Posts Tagged ‘tips’

Driving a vehicle is not secondary | Keep your eyes (and brain) on the road!

To me, driving is not a right. Its a privilege. Unfortunately in the U.S.A. there’s a glitch in the system. A glitch that is giving thousands of unqualified drivers the privilege to drive everyday. What is it about getting behind the wheel of an automobile that makes people so stupid? Is driving that repetitive and tedious, that we put ourselves on what I call, “driving on auto pilot”? How are people passing their drivers-ed classes yet still driving like total morons? It makes me crazy and I can’t stand it anymore! But no matter how crazy people drive, while I’m behind the wheel, I won’t make driving secondary.

Today is a big day in your life. Today you will begin to learn to drive decisively always. Make driving the main priority right now and every time you get behind the wheel of an automobile. Stop thinking about your next phone call or email or text. Quit fiddling with your iPhone every five minutes, put your personal problems on hold and focus on what is in front of you while behind the wheel. “What is in front of me”? three or four of you morons might ask? I can think of three off the top of my head. 1. Thousands of other drivers who control their very own 2,000-5000 pound hunk of steel on wheels are in front of you. 2. Pedestrians (aka precious human lives) are in front of you. 3. Valuable street signals, signs and specially marked roads to get you from point A to point B without jeopardizing the lives of everyone else are in front of you.

Here’s a list to follow when driving a car.

• Adjust both side mirrors and rear view mirror.

• Adjust seat to straight up position and make sure you can see over the wheel.

• Drive with your hands on the 10 o’clock and 2 o’clock part of steering wheel.

• Use turn signals (hand signals are always good to).

• Communicate with other drivers and pedestrians.

• Scan 10-15 seconds ahead at all times.

• Maintain visibility down the road (ie: get out from behind those big trucks!).

• Know the dimensions of your own vehicle.

• Learn to parallel park.

• Don’t talk or text on your phone.

• Set mp3 player or radio before you take off.

• Learn to drive stick.

• Don’t drive slow in the fast lane.

• Respect cyclists and pedestrians.

• Keep your car in excellent shape.

• Know what “Yellow Zones”, “Green Zones”, “Red Zones”, “Blue Zones” mean

This is my my second article about driving. My first article is “How to find a parking spot | It never takes me more than 10 minutes”

How to find a parking spot – it never takes me more than 10 minutes. Learn how (Im searching for my niche)

There are few things I can comment on with full authority and anything to do with driving an automobile is one of them. To my friends I am the Parking God. that’s what I call myself and there’s not a thing anyone can do to disprove me. Adopt my parking way of life and you will find total bliss while securing a parking spot just about anywhere in ten minutes or less.

Below is a list of everthing that goes on in my head when I’m looking for a parking spot. Make them yours and you will be a parking success.

1. The Ten Minute Time Limit – Remain calm until you have given yourself a full ten minutes to look for parking. I always find parking in 10 minutes and most of the time under five minutes.

2. Keep Your Eyes Peeled – Always look a full block further down the street. I find most of my parking spots further down the street by spotting headlights, brake lights and back up lights. I’m always surprised at how many people miss a parking spot because they don’t look ahead. Also look for keys in the hands of people walking down the street. These people are most likely approaching their vehicle and are about to leave.

3. Keep Your Ears Open – Roll down your windows and listen for the sounds of keys jingling and cars starting. sometimes the car right next to me will start up as I pass it. With my ears open I can stop, put it in reverse and pull in to my new parking spot.

>>For more parking tips, Check out the book Finding the Sweet Spot – The Insider’s Guide to Parking in San Francisco on Amazon.com

4. Two Block Search Radius – Drive slowly down every street systematically before repeating a street. Repeat until you find a parking spot.

More food for thought. Look in your rear view mirror often – find lots of parking spots from looking in my rear view mirror.

Yellow Zones – Yellow Zones are for Commercial vehicles only. But only during business hours. After 6:00PM, the yellow zone opens up to the general public. While most people pass on yellow zones due to not knowing the rules, I swoop in and grab them for parking spots.

White Zones – White Zones are for drop off or pick up. But for example a club or bar might have a white zone in front of its doors but when that bar and club are closed, you are free to park there. Just read the sign on or near the white zone to be safe. It will probably say, “No parking from 3-11pm” or something like that. Again, most people pass it up without reading, leaving that spot open for me.

Weekends and Holidays – Lastly its always free parking on Sundays, even the Yellow Zones. And holidays like New Years Day and Christmas and the 4th of July are always free to park.

I hope this article makes it easier for you to find parking in your town. I will be adding a few more tips, and keep an eye out for my video DIY about better parking tips.

If you want to learn more about how to make it easier to find parking, check out this book available on Amazon.com – Finding the Sweet Spot – The Insider’s Guide to Parking in San Francisco