Does driving in the city put the fear of God in you? You’re probably not alone. Driving in the city can be tricky, especially during rush hour. Depending on where you live, you may be more used to rural country roads, or quiet motorways, but city driving is a whole different ballpark. Granted, some larger cities are worse to navigate than others. In a recent Vertu Motors article, London, Brighton, and Glasgow were voted as some of the worst cities to drive in. If you’re not confident with city driving, follow our top tips for busy city driving.
1. Plan your trip.
It may seem obvious, but it’s good advice before you head out on any trip. Planning your journey before you head off can help you to make your city driving stress-free and ensure you make it to your destination on time. Driving at busy times and being in stop-start traffic can use more fuel and affect the lifespan of your car. Before setting off, plan your route using a Sat Nav or smartphone and check things like weather conditions, traffic conditions, and any incidents along your route.
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2. Check parking availability and location.
No matter if you’re driving into town for an appointment or a leisurely day of shopping, knowing where the best place to park can be handy. You can use online tools like JustPark or Parkopedia to check out the parking spots in the city. You’ll get a rough idea of how much it’ll cost to park there, how many spaces are available, and some spaces even let you book them ahead of time. Save time and money by sorting your parking ahead of time and ensure it’s a stress-free journey.
3. Check congestion charges.
Congestion charges, Clean Air Zones and Ultra-Low Emission Zones are very popular in many cities across the UK. These zones charge drivers for driving through them if their vehicle does not meet the pollution eligibility or simply just for driving through an area during peak times. Each city has their own requirements and criteria, so it’s best to check before you travel. You can find out about the congestion charges or ULEZ of a city by visiting their local council’s website.
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4. Avoid rush hour.
It may seem like one of the most obvious city driving tips but driving at peak times will make your journey longer and more stressful. If you can, it can be best to avoid busy cities during the hours of 7 am-9 am and 4 pm and 6 pm, these are typically when people are driving to and from work and create the most amount of traffic on the road. If you’re also driving into the city for work and these hours are unavoidable, remember to stay calm, make logical decisions and plan your route before you head off.
5. Use a Sat Nav.
Many drivers now rely on a Sat Nav or smartphone maps to help them get around. The best Sat Navs or maps are the ones which can provide real-time traffic data. These apps can tell you how long it’ll take to reach your destination, leave reports for other users, give live updates and show everything from congestion to road works. Knowing what’s on your route and how long it’ll take to reach your destination can help you to tackle the road with ease.
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6. Allow yourself extra time.
Being late can affect the way you drive, it increases your heart rate and your speed, and it clouds your judgement. Make sure you’re not making your journey stressful, and leave plenty of time to reach your destination. City driving can pose a range of obstacles in your way, from heavy traffic to roadworks to public transport, there are lots of distractions on the road.
7. Slow down.
Not only can speeding increase the risk of an accident, especially in a built-up area, but it also uses more fuel, shortens your reaction time, and gives you less time to make sensible decisions. You may feel pressure from other drivers in a city area, but don’t let them bully you. Take your time and stay within the recommended speed limits. Slowing down also allows you more time to make better decisions, stop at traffic lights in good time, and be more aware of pedestrians and other road users.
8. Stay calm.
And last but not least, one of our best city driving tips is to stay calm. It may seem obvious but driving when you’re stressed, tired, or annoyed can impair your decision-making, concentration and reaction time. It also diverts your attention away from the road ahead of you. Before you even set foot behind the wheel, ensure you’re prepared for the journey ahead and reduce any driving anxiety. A calm and happy driver is a focused driver which will be much better for both you and all other road users.
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