Learning how to drive is about more than just learning the rules of the road. If you’re going to drive safely, then you need to have a good reaction time. Unfortunately, as we age, our reaction times tend to slow. There are also some drivers on the roads today whose reaction times are slower than others.
Sometimes, it’s not even down to the driver; the adverse weather conditions impact a driver’s behaviour and generally delay their reaction time on the road.
The good news is that there are different ways drivers can improve their reaction times. While different methods will work for different people, making an effort to be more aware while on the road is the first step to driving more safely.
Assess your driving style
Different drivers have different driving styles. No matter how differently you think you take to the road, however, your driving style can be broken down into one of the following three categories:
Aggressive – Do you not hesitate before switching lanes on the motorway? Do you find yourself getting irritated when the driver ahead of you is driving slower than you? If so, you may be an aggressive driver.
Relaxed – Is getting behind the wheel of a car a meditative experience for you? Are you content to go at or below the speed limit, even if it means being late to your destination? If so, you’re a relaxed driver. Your driving style does promote safer driving habits than other styles, but it may also leave you open to accidents if you’re not paying attention.
Fuel-Conscious – Do your eyes drift to your console more than they do the road? Have you experimented with different braking tactics just to save on petrol? If so, you’re a fuel-conscious driver. Drivers like you save a fair amount of money per year, but with your attention on your petrol, you may find yourself not paying as much attention to the motorway as you should.
These styles, as has been suggested, do have an impact on your reaction time. For example, aggressive drivers may be hyper-aware of traffic patterns on the motorway, but their frustration may make them miss an unexpected change. Likewise, fuel-conscious drivers may be so distracted by their need to save on petrol, they might miss someone changing lanes in front of them.
What impacts a driver’s reaction time
While your driving style will impact your reaction time, there are in-car and outside-of-car circumstances that may also alter your ability to react to the world around you. These include:
Speeding – The faster you drive on the road, the less time you have to react to changes in the traffic. As a result, your reaction times are automatically slowed when you’re speeding.
Manipulating car controls – When you adjust the music you’re listening to on the radio, your reaction time is going to slow. This is because you’ve divided your attention between the road and your car’s environment. However, listening to music and letting a passenger alter its volume can actually help you focus on the world around you.
Getting lost – If you’re lost and frustrated on the motorway, you’re going to be distracted. While you’re checking your GPS or grumbling to a friend, you may find that traffic shifts without you noticing. While you can’t memorise the road signs and construction patterns of new places, try not to let your frustration get the best of you in these situations. The more attention you pay to the road, the more likely it is that you’ll find your way – and avoid an accident.
Sleepiness – Teen drivers, in particular, tend to get tired behind the wheel. The more exhausted you are while driving, the slower your reaction time is going to be. If you find yourself getting weary behind the wheel, try opening your windows or blasting your air conditioning. The change in environment should wake you up, but its impacts will only last for a little while. The best thing to do when tired on the road is to pull over and take a brief nap.
How to improve reaction time on the road
Whether your reaction time is circumstantially-inhibited or impacted by your driving style, you can still work to improve it. The best ways to improve your reaction time include:
Practise with VR games – virtual reality video games are popping up more frequently in drivers’ education. If you want to improve your reaction time without heading into a classroom, why not borrow a friend’s VR set and test your skill on a virtual roadway? The obstacles that video games can throw at you are less dangerous but equally educational as real experiences on the road.
Participate in hand-eye coordination sports – meet up with a friend to play ratchet ball or frisbee on the weekend, and you may find that your reaction on the motorway rapidly improves. That’s because these types of sports make it easier for you to respond to quick changes in your environment.
Revisit driver’s education – drivers’ education in Ireland is usually provided by someone a new driver knows as opposed to a trained professional. However, you still have the option of working with a professional when obtaining your license. You can also reach out to a drivers’ education instructor if you’re looking to improve your reaction time. These instructors can use drivers’ education supplies, including rental cars, to teach you how to better react to complex and dangerous situations on the road.
Your reaction time keeps you safe on the road. If you find you’re having a hard time responding to the world around you, there’s no shame in asking for help. As you improve your reaction time, you’ll find that you feel safer while behind the wheel – and that your passengers do, too!