Are you a new driver looking for ways to maintain the speed of a car? You must learn to maintain speed limits when behind the wheel to avoid messing with the law.
Road authorities will be on your neck if you mess up with speed limits since it’s dangerous for you and other vehicles on the road.
Keep reading as we check some tips you can implement to keep your car at the right speed.
How to Maintain Speed in a Car
1. Glancing at the Speedometer
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Sometimes you may focus on checking your mirrors and keeping your eyes on the road until you forget to check your speedometer. When looking at the mirrors every 15 seconds, ensure you check the speedometer after every 5 minutes.
Checking the speedometer allows you to make the necessary adjustment to avoid landing a traffic ticket for exceeding the speed limit.
Build the habit of checking your speedometer regularly, and soon you will automatically adapt.
Remember to ask your car service to check the speedometer since it may overread depending on the accuracy and the level of wear out of your tires.
2. Cruise Control
Cruise control is vital in maintaining the correct speed; the best part is that most cars already have control. The ideal speed for cruise control is between 50 and 70 miles per hour, and it helps you keep within the legal speed limit.
In most cars, the control buttons are on the steering wheel, and if it’s not there, use the owner’s manual to locate them when you are not driving.
After setting your car to cruise control, you can remove your leg from the accelerator, and the car will maintain its speed.
On cruise control, ensure you are attentive on the road since it decreases the reaction time. Most cars deactivate the cruise control using brakes, plus you can use the button.
3. Remove Distractions
Other than overspeeding, distractions are a significant cause of accidents, according to the US department of transportation. Distracted drivers have a higher chance of getting off the speed limit and causing collisions.
Ensure that your phone isn’t on your hand, and for beginners, you should put it on flight or silent mode when driving. Keep off from reading the incoming messages, and if it’s urgent, please pack your car for safety.
Loud music is another common distraction that can lead you to over speeding or drive at a light speed. You may drive at the song’s pace, which can be dangerous.
4. Give Yourself Time
When you are late for your appointment or job, there are high chances of overspeeding as you try to catch up with time. Leave home a few minutes earlier if you get caught up in traffic, and you will easily keep the speed limit.
Always estimate your journey using the average time you can take on the road rather than the maximum speed. Remember, if you are driving on a highway, there are various points where you must slow down, like traffic lights and junctions.
If you have plenty of time to be on the road, you feel more relaxed and won’t be tempted to speed. Additionally, the higher the speed, the more fuel you will use when braking.
5. Don’t Keep up with Other Drivers
When driving, it’s best to go at the right pace and not be tempted to keep up with other drivers’ pace since they may be overspeeding.
Speeding doesn’t show experience on the road; you should move at your pace if it’s not too slow to inconvenience other drivers. Be patient with yourself, especially if you are a new driver.
6. Feel the Acceleration
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When driving, you can feel the acceleration. Adjust your seat and let it lean back, and you will feel it move fast when speeding and remain stable when you maintain the right speed.
Plant your foot deeply on the ground, and it will guarantee the application of constant pressure, which will help you keep the right speed.
It may sound crazy, but the light posts can help check your acceleration since they have a consistent spacing, and if you can see them “running” past them very fast, it’s time to slow down.
7. Listen to the Engine
The engine pitch will tell which speed you are at, especially with manual cars. When driving fast, there will be many revolutions per minute, and the engine will be noisy, but with regular revolutions, it will remain calm.
This technique might not work for new and quiet cars. Plus, with the CVT gearbox, the engine will maintain silence, and the revolutions won’t indicate the speed.
8. Posted Signs
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The speed limits sign in your neighborhood will tell you which speed to keep when driving. Since you can’t master them all, it’s good to glance at them.
The best part is the signs are located at points where the speed limit changes. When driving, you must be sober to check the signs, mirrors, speedometer, and the road.
9. Adjust to Weather Conditions
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The speed limits are set in ideal conditions, including clear traffic, good weather, and minimal traffic. However, it’s only sometimes that the road obeys the conditions, and you must adjust if you are a new driver.
Hit the road and learn how to drive and keep the right speed in the rain since sometimes you don’t have control over the conditions.
It’s also advisable to familiarize yourself with other roads away from your neighborhood to maintain the speed.
10. Use GPS Monitoring
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Speed monitoring systems help your car maintain speed by coordinating the details to a website that signals how far you can travel and alerts you when you break the speed limits or unplug the device.
The GPS calculations are primarily within 1km/h, and your car will notify you when you exceed the limits.
Final Thoughts
Your speed is essential; the earlier you examine the cause of your speeding, the better. Once you adapt to checking your speedometer and the environment around you, it will be easier to maintain your speed.
Be sure to adjust your speed before you earn a traffic ticket. Your cruise system will help control your speed. Be calm and leave your house some minutes earlier to avoid the temptation of speeding.