Staying Centered in Your Lane When Driving – Simple Tips

Staying centered in your lane – https://www.driving-school-beckenham.co.uk/essential-driving-course.html
Are you struggling to stay centered in lane during driving lessons? Learn essential techniques to help you drive in the correct position and not drive too close to parked cars. This video also includes how to keep in lane round roundabouts. You’ll also see how to drive around bends without cutting them and stay on your side of the road.

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If you’re learning to drive, then it’s highly recommended that you take driving lessons from a fully qualified driving instructor. This video is NOT an alternative to professional driving lessons and is only a rough guide. This video was filmed in the UK. Laws and rules in your country may vary. You are responsible for driving safely and legally. While World Driving aims to provide accurate and up-to-date information, we cannot guarantee at any time that all the information is up-to-date and accurate. The makers of this video cannot accept liability for misleading or inaccurate information or omissions in information given to us by external information providers. This includes, but is not by way of limitation:
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Hello, I’m Chris. If you’re learning to 
drive and struggle with road positioning, especially on bends or on tight roads with 
oncoming traffic, then this video is for you. One common mistake many new drivers make is 
staring at either the kerb, parked vehicles, the centre line, or oncoming traffic. Doing 
so can lead to unintentional steering, either towards what they’re looking at or steering 
away to avoid it. This makes it hard to drive in a correct position. So, what’s the solution? 
Well, there are a few tips I’m going to give you. First tip don’t stare, for example, don’t 
stare at what you want to avoid. Instead, look ahead at the centre of your 
side of the road or lane. Look at where you want your car to go rather 
than staring at what you want to avoid. Of course, you’ll still need to be aware of 
potential hazards, so remember to glance around, but always return your focus 
to where you want to go. When the road gets tight, try not to stare at 
oncoming vehicles; otherwise, your instincts might lead you to steer away from them. As a result, you 
might get close to parked vehicles or the kerb. It’s all about looking where you want to go 
and not worrying about the width of your car, which from the inside looks massive. Try not to look at the oncoming 
vehicles or the parked vehicles; instead, focus on the gap where you want to go. You will still see the oncoming and the parked 
vehicles just out of your peripheral vision. You can see how the oncoming drivers 
aren’t directly looking at the parked vehicles or my car to see if they can 
fit, but they’re looking straight ahead. There are exceptions, though. When the gap 
is really, really tight, then you’ll have to have quick glances at your mirrors and theirs to 
make sure that you’re not going to hit anything. But quick glances. If you don’t feel comfortable 
with a gap, then always stop and don’t risk it. If you find yourself cutting corners 
and driving over the centre line, then again, it could be to do with where you’re 
looking. If you stare too far around the bend, then you might steer towards where 
you’re looking and cut the corner. Try to look ahead at the centre of your side 
of the road or lane and have quick glances around the bend to see what’s coming up next, 
but just don’t stare, especially don’t stare at oncoming as you might unnecessarily 
steer away from them and hit the kerb. Knowing when to start steering around the bend 
is also important to have a good position. Some new drivers start to steer when they 
see the bend coming up in front of them, but they haven’t actually got to the 
bend yet, so it’s too early to steer. Instead, wait until you arrive at the 
start of the bend and then begin to steer. Also, try not to stare at the vehicle in front or you might line up with them which is okay if 
they’re in a good position, but if they’re not or maybe they’re turning right and you’re turning 
left, then you might have a bad road position. Instead, keep an eye on them, but also look ahead 
at the centre of your side of the road or lane. Another tip that might help is when driving, have 
a quick glance in the side mirrors to check your position. The left mirror will obviously show 
you how far you are from the kerb, but as usual, do not stare. Otherwise, you might start steering 
without realising or hit something ahead. Here’s a tip that might help you position 
correctly when turning right at the end of the road. If it’s a two-way road, then you 
should position just left of the centre line. For me, the centre line disappears into the 
car around here. This reference point might be slightly different for you, as it depends 
on your height, seat position, and car, but it will be something similar. When the 
line is here, I know I’ve positioned correctly. Another tip that might help is when 
