Tips for Driving in the City vs. in the Country

Country and City Image by Pexels via Pixabay (Public Domain)

Driving in the city or the country are two completely different experiences and so it’s always useful to bear in mind how to adapt to each environment. We here at Beach Boulevard of Cars value your safety, and so here we give you some useful tips as to how you can best navigate both city and country terrains with ease.

Driving in the City

Heavily urbanized and developed areas require unique driving skills to make easy passage through clogged-up expressways, endless stop lights, and construction zones. Your car’s size has a bearing on how easily you’ll be able to find street parking, and even commercially-run parking lots will have spaces more suited to compact vehicles. If you have to do a lot of city driving, it’s probably best to invest in a smaller car. Not only do you get improved economy through ease of parking but better fuel economy for urban driving. Having parking-assist technology can also help you get into the smaller spaces you’ll inevitably encounter when driving in the city.

From a safety point of view, it’s always good to ensure you have plenty of time to reach your destination. Always build in a contingency route if possible just in case there are any incidents causing heavier traffic than usual. Remember, there’s no point going as fast as you can when you’ll inevitably have to slow down again at some stage. Apart from the fact it’s not great for your car, its additional stress you can easily avoid by building plenty of time into your journey before leaving.

Driving in the Country

One of the main differences you’ll notice when driving in the country is the diversity of the road types you’ll encounter. Many seem to be a pleasant enough drive but there are sometimes more hazards than you would expect to see in more built-up areas.

First, the condition of the road surface can often be of lower quality than in the city, due to lack of maintenance. Therefore, there’s a greater chance of incidents like punctures, defective tracking, or worse – wheel damage, which is easily caused by driving over potholes.

Country roads are generally very uneven which poses more problems when there’s been rain. Because there’s no camber to allow for drainage, there can be standing water on the roads making the surface extremely slippery! If it is raining or has been raining, even when it’s not very much, you should always exercise more caution and reduce your driving speed. Don’t make any sharp manoeuvres or apply your brakes suddenly either, as this could increase your chances of having an accident.

Whether a Country or City Driver, Beach Boulevard of Cars has the Vehicle for You!

No matter where you’re driving, it’s always important to have a well-maintained vehicle. At Beach Boulevard of Cars, we have an extensive inventory of new and used vehicles in Orange County for you to test drive. We’re located at Huntington Beach in Southern California where you can enjoy urban or country driving routes and you can choose the right car for you from our broad selection of used and new vehicles in Orange County. Why don’t you come down to our dealership and test drive your next new car? Contact us today!

Read More on the Blog: Top Tips on Choosing the Best Service center for your Car