9 Tips for City Driving

9 Tips for City Driving

Do you get a bit nervous about driving in the city? "There is so much traffic, with pedestrians, buses, and cyclists, and so many lane changes." "Which lane should I be in?" "Can I turn here?" "Wait, is that a one-way street?" Try not to get overwhelmed. Remember, millions of city dwellers do this safely every day. You can do it! Remaining alert at all times is the key to safe driving in the city.

Here are 9 tips to help you handle the urban chaos with confidence:

1. Look far ahead. Scan 20–30 seconds ahead so you can spot brake lights, traffic signals, pedestrians, and sudden slowdowns early.
   
   
2. Keep a safe following distance. Leave enough space so you have time to react if traffic suddenly stops.
   
   
3. Watch intersections carefully. Approximately half of city crashes happen at intersections. Before entering an intersection, check left, check right, and then check left again—even when you have a green light.
   
   
4. Expect the unexpected. In the city, for example, drivers may:
   
    - Slam on their brakes while looking for parking spots
    - Change lanes without signaling
   
   
5. Check your mirrors often. Use a systematic scanning pattern:
   
    - Look ahead
    - Check your mirrors every 5–8 seconds
    - Visually scan from side to side for hazards
   
   This helps you stay aware of pedestrians, vehicles, bicycles, and motorcycles around you.
   
   
6. Slow down early. Red lights, turns, traffic jams, and pedestrians can appear quickly in city driving.
   
   
7. Avoid aggressive drivers. If someone is speeding, tailgating, or weaving through traffic, let them go. 
   
   
8. Stay out of the blind spots of buses, delivery vans, and large trucks. If you can’t see the drivers in their mirrors, they probably can’t see you.
   
   
9. Stay calm in traffic. Heavy traffic can be frustrating. But patience and focus make city driving safer—and much less stressful. 

Bonus Tip: If you miss a turn, keep driving and reroute safely. Sudden swerves and panic moves are dangerous. 

At NHSA, our goal is to provide online driver education courses that equip all drivers with what they need to be safe drivers.  Whether you are a teen seeking a learner’s permit, or an adult driver seeking a basic driver safety course, check us out online to see what courses are available in your state!