6 Surprising Ways You Can Become A Better Driver

If your on your way to getting a driver's permit and then a license, you probably already know that taking a course in driver's education will make you a better driver. Some states even require you to take driving lessons before you take a test to get behind the wheel. But did you know that there are some surprising ways you can improve your performance as a driver? Here are six unconventional ways to become a better driver. 

Learn to Drive a Stick Shift

Driving a car with a manual transmission is more difficult than driving an automatic. This means that you have to pay more attention when you drive, and you have to learn how to listen to your car. People who have this skill easily adjust to driving a car with an automatic transmission. 

Eat Dark Chocolate

Did you know that what you eat can be a factor in how well you drive? Eating Well reports on research that says the antioxidants in dark chocolate can improve your night vision. When you see better at night, you drive better at night. 

Play Video Games

Playing video games isn't necessarily the waste of time you might have believed it to be. According to New York Magazine, people who spend a lot of time playing action oriented video games have improved depth perception, reaction time, and the ability to visually scan your environment. These are all skills that can make you a better driver. 

Breathe in Calming Scents

Driving can be a very stressful activity. You can resist the urge to lose your mind in heavy traffic and can avoid becoming involved in an incident of road rage by filling your car with calming and relaxing scents. 

Buy essential oils in lavender, sandalwood, or chamomile, all scents that have been shown to promote relaxation. Put a few drops of the essential oil on a cotton ball, and keep it in your car. The scent will bring a calming atmosphere to the car, and you can pick it up and take a sniff when you find yourself starting to stress. 

Listen to the Radio

Are you surprised to hear that listening to music in the car can actually make you a better driver? An article in Women's Health Magazine reports that driving skills actually improve when music is playing in the car. 

The study referred to in the magazine was one that was actually intended to show that drivers are distracted by music. Researchers were surprised to find out that the opposite was actually true. Drivers in both highly stressful and low risk situations performed better while listening to music. The researchers concluded that music helps people focus. This is useful when drivers need to play close attention and make quick decisions. It also keeps drivers alert when they can possibly become bored from driving long stretches on the road. 

Fail Your Driver's Test

Maybe you shouldn't actually fail your driver's test, but you can learn from others who have. People who pass their driver's tests the first time are actually more likely to be in an accident than those who have to repeat the test once or twice. 

The reason this is true is that those who repeat the test spend more time studying the material. They are less likely to forget the rules of the road and more likely to take their driving seriously than those who passed the test easily. 

These 6 ways to become a better driver are unconventional, but they are also based in fact. Of course the best way to be a good driver is to study and practice. If you're planning on getting your driver's license or permit soon, you'll want to do all you can to be sure that you are safe and skilled as possible. To learn more, check out a site like http://www.a1peckdrivingschool.com.

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