If you’re heading off on a summer holiday and are thinking about hiring a vehicle, you’re going to need a few things. Probably sun lotion, definitely car rental excess insurance and, without a doubt, basic driving skills.
Now, it may seem patronising to write about how to properly hold a steering wheel, but you might be surprised to find out that your old habits could be more dangerous than you think. Plus, if you’re about to hire vehicle, you’re going to want to know how to drive it in the safest way possible – nobody wants to end up paying excess for repairs on top of their rental.
Top Tip: Purchasing car rental excess insurance is another way you can avoid paying hefty repair costs if you have a road accident. Get in touch with a specialist to find out more.
The Wheel as a Clock
Think of your steering wheel as a clock face. There has been much debate over where is safest place to put your hands while driving. While many instructors have been teaching the ten o’clock and two o’clock position rule, the nine o’clock and three o’clock position has proved much safer for a number of reasons.
Firstly, the further apart your hands are when on the wheel, the more control you will have over the vehicle – that’s a given. With the nine o’clock and three o’clock rule, your steering can be a lot more precise, reducing the risk of damage to the car. With this option, you will also lower the risk of airbag-related injuries.
Common Habits to Avoid
Saving money during your hire period is easy with car rental excess insurance, but you can avoid having to worry about damaging the vehicle altogether if you’re in the know about habits you should be avoiding.
•Holding the gear stick: This is extremely common among drivers of manual cars, so one way to avoid it completely is to hire an automatic. If you really must stick to manual, remember to always return both hands to the wheel after changing gear. Driving with one hand gives you significantly less control, and you could easily veer off into God knows where.
•Holding the inner wheel: A lot of drivers – particularly when driving at lower speeds – tend to hold the wheel in its central hub. This lazy approach is, of course, extremely dangerous and gives you very little control over the vehicle. Whether you’re heading down a country lane or a motorway, this habit should be avoided at all costs.
It’s surprising how many drivers have adopted dangerous habits on the roads… don’t be one of them! To drive safely and avoid having to pay fines for vehicle damage, just follow these tips and purchase your car rental excess insurance before you travel – it’s that simple!
Sam Walker is a specialist insurance expert at LowerHire, a company that offers low-cost single trip and annual multi-trip car rental excess insurance policies both abroad and in the UK. Travellers can rest easy knowing they will be fully protected against any hidden hire car costs and look forward to a stress-free rental experience.
This article is copyright free.