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Headlights provide the next best defense and are usually used when the visibility gets limited. Headlights provide better sight forward. This pair of lamps is actually aimed slightly towards the road rather than laser light straight, increasing the illumination on the road directly ahead. This makes a great tool in avoiding stalled vehicles, potholes or never-ending Manila constructions. They are more useful when combined with foglights. Tempting as it maybe, never ever use bright lights during heavy downpour. A common misconception is that the bright beams provide more illumination than standard headlights during wet weather driving. Though it may be true for dry and humid summer nights, in actually they impair visibility even more during heavy rains. The bright beams are aimed higher and more perpendicular to the car compared to the low beams. Combining this with the fact that the car’s reflectors are designed to throw the brights further onwards than the normal beams result in a blind fest. This is because the light from the bright beams would easily reflect on upcoming raindrops and the light reflected would actually trigger headlight glare onto the driver causing a degree of driving imparity. The hazard should never be used during a heavy downpour. Despite what your best friend tells you, the hazard is not meant to be used as a beacon—that’s the job of your headlights and brake lights. Remember that once the hazard is turned on, other drivers wouldn’t be aware if you’re trying to signal left or right. This could lead to some serious accidents especially on crowded intersections. Iceberg Dead Ahead—So Steer Clear! Unless you’re driving the ill-fated Titanic, there’s a proper way to grip the steering wheel—whether a two-spoke, three-spoke or a four-spoke to ensure an ergonomically pleasing position as well as improved response time during duress. Remember to grab the wheel with both hands. The older generation suggests the 10-2 position, meaning the left hand grips the wheel on the ten ‘o clock position, while the right does the same on the two ‘o clock position. With the advent of airbags, this isn’t the case any longer. Newer driving gurus say that the best position would be the 9-3. This means that the left grips the wheel on the nine ‘o clock position and the right on the three ‘o clock position. Besides the fact that it gives a racier feel, it more importantly reduces the risk to injury to your hands and arms in the unlike case when the airbag detonates from an accident. In addition to the 9-3 position, the correct way to grip the wheel would be in a relaxed but firm manner with the thumbs sticking out, gripping the front surface of the steering wheel. The extended thumbs actually strengthen the grip, especially for women drivers and those with sweaty palms and those who use too much Original Gloss Armour-All. Operating the steering wheel is certainly not the time to relax. As the captain of your ship, it is important that you keep aware of possible icebergs that you may encounter. For ships with slower reaction times such as a truck, make sure that you never put any part of your appendage through the steering wheel. Tempting as it maybe, never do a Steve McQueen. Let’s face it, whatever you do, you won’t look as dashing. Kidding aside, sudden and jerky movement of the steering wheel may cause a heavy sprain to parts of your arm trapped through the wheel or worse fracture it. |
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