Tips for new drivers
Driving can be a daunting prospect if you are new to the world of motorists. However, there are ways to boost your confidence and help to ensure your safety and that of those around you:
Before passing your test:
- Before taking lessons, it is important that you familiarise yourself with the basic aspects of driving - especially emergency stops. This will help you gain confidence and allow you to focus on actually driving during lesson, rather than focussing on the basics.
- Who you learn with is also a vital to providing you with the best experience for driving alone. Learning to drive with an unqualified instructor – a parent, guardian or friend - may limit a learner's knowledge of the road and they run the risk of passing on bad driving habits to the new driver. However, equally, only driving with an Approved Driving Instructor (ADI) may reduce the learner's confidence driving.
- If learning to drive, it is recommended that you take your test after 45 hours of professional training and 22 hours of private practice. This combination has provided, on average, the highest pass rate; as the private practice allows the student time to 'get used to' the road and the tutoring provides them with opportunity to clear up any questions or concerns they may have.
- Self-confidence is imperative when driving; if you are not comfortable with the situation then you will be a danger to yourself and others. Your ADI will advice you when you should take your test; however, if you do not feel prepared to take it yet you should continue with your lessons and increase your private practice. It is normal to be nervous before your test, but if you are not confident in your own abilities you run a higher risk of failing – which may further decrease your confidence levels.
After passing your test:
One in five new drivers will crash within their first year of driving. A driving test only ensures that you can drive to the minimum required standard; this means that there is plenty of room for improvement if you wish to drive to the best of your ability.
- When learning to drive, it is unlikely that your instructor will provide you with much opportunity to drive in 'difficult conditions'. As a result of this many new drivers find it hard to drive in unsatisfactory conditions, such as rain - especially if the road is wet. This is due to the fact that they have not had sufficient practice, which leaves them vulnerable to accidents - most commonly caused by losing control of the car.
- It is worth taking extra training, after passing your test. The Pass Plus course was set up in 1995 and focuses on teaching new drivers; how to drive in the dark, driving in all weather conditions, driving out of town, driving on dual carriageways and driving on motorways. Although this course is not assessed by a test, it does provide new drivers with knowledge that may have not been made available prior to passing their test. Most importantly; Pass Plus gives drivers the opportunity to experience all, potential, driving conditions with a trained expert at hand to offer any assistance.
- It is useful to refresh your driving knowledge from time to time. This will help to prevent you from developing bad driving habits and ensure that you continue to drive to the best of your ability.
- Consider talking to a learner or new driver, every few months, about their experiences on the road. This keeps you reminded of the correct techniques to use and the preferred attitude to have whist driving.
- If you have been driving for several years, it may be beneficial to take a 'refresher course'. The course will help to highlight any bad habits you have adopted, so that you may alter them.