There are some things your instructor just doesn’t teach you – whether it’s how to be a courteous driver or how to avoid inadvertently breaking the law.
To help you out, here’s our round up of 17 things every motorist might not know, but should, especially if you’re learning to drive or are a new driver.
Some motorists — such as users of this roundabout in Wales — have been left annoyed and confused by the sight of drivers passing them on the right-hand lane only to then zip-merge at the last minute.
But according to the law, those so-called “queue-jumpers” are in the right, with zip-merging used more commonly than you might think to help ease congestion at traffic pinch points.
In the event of two lanes merging, motorists are supposed to use both lanes up until the point of lane closure, at which point they are supposed to take it in turns to merge into one lane, just like a zipper.
Drivers merging ahead of time are actually causing further tailbacks by choosing to merge as soon as possible.
If you’re running late and have to de-ice your windscreen before setting off, you might be tempted to save time by only clearing just enough glass to see out of, a practice called “portholing”.
But don’t, because you could get fined £60 if your vehicle’s deemed to be in a “dangerous condition,” and may even face three penalty points.
Simply removing the ice from the driver’s side of the windscreen is not enough – you must de-ice the entire area, using the wipers when the ice has melted.
The driver must by law have a full view of the road and traffic ahead of the motor vehicle, so it is well worth taking the extra time to fully clear your windscreen and your mirrors too.
It might not be the healthiest option but hitting the local drive-thru is a great way of grabbing a quick bite to eat behind the wheel — just make sure you don’t take away a hefty fine while doing so.
If you pay with your smartphone at the till you’ll technically be in breach of the laws surrounding using your hand-held devices while driving, which means you could be served up an automatic £200 fine and six penalty points.
If your engine is running, your phone should be nowhere near your hands. This is still the case if the engine stops automatically to save fuel (called ‘start-stop’ technology).
READ MORE: Mobile phone driving laws — your questions answered
