DRIVING TIPS: but...the best is..use this as guidelines only, and use more of your instinct

. Planning ahead  
This is a wide scope which would fill volumes in these notes. Suffice it to say that you should be observant of what is happening around you and notice changing conditions of areas you are passing, from empty to crowded, from few vehicles to traffic jams or accidents.   Wherever possible be considerate to those behind you and allow overtaking room.
 
2. Negotiating bends   When approaching bends try to see as far as possible ahead of them, to notice on-coming traffic. Reduce speed to within comfortable limits of your ability to counteract any skid.   When reducing speed, glance at the rear view mirror to see that you have not reduced your speed too drastically for any following vehicle to hit you from behind.   Understand the characteristics of your vehicle when accelerating or decelerating to apply acceleration at the optimum moment for controllability. 
3. Overtaking   Remember that you will be on the other side of the road when you are overtaking another vehicle. This in itself is conducive to danger, unless you are on a dual carriage way with two or more lanes.   Recommended procedure for overtaking:-  *Keep reasonably well back of the vehicle in front, especially if it is a truck which obscures your vision. This will enable you to see ahead for on-coming vehicles.   *Assess the distance, speed and type of on-coming vehicles (car, lorry, tractors, Etc.).   *Engage a lower gear to gain acceleration and glance at the rear view mirror to ensure that no other vehicle is overtaking you.   *Use the horn(daytime) or flash the lights (nighttime) to make the vehicle aware of your presence and manoeuver.   *Overtake as quickly as possible. Be decisive and accelerate hard to hasten the manoeuver and return to your lane.   *Only return to your lane by giving enough room and not impede the overtaken vehicle in any way.   *Once in your lane glance at the rear view mirror to check whether anyone is trying to pass you if the road ahead is still clear.  
DO NOT:-  -swing out to see if the road ahead is clear.  -attempt to overtake around bends or brow of hills.  -overtake in a high gear, unless you are on a highway and travelling reasonably fast.  -overtake slowly with gentle acceleration.  -swerve in early, endangering the vehicle you have just overtaken.  -stay too long on the opposite lane. A vehicle may come onto it from a side road or lane.  -Silently pass the vehicle ahead which may not be aware of your overtaking manoeuver (unless you flash lights at night).  
4. Avoiding Accidents  
4.1 Avoid accidents by allowing enough room in front of you for the following reasons:  * Room for overtaking vehicles to re-enter the proper lane.  * Have sufficient braking distance.  * For excessive deceleration of the vehicle in front.  * Sudden change of direction without warning of the vehicle in front.  * Sudden exit of a parked vehicle into flow of traffic.  
4.2 Warn other road users of your intention to change lane direction or of stopping well in advance. It will prepare the following or on-coming vehicles to take appropriate action. 
4.3 Use the rear view mirror constantly. 
4.4 Slow down when on-coming vehicle is overtaking another. Be prepared to go off the road completely if there is room. However, do not stop on your lane thinking that you have the right to. The accident can still occur.  
4.5 Glance at the rear view mirror constantly to see if you are blocking traffic and being:-  ? Too slow  ? Overtaken without warning  ? Followed too closely  ? Followed by inattentive driver   Take evasive action and do not exercise your rights.  
4.6 If you have to avoid a collision, it is better to be safe than right at all times.  
5. General  
Always think what would be the worst possible thing another person would do and plan avoiding action mentally.   Give due consideration to slow reaction of pedestrians, cyclists and animals. They have the right to live too.   Be wary of passengers, especially school children alighting from buses. They may dash across the road from the front of the bus.   Do not expect cyclists to give hand signals. They also tend to weave a lot when cycling slowly or going up hill. Give them plenty of room when passing.   Most dangerous situations can be avoided if you remain alert and maintain constant observation of all that is happening around you. Be sure to concentrate on the important developments instead of being distracted by unnecessary activities.   You would need to train yourself for good observation and judgment. With such experience about 80% of accidents could be avoided. Always be attentive otherwise you are not driving defensively. 
6. Driving in Bad Weather   The following should be observed in bad conditions:   Poor adhesion from tyres to road and visibility should be a priority thought in your mind.   Do not follow the vehicle in front too closely. It may suddenly brake.   Drive through flooded areas slowly. Entering a flooded area fast may cause aquaplane and the water to splash into the engine compartment. Water entering the engine compartment may cause your engine to stall and not restart if water enters the electrical parts of the engine.   After passing through flooded areas, press the brake pedal gently with your left foot while driving. The friction of the brakes will cause heat to dry them up. Failure to do so will delay effective function of the brakes when needed.   Ensure that your screen is clean by having good wipers and windscreen washer fluid to clear the dirt. This is imperative for night driving to avoid glare from on-coming headlights.  
DO NOT USE YOUR HASSLE LIGHTS IN BAD WEATHER IF YOUR VEHICLE IS STILL MOVING. SWITCH ON YOUR HEADLIGHTS INSTEAD. 

7. Driving on Highways  
General Rules to observe while on the Highways:   Check that tyres are in good condition and correctly inflated.   Check that fan and air-conditioner belts are not frayed as sustained high speed can quickly deteriorate them. A broken fan belt will mean an overheated engine.   Keep a constant watch on your instrument gauges  and warning lights.   Maintain speeds that you are comfortable with.   Make constant use of your rear view mirror especially  when changing lanes at high speed.   Be aware of traffic getting on to the highways from  slip roads. They will be much slower than you are.   Ensure that you are not sleepy, especially after a meal.   MOST ACCIDENTS ARE CAUSED BY NEGLIGENCE  OR LACK OF CONCENTRATION 

8. Night Driving The following should be observed, should you decide to drive at night:   Ensure your car's lights are in good order.   Headlamps should be properly aligned for good vision  in the dark.   Clean your windscreen to minimise glare from  on-coming traffic.   Ensure that your windscreen washer bottle is full. You will require it to wash off insects from the windscreen.   Look towards the left edge of the road, to judge its limit, and keep as close to it as possible, when you see lights from on-coming traffic.  Practice not to stare at the headlights of on-coming traffic.   Use low beam, so as not to dazzle on-coming road users.   Drive at about 80% the speed of your vision capabilities.   Be wary of single lights of on-coming traffic. It could be a bus, truck or car with malfunctioning headlights.   Be aware of other road users not using light at night.