HOW TO DRIVE LIKE A CHAUFFEUR

THE TOP 7 DRIVING TIPS FOR CHAUFFEURS

Our 7 point guide to driving like a professional chauffeur.

Would you like to enhance your driving abilities? Do you want to stay cool, calm, and collected while driving like a professional chauffeur? A person who is calm, unhurried, and always on time?

Do you wish to keep your passengers happy and get rid of road rage?

Plan the route

Before heading off to somewhere unfamiliar, you need to research your route. Develop a clear sense of where you are going before you set off. This includes car parking spots. And even the entrance to the pickup and drop-off locations. Many hotels, restaurants and airports will offer driving directions on their website. Google Maps’ Street View is great for research. Even noting the colour of the client’s front door can be useful. Devise a backup route in case of the unexpected. In a Telegraph survey the most cited cause of risky driving is getting lost. The survey shows that distracted drivers are by no means safe drivers

Give yourself time

Our chauffeurs are never late. They allow plenty of time before their pickups. Adding some extra margin to the pickup time you help avoid getting stressed. By setting off earlier, you allow for stuff to happen such as heavy traffic or unforeseen road closures. Stuff happens. Leave early.

Drive defensively

While you cannot control how other motorists drive, you can control how you react to them. You can anticipate potential dangers by looking ahead. Does the driver know his indicator is flashing? Do the cars in front of you seem too close to one another? You should expect the unexpected and prepare for it. Keeping your distance is best. The more space you keep around you, the less chance you will have of colliding with someone. Keep a 2-second buffer between you and the car in front of you. Make that 4 seconds in bad weather. Observe, anticipate and plan. So, what can I see? What could it mean for me? What do I need to do to stay safe? There are many visual clues we can take from the environment to help us. Observing road traffic signs and markings are the most obvious. The more signs and road markings the greater the chance of danger. While skid marks on the road show potential areas for caution. Similarly the line of trees, hedges, buildings, street lights and telegraph poles can all help show the road ahead. But remember telegraph poles sometimes run through fields, so don’t follow them!

Drive smoothly

Erratic driving is as harmful to the environment as it is to the passengers. Erratic driving uses more fuel and increases wear and tear on the vehicle. There is no steering wheel for passengers to hold on to and they experience g-forces differently from drivers. How do you drive smoothly? By anticipating what’s ahead, you will be able to drive more smoothly. By reducing the amount of braking and fuel needed you can reduce the amount of time you need to wait. Deceleration should be smoother.

Be patient

Everybody makes mistakes. Hence, do not penalize others who make mistakes on the road. How can we make up for the mistakes made by others if we are experience and safe drivers? Take a deep breath and keep going. While you cannot control how other motorists drive, you can control how you react to them. Getting angry behind the wheel is unacceptable. You must learn to let go of things. Although it is tempting to retaliate, a chauffeur shouldn’t do so. Driving safely can be enhanced by practicing mindfulness, being present in the moment. Before setting off, you could even do a simple meditation if you are early. Spend a couple of minutes just focusing on your breathing. Before you begin driving, do this to relax your mind and keep your composure.

Know your vehicle

Ensure you have enough fuel. Unless you’re traveling on longer routes, it is not acceptable to stop for fuel while the passenger is on board. Know how to control the vehicle’s climate. You can adjust the seats and armrests by pulling them down. Understand how to operate the in-car entertainment system. Your passengers will be more comfortable if you are more proficient. In addition to making you safer, it also makes your life easier. Keeping the vehicle well maintained and serviced will also help. Ensure all fluid levels, tyre pressure, tread depth, as well as lights and indicators are correct and functioning.

Observe the Highway Code

Follow the rules of the road. Speeding is not safe driving. Also, they don’t use their phones while driving. The Highway Code is observed by safe drivers. A good chauffeur won’t break any rules. It is important to follow the rules while riding the road. They make the world a safer place.

Hopefully, this guide on how to drive like a chauffeur was helpful to you. Our article on what makes a great chauffeur might be of interest to you as well. Would you like to know what the best chauffeur car is?