or many it has become a daily occurrence to encounter a slowmoving car driving on a clear path and that too precisely in the middle of the road to not let anyone cross it. These are the drivers who are under the impression that driving well under the average speed limit is the key to driving safely.

They are quite wrong; slow moving vehicles can be as much of a hazard on busy roads as speeding cars.

There is more to driving than just managing the gears and pedals. Road sense is what many new and cautious drivers lack and this only comes with experience and overcoming one`s fears. Here are a few tips that will help new drivers feel more confident: Adjust the side and rear-view mirrors: The first things you must do after taking the driving seat is adjust your side and rear-view mirrors. Do not try to fix the mirrors while driving as you may get distracted and lose focus on the road ahead.

Do not forget to release the handbrake: One of the most common mistakes new drivers make is forgetting to relase the handbrake. Not only does it damage the car`s engine but you will face trouble dealing with a heavy and rigid drive.

Balance your act of watching sides and the road ahead: Watching the side mirrors is an absolute must to ensure that your side is clear before changing lanes or taking a turn. Balance your lookout between the side mirror and the road ahead because you neither want to hit a biker from the side nor bump into the car ahead of you.

Do not drive in the middle of the road: Every road has at least two lanes unless it is a narrow oneway. If you are a slow driver, stick to the left lane. Do not drive in the middle of the road as it will only cause trouble to the cars behind you. If you have frustrated drivers behind you, be ready for a plethora of angry glares and beamers, which will only make you panic and lose focus.E Give way to ambulances, police cars and VIP convoys: If` you hear an ambulance, police vehicle or any other VIP vehicles approaching, pick a side and give them way to go forward. The police and especially VIP movements will not show any restraint and slash forward even if you do not give them way.

Do not take sudden turns at crossings and U-turns: Make sure you check the adjacent lane for opposite traffic flow before you turn. Do not take sudden turns. Many turning points arc often lined with trees, especially in residential areas, preventing you from seeing if a car is approaching from the other side.

Be sure to be slow at such crossings, stop if needed and then turn.

Drive at reasonable speed: Do not think that ultra-slow driving is cautious driving. You must realise that it is a public road and there are people behind you who need to get to places in time and you must not become a means of inconvenience for them. Drive at a reasonable speed depending on the traffic and how clear the road ahead of`you is.

Be sure you know the directions: If you come on the road with a vague idea of where you have to go, you might get highly distracted during the drive and end up in a bad position. So be clear about your directions before you take the driving seat.

E Stay alert at signals: If you are in the front at the red signal, gear up when the signal turns yellow and make a quick move forward when it turns green. Do not let the green signal pass halfway before you make the move. Signal stays green for only about a minute, so do not let people behind you suffer while you cross at the last moment.

Practice parking: Parking is often the weakest point of a newbie`s driving skills. Practice all sorts of parallel, reverse and side parking at different parking alleys.

Finally ... don`t be afraid: Do not be afraid of` grazing or scratching the car a little in the process of learning; you won`t learn unless you make mistakes. E