Learning to drive is a big part of growing up, however with that said it’s perfectly acceptable to learn to drive at any age. It can be very stressful driving for the first time, particularly if you don’t feel confident behind the wheel. It can also be financially draining because lessons aren’t cheap! Inevitably though, it’s something that you’ll have to overcome. Once it’s all over and done with, you’ll surely look back and laugh.
In this article, we have put together a list of important things that you need to think about when you’re learning how to drive:
Practice Online
There are lots of online resources available to help you practice. By practising the theoretical components of your test beforehand, you’ll find it easier to tackle the test. Because of this, a team of expert drivers have created the DMV.com test and have made it available to everybody online. Practising with online tests doesn’t have to take up a lot of your time. You can practice at home or outdoors using your phone. As long as you try to get an hour or so of theory practice done a day, you should pass your test with flying colours.
Book Multiple Lessons At Once
When you’re booking your driving lessons, try to avoid booking them one at a time. When you book multiple lessons at once, you get better deals and prices. Additionally, you can get your lessons confirmed. There’s no guarantee that you’ll be able to consistently get lessons arranged if you try to book them individually. When you first book them, speak to the provider and ask them what deals they have on block lessons.
Know the Basics
In combination with online practice, you should learn the basics about driving, such as what different things in a car do. You can do this in a friend or family member’s car. It’s best to do this before your first lesson so that you can reduce the number of lessons that you need. If you know your way around a car, you can forgo an entire lesson of learning what each vehicular component does and is. Make sure that you don’t start driving your family member’s cars until you have a learner’s permit. You can get into a lot of trouble if you do and you’re caught.
Transmission
Something else to take into consideration before you start learning to drive is the transmission of the vehicle that you’re going to learn in. Most people learn in manual cars, even if they intend on driving automatics. This is because by mastering manual, you will by extension have mastered automatic driving. However, if you genuinely don’t ever see yourself wanting (or needing) to drive a manual car, then you can opt to drive in an automatic. Most modern cars are automatic, but that would instantly rule out older models of cars. When you take your test in a manual car, you can drive automatic cars. The same isn’t true for automatic tests.
Finding An Instructor
Finding an instructor for your first driving lessons can be difficult. It’s absolutely crucial to your success that you find an instructor who’s well-reviewed and experienced. You need to find somebody who is reliable and who will be patient with you, particularly if you’re nervous. The wrong instructor can make your first experience of driving terrifying. When you have a patient, understanding instructor, they make the learning experience much smoother and much safer. You also need to take price into consideration, some instructors charge extortionate prices for their services.
Listening to Your Instructor
Once you’ve chosen an instructor, you need to make sure that you listen to everything that they say. Even if you’ve got previous experience driving, don’t let arrogance get in the way of learning. Some people who have previously driven have picked up bad habits. When an instructor corrects them, they can get defensive and think that they know better. Ultimately, your instructor will oversee your progression as a driver and might even be the one who tests you. For this reason, you need to listen to them carefully and do what they tell you to do. Don’t think that you know any better than them, because you don’t.
Mistakes Are Okay
A lot of people get very embarrassed when they make mistakes driving. It’s perfectly natural to make mistakes. In fact, it’s almost a guarantee. When you do make mistakes, work toward correcting them and improving yourself. Don’t be hard on yourself when you make a mistake and don’t let it put you off of driving. Ask your instructor for advice and listen to them when they give it. Use their advice to make yourself a better driver. If you have any questions, make sure you ask them.
Buy Your Own Vehicle
When you’re first learning to drive, there’s nothing as useful as your own car. If you live with your parents and have a learner’s permit, then you should be able to drive it with them supervising you. You are free to damage, dent, and break your own vehicle. If you do it in a driving instructor’s car, you could have to pay. Make sure you buy an appropriate first car, however. You need something that’s sturdy, reliable, and affordable. You should ideally aim to buy a second-hand car for your first vehicle, something that you can get rid of quickly.
Safety
Make sure you drive safely, when supervised and when alone. Don’t try to drive recklessly to show off to your friends or family, because it often ends badly. Take the time to learn to drive properly and try to avoid picking up bad habits. If you have bad habits, it can impact your driver’s exam and put you in danger. Make sure you also never drive under the influence. Driving can be very dangerous if you aren’t careful, even if you have a driving instructor supervising you.
Learning to drive is a lot of fun, but it can also be stressful. With the tips in this article, you should be able to approach your driving lessons maturely and with as little anxiety as possible. Take your time and drive safely.