat belt. This is the easiest way to be safe in a car.
Don't drive faster than what you're comfortable with.
If you are just starting to drive, or if you are unsure of driving by
yourself, it might be a good idea to get a parent or an older friend who
can help you drive.
If you are making an emergency stop in car equipped with ABS
(Antilock Braking System), press the brake as hard as you can. ABS
makes a car's break pump more rapidly than your foot can. This stops
the car while still offering you control over the direction. Do not 'pump'
the brake nor loosen the force. While ABS is active, you may feel
vibration through the brake pedal - this is normal. Just continue pressing
the brake until your car stops.
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Warnings
Make sure you're in the correct lane while driving.

Always enforce that people who ride in your car must wear seatbelts. If
they refuse, don't drive them. You're better off to create an awkward
situation than to be held liable for bodily injury they sustain if you're in
an accident.
Be aware of any limitations of provisional licenses, for example in the

UK you cannot drive on a motorway without a full license.
Always follow the rules of the road valid for your state or country. Make
sure you know all the rules before starting to drive, or else you or your
car might be badly damaged.
Always use your turn signal, and use low beam headlights when there is
an approaching vehicle or when there is a vehicle in front of your
vehicle.
Avoid the temptation to use your mobile phone, a few seconds
distraction can cause a serious accident, so the best way to do it is
turning off your cell phone until you get to your destination. Better yet,
park your car in a safe location when there is a need to answer a phone
call.
Avoid parking illegally, your car may be towed, or you may be cited and
have to pay a fine.
Never shift into low gears at high speeds (i.e. 1st gear at 50mph). This
will greatly damage or destroy your car's engine and transmission.
While changing lanes, be watchful. Check all mirrors, put on your
indicator and swiftly change.
Always fasten your seat belt.
This article can only guide you on your way to driving so don't depend
on it as your only source.
Street racing is dangerous, and illegal in most countries. If you wish to
race your car, then taking your car to a track day would be the best
thing to do. These are usually well supervised.
Make sure you practice uphill starts when learning to operate a manual
transmission. Because starting a manual transmission from a stop
requires letting off the brakes and engaging the clutch (essentially
placing the car in neutral), the car will roll backwards until first gear is
engaged. To stop this from happening, apply the hand/parking brake,
then release it as you release the clutch and the car begins to move
forward. Otherwise, you risk rolling into the car behind you. Practice this
technique on a sloped driveway or parking lot where it's safe to make
mistakes.
In some cities, shifting late (just before red-lining) not only makes you
sound like a maniac, it can also be considered "reckless driving", which
is illegal and can get you a nasty ticket/fine.
Keep on the slow lane (left or right for left- or right-handed driving
countries respectively), unless you overtake. After overtaking, return to
the slow lane.
This is by no means a replacement to going to driver's ed.
In Israel you're required to carry fluorescent vests in the car and wear
them when you are outside the car when making repairs or getting gas
etc. If you get stopped in Israel and your car does not carry a
fluorescent vest you will be fined.
Do not drink and drive. That's the worst thing you could possibly do.
You could kill yourself or someone else. It is also illegal to drive with
more than a certain amount of alcohol in your body e.g. in the UK you
must not drive with a breath alcohol level of more than 35 micrograms
per 100 ml or a blood alcohol level of more than 80 milligrams per 100
ml. This is roughly the equivalent to 2 cans of strong lager. If you are
going to drink this much alcohol, arrange another means of transport.
Unfortunately women are not allowed to drive in Saudi Arabia.
Sources and Citations
1. ↑ http://www.caranddriver.com/features/how-to-adjust-your-mirrors-to-
avoid-blind-spots
2. ↑ http://www.caranddriver.com/features/how-to-adjust-your-mirrors-to-
avoid-blind-spots
3. ↑ http://www.ghsa.org/html/stateinfo/laws/seatbelt_laws.html
4. ↑ http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/10-and-2-Driving-
-145765405.html
5. ↑ http://drivingtests101.com/articles_19_Here%E2%80%99s-the-proper-
way-to-hold-a-steering-wheel
6. ↑ http://www.driversedguru.com/drivers-ed-training-exercises/stage-
1/stage-1-steering-methods/
7. ↑
https://www.keys2drive.com.au/learning/driving_skills__tips/forming_go
od_driving_habits/a_list_of_good_driving_habits.aspx
8. ↑ http://www.driveandstayalive.com/info%20section/following-
distances.htm
9. ↑ http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A29654-
2004Oct13.html
10. ↑ http://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/free-books/beat-ticket-
book/chapter5-1.html
11. ↑ http://www.safemotorist.com/articles/Hydroplaning_Basics.aspx
Article Info
Categories: Driving Basics
Recent edits by: RG Dhruv Parikh, MellyW78, Anna
In other languages:
Deutsch: Wie man Auto fährt, Español: Cómo conducir un auto, Italiano: Come
Guidare un'Automobile
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How to Drive a Car: 28 Steps (with Pictures) - wikiHow 27-9-14 6:32 प"

How to Drive a Car

Part 1 of 4: Getting Comfortable with the Car's Controls

Part 2 of 4: Getting the Basics Down

Part 3 of 4: Putting It All Together

5 Be extremely careful in abnormal driving conditions. When the weather acts

6 Be courteous on the road. Being courteous simply means acknowledging that

Part 4 of 4: Mastering Advanced Driving Techniques

iactglobal.in/SixSigma_Training edge.canon.co.in/EOS1200DBuy Any Tata Car & Get

Are you an expert on Finance?

Tell us everything you know here. Remember, more detail is better.

Show 2 more tips

Make sure you're in the correct lane while driving.

Be aware of any limitations of provisional licenses, for example in the

Sources and Citations

Categories: Driving Basics

Recent edits by: RG Dhruv Parikh, MellyW78, Anna

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