New drivers often get scared when they learn how to drive a car. It is certainly a unique experience which has a lot of risks and dangers. However, millions of people throughout the world go through this same learning process, and it turns out just fine for most of them. The chances are that it’ll turn out just fine for you too.
Nonetheless, the initial fear of learning to drive is something that everyone struggles to work through. But if you learn the basic steps of driving before you get behind the steering wheel, then you’ll have more confidence as you start driving for real. That is why most driver’s education classes begin by having students read from a book and take written tests. Once they’re successful at the tests, they can move on to the actual driving experience.
5 Simple Tips
To help you learn the steps of driving a car, below are the top 5 tips that will make the process easier for you. Be a safe driver and take your time throughout the learning process. Follow your local traffic laws and everything should be okay.
1) Get Comfortable with the Car
Before you even begin driving your car on the road, you need to feel comfortable with it. Study all the features of your car and make sure you know how to use them or what purpose they serve. Most importantly, adjust the seat and mirrors into the right positions before turning on the engine. You don’t want to start driving and then find yourself uncomfortable in your seat. The more comfortable you feel while learning to drive, the less nervous and stressed you would be.
2) Eliminate Distractions
No driver should ever be distracted by things like smartphones, DVD players, or any other gadgets. It is even more important that new drivers don’t get distracted either because they’re still learning how to drive. The smallest little distraction could easily cause any new driver to have an accident. Therefore, turn off all electronic devices and gadgets, including the radio and music player. All your focus must be on your driving.
3) Find a Responsible Driving Teacher
There should always be an experienced driver sitting in the seat next to you as you learn to drive. This must be a licensed driver who monitors your driving skills and tells you when you’re making a mistake. The most common driving teachers could be your parent, older sibling, friend, or driver’s education teacher. Whoever accompanies you in the vehicle, just make sure you don’t end up having a personal conversation with them that doesn’t pertain to driving. That is another form of distraction which you don’t need.
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4) Drive Just Under the Speed Limit
When you’re practicing your driving skills on the main roads, you should drive a little under the speed limit. For example, if the speed limit is 45 mph, then you should drive 35 to 40 mph. There is no need to drive faster than that when you’re still learning. Driving too fast may cause you to panic and make a bad driving decision. But if you drive slower, it is easier to correct a driving mistake before it turns into an accident.
5) Practice in Large Empty Locations
Before you even try driving on main roads with traffic, you should practice your driving in large empty locations with no people or cars around. The best places to start are empty parking lots or recreational parks. Wait until after hours when there are fewer people in those areas. Once you see a clear opening to practice, you should go ahead and do so. This will train you on the basics of driving without having to worry about hitting somebody.
