Learning to drive can be a stressful experience. It is a hugely important skill, but one that is unlike anything you will have experienced before – no matter how good you are at Mario Kart. It’s quite likely that you’ll want to learn as quickly as possible, which is understandable, but it’s also important that you give yourself the time required to become a safe driver. Here are some tips that will help you achieve both.
Don’t have unrealistic expectations
You might assume that you’ll be a natural driver, only to find out that it’s taking you longer to get to grips with than you expected – or the opposite may be the case. The important thing is to not set yourself unrealistic expectations, as everyone learns at their own pace. Take each lesson as it comes and monitor your progress, rather than saying “I want to learn how to drive in two weeks.”
Put the hours in
They say that practise makes perfect and this is certainly true when it comes to driving. When you are trying to find the right driving instructor, make sure you look for one that has enough free hours to match your schedule.
In addition, you’ll find that your driving will progress much quicker if you also find another vehicle to practise in, perhaps with your parents or another more experienced driver. Although you won’t necessarily receive the same kind of focused instruction that you would from your teacher, the hours that you spend behind the wheel will help the mechanics of driving become more natural to you.
Make yourself comfortable
Learning how to drive can come with a fair deal of pressure, which is why you should make yourself as comfortable as possible. Wear appropriate footwear and take a bottle of water with you in case you feel dehydrated. Also, you should make sure that you adjust your seat position, steering wheel and mirrors before you begin every lesson. Not only will this help you to feel more comfortable, it will also improve your visibility.
Protect yourself
If you are learning to drive, you may want to invest in a small camera for your car just in case you get involved in any on-road incidents. Many driving instructors will already have one of these to reduce the likelihood of disputes arising as a result of accidents.
If an incident does occur between yourself and another driver, the latter may try to use the fact that you are learning against you and absolve themselves of any blame. In this situation, consulting a competent team of car accident lawyers, along with having some dashcam footage, will certainly make your life a lot easier. Hopefully, your learning experience will be incident free, but it always helps to plan for the worst.
Don’t focus on your mistakes
When you first get behind the wheel of a car, it is inevitable that you will make mistakes – everyone does. The important thing is not to focus on them. Instead, concentrate on the progress you are making with each and every lesson. Take heart from the fact that no driver is perfect – in fact, everyone is a learner, no matter how much time has progressed since they passed their test.
