Driving Tips and Hacks

Driving and maintaining a car can become a tedious task at times. Here are some interesting tips and hacks that can make driving fun and help in maintaining the car.

Use a phone holder: Using the phone, especially speaking on the phone while driving is not only dangerous but also against traffic regulations. Using a phone holder can reduce the hazards considerably in case there is an emergency call to attend. It lets the driver focus on the road while talking on the phone. You can even customize a makeshift phone holder using a rubber band.

Cool down your torrid car quickly: Cars parked under the scorching sunlight can get unbelievably hot and it is nearly impossible to get into it and drive off. The best way to cool it down is to either open all the doors or just roll down all the windows and switch on the air conditioner for a few minutes.

Know where you parked your car: While visiting unfamiliar locations, it often happens that we park the car somewhere and are unable to locate it later. While there's no magical way to trace a lost parking spot, you can make it easier by inculcating a simple habit - drop a pin on google maps when you park the car. You can easily track the location later using this pin and it'll save you a lot of time.

Set your car mirrors correctly: All drivers know the importance of the rear-view mirror and the outer rear-view mirrors while driving and parking the car. There is a huge risk of hitting something if the mirrors are not set right. The perfect way to set the outer mirrors is such that the flank of the car (or any part of the car) is not visible in it.

Fix a scratch: A scratch on your car can be quite disheartening. However, did you know that it can easily be fixed very with clear or transparent nail polish?

Retrieve your car stuck in the mud: In case your car ever gets stuck in the mud, use the car's floor mats that are present inside the car. Put these mats under the wheels for traction and push the car out of the muck.

Keep an emergency kit in the car: It is always advisable to keep an emergency kit in the car. It may come in handy during emergencies. Apart from a toolkit and a first aid box, a flashlight, a car fire extinguisher, some spare car fuses, four road-side glow sticks can be very useful in times of need.

Cool your car without an Air Conditioner: A clever way to cool down a scorching car without an air conditioner is to drive off keeping the front windows open and the rear windows shut. This is sure to cool down the car provided that you manage to get inside a heated up vehicle initially.

Get a cheap car freshener: Good car fresheners are quite expensive. Do away with them. Use some dryer sheets instead. They act as good car fresheners. Spread them inside the car.

Stay safe with a rental car: If you rent a car, it is advisable to take pictures of the car from all sides before you start driving or using it.  It makes sure that you aren't blamed for any physical damage that was already there on the vehicle.

Don't change lanes while you are stuck in traffic: The traffic scenario is quite pathetic in most Indian cities and many drivers are too impatient to wait. They tend to change lanes when they're stuck in traffic. This isn't a great idea. It certainly won't get you out of traffic faster. Moreover, it increases the chances of an accident.

Defogging windows during winter: Foggy windows are a recurrent problem during the winters. You can prevent it with a potato! Cut a clean potato in half, rub it on the inside of the car windows allow them to dry off. It will reduce the problem considerably.

Remove a sticker from car windows or windscreen: If there is an irritating sticker on the windows or the windscreen of your car that you wish to remove, pour some warm water on a newspaper and place it over the sticker for a while. This trick will make it much easier for you to take out the sticker without leaving a few adhesive marks behind.

Avoid your car doors from freezing: Sometimes, in cold places, car doors can get frozen shut. Use a cooking spray to coat the rubber on the inside of the doors/windows and then wipe it to prevent them from freezing shut.