you’re driving, and your instructor says you’ve got a good road position, 
have a quick glance at where the kerb disappears into the car. You could use this 
as your good road position reference point, but as usual, don’t stare at it, just a quick, 
occasional glance when you’re not driving fast. When driving at speed, you 
should be looking further ahead. When you’re nervous, it’s easy to grip the 
steering wheel tightly, but try not to. It’s easier said than done, but 
try to stay relaxed and just have a light grip as it will help with your 
steering. Try and keep your hands on the steering wheel opposite one another 
so it’s balanced. If one hand is higher, then you might steer more towards that side as 
one hand is pulling down more than the other. Hold the steering wheel at either a ten to two or 
a quarter to three position for the best control. Another tip that might help with your road 
positioning is that if you’re driving in the UK in a right-hand drive car, then your left 
knee will roughly look like it’s in the centre of your side of the road or lane. Although your 
left knee is close to the centre of the car, it isn’t quite in the centre, but from your 
driving position, it will look as though it’s in the centre of your lane, and it works for a lot 
of new drivers who struggle with road positioning. If you drive on the right-hand side of the road 
in another country in a left-hand drive car, then you can line up the centre of the lane 
with your right leg. When it comes to these square speed humps or speed cushions, then dry 
lining your left knee up with the centre of them, and your car won’t bump as much over the 
hump as the wheels go either side of it. You’ll still feel it, just not as much. Lined up. Not lined up. Of course, don’t drive around speed humps if it would put you in a dangerous driving 
position. Just slowly bump over them. Looking far ahead can also help you 
sense if you’re drifting out of position. Staring at the mirrors or speedo are also reasons 
to drift out of a good road position. Quick glances are so important. If it’s a tight road 
only wide enough for one car and there aren’t any oncoming vehicles, then drive in the centre of 
the road. There’s no point driving close to parked vehicles and risk hitting mirrors. Although make 
sure you move into spaces when it’s necessary. Normally, you drive about a metre away from the 
kerb, but if the oncoming drivers have parked vehicles or other obstructions in their path and 
you have available space, move more to the left and be prepared for them to 
move onto your side of the road. The edge of the kerb now disappears into the car 
here. When parked, the kerb for me goes into the car here. So, when driving, I mustn’t let the 
kerb go to the right of this, or I’ll hit it. These reference points might look slightly 
different for you, and be careful not to stare at them. Just quick glances. Don’t forget 
on faster roads, you need to look further ahead. I’m turning left at the end of the road, and 
some new drivers, because they’re turning left, steer left too early and get 
too close to parked vehicles. Instead, stay in the centre as oncoming can’t fit anyway and steer left only once 
you’ve got past the parked vehicles. Something else that may help with your positioning 
but isn’t perfect are these tracks and this area in the middle. You can even see them on Google 
Maps. These tracks are made by other drivers. Although you can’t always see them. If you 
get this area in the middle of your car, then you’re driving in a position where 
a majority of other drivers have driven. The tracks are obvious to see off-road. Be careful 
not to blindly follow these tracks all the time, though, as there might be parked vehicles 
and obstructions in the way. Plus, there’s no guarantee that you’ll always be in 
the safest route position, especially on bends. On Google Maps, you can see on this bend that the 
lighter line goes towards these white markings, indicating that a lot of drivers have driven over 
the markings and cut the corner slightly. So, don’t always follow this track, but on 
long stretches of road, it might help. Roundabouts: you’ve got to give way to the right, but if you stare to the right as you approach, 
then you’ll probably end up in the wrong lane. Or as soon as you move onto the roundabout, you’re 
straight away going to be in the wrong lane. Instead, it’s all about quick glances. Look right, but also look where you’re 
going to be going and your route. When you drive around a roundabout, don’t stare 
too far around the roundabout or you might drive into it. Instead, look ahead at the middle of 
your lane and have quick glances further ahead. Incorrect tyre pressure can also affect how your 
car steers and handles. You can find information on the correct tyre pressure in your car manual or 
there’s sometimes a sticker near one of the doors. You’d have to visit a mechanic to help you with more serious problems with 
your car and how it handles. If you’re unsure how to fill up the car with fuel, then watch this video next. Thanks a lot 
for watching, and I really hope it helps. Please like and subscribe. In the meantime, 
take care on the road, and bye for now!