What Are Your 2013 Driving Resolutions?

1. I promise to STOP riding the brakes

A huge pet hate on the roads, and one that gets worse with every LED-lit-up car. It’s antisocial, lazy, and dangerous. Use the handbrake, people.

2. I promise to drive for the love of it

Now and again, you need to sock it to The Man and remember why you love driving. Forget fuel prices: put the windows down and go for a well-deserved hoon. Start on New Year’s Day, with Antony’s list of top ten cars to start the year in.

3. I promise to learn a new skill

Teach yourself something. Give yourself a skill to master, and then hone in to a fine art. Whether it’s heel-and-toe downshifting, reading a map instead of sat-nav, decent parallel parking, or just not rolling back on hill starts, everything is a valuable trick to pack in your toolbox.

4. I promise to look after my car better

Most new-ish cars are designed to be as low-maintenance as possible, with plastic shrouds shielding anything that gets hot or spins (the engine) from being checked by anyone except fiercely overpaid dealer mechanics. Forget the scaremongery of the brochure. Look up what oil your motor takes, and top it up before the warning light tells you. Keep an eye on your tyre pressures, belts and bearings, and keep issues cheap and under your thumb before they go forking out of your pocket.

5. I promise to stay cool

In almost every situation, it’s best to just breathe and count to ten when that LED-illuminated Audi has just cut you up, or the OAP-pedalled Honda Jazz ahead does 35mph through a 60-zone, and then carries on at the same speed past a village school at break time.

The exception comes when the idiot you’re restraining yourself from PIT-manoeuvring is on their phone. If someone is driving like an arse and chatting hands-not-free at the same time, feel free to rain merry hell down upon them, for they are scumbags.

So go on then, share how you're planning to improve your driving in 2013.