The Zego Sense app monitors a variety of driving behaviours to create your driver score. One of these factors is acceleration.
The Sense app detects when you may have accelerated much more than you need to. Harsh acceleration could make your vehicle less stable, especially on poor road surfaces, which could lead to accidents.
Harsh acceleration also tends to use more fuel, driving up your costs and harming the environment, as well as making your journey uncomfortable for passengers and putting unnecessary strains on the vehicle.
But don’t worry, we have helpful tips to show you how you can improve your driving!
Tips for safe acceleration
Developing your accelerator competence
Regardless of the conditions you may be driving in, it’s good to have a sound understanding of how to use your accelerator effectively. Use accurate and smooth movements to release or depress to avoid any sudden or harsh movements of the vehicle. This will help you develop a better “acceleration sense” – in other words, your ability to respond to changing road and traffic conditions with your accelerator, rather than breaking.
Moving off too quickly
We may detect harsh acceleration if you try to move away from a stationary position too quickly. Instead, when moving from stationary to driving, accelerate smoothly and increase your speed by slowly working up through the gears (in a manual vehicle).
Before moving off you should:
- Use all your mirrors to check the road is clear
- Check your blind spots
- Signal
- Always look around for a final check!
Remember: Mirrors - Signal - Manoeuvre
Accelerating in bad weather
If it’s wet or snowy, take extra care! Accelerating too quickly could cause your tires to skid. In wet conditions, your car’s tires could lose contact with the road surface due to aquaplaning, causing you to lose control of the vehicle.
To avoid these incidents, be sure to accelerate gently in poor weather conditions.
Accelerating at red lights
Harsh acceleration is sometimes detected if you try to get through traffic lights when they’re turning red. It’s important to stay aware and always look ahead to reduce the risk of harsh acceleration happening. When the lights are switching to red, it’s time to slow down, not speed up.
Accelerating when overtaking
We get it, sometimes you’re stuck behind another vehicle and need to overtake and be on your merry way. Always make sure you can overtake safely before you decide to manoeuvre. As you overtake, your speed should always stay under the speed limit.
Always plan ahead
Check your planned route is clear of delays, and give yourself enough time to get to your destination. This makes it less likely that you’ll have to rush to arrive on time, which can cause you to accelerate more quickly than normal.