Top Ten Car Tips from BL

It's Papa BL's birth month in November. He would have turned 64 y.o. this coming 27th. How I drive is a reflection of how my father taught me. I never enrolled in a formal driving school and credit him for teaching me the basics plus some add ons. Here are the top ten car & driving tips that I learned from him and still apply in my 23 yrs of experience:

1- Blowgas. I bet my father read this from somewhere or learned it from somebody but back then, I thought the acronym blowgas was practical so I quickly adapted it. The basic item that you should check before driving your vehicle includes the ff: Brakes, Lights, Oil, Water and Gas.
2- Plan your route. What's the best way to go from point a to b? Think. Research. Prepare. Don't just start the car and drive. This way, you save gas, hassle and stress.
3- Jackrabbit. Your passengers are not ingredients inside a blender. They want to get to their destination in one piece and not confused as a result of the jumpy ride. Drive as smooth as a plane.
4- DL the Explorer. When time is on your side, I was taught to discover new routes. Often, there are alternatives to go from one destination to another. Do not, I repeat, do not be afraid to explore.
5- Follow the leader. Imagine this, it’s raining cats and dogs in NLE and visibility is less than 10 feet. What do you do? You follow the leader. It would be wise to look for a “pace car” that seem to know what he’s doing but doesn’t know you’re trailing him. Just ensure you keep a distance. Not following the last instruction might be fatal.
6- Truck ban. Whether on rainy or sunny day, never follow a truck! It's next to being blind on the road.
7- Blind curve. Drivers know that it's dangerous to overtake in a blind curve, but they do. It's a major no-no and a lose-lose situation in case the unexpected happens.
8- Go fast...alone. Boys will be boys. The curiosity (that killed the cat while you were driving 100 kph) in us will always be there. If you want to explore the limits of your car, do it alone. Spare your family from your mischievous deed and let them enjoy your life insurance.
9- Parking check. Before the back up sensors or a parking guide videocam were born, there was this thing called common sense. When parking in a tight squeeze or to ensure if you’re within the limits of the parking space, nothing beats going down to check if your parked properly.
10- Getaway mode. When parking, ensure that you’re always parked on the getaway mode. This means sacrificing time and effort to park before alighting the vehicle so that you gain the rewards when you leave the park space.

Parents really play a huge role in molding their children and learning to drive is part of the top box. We need responsible drivers on the road.