Taking to the roads for the first time can be daunting. It’s likely to be a little overwhelming to remember what you’re being taught while navigating busy roads and junctions with more experienced motorists around you. However, confidence on the roads is key and there’s only one way to get it, experience.
Learning to drive is a challenging process, but below we outline a few key areas to focus on so you can thoroughly prepare yourself for the road ahead.
Table of Contents
Know the laws and regulations
Whether you’ve already passed your theory test or not, it’s essential that you get to grips with all the rules of the road. It’s a good idea to remind yourself of these periodically too.
This includes the legal obligations expected of you as a driver, the rules set out in The Highway Code, the meaning of road signs, and the relevant precautions in place to maintain vehicle safety. It may be difficult to retain all this information while you’re learning, but you should absorb it all gradually with more experience.
Get confident behind the wheel
Confidence is so important when it comes to driving because you can put yourself and other road users in danger if you’re hesitant. The only way to develop real confidence behind the wheel is to learn through experience and become more comfortable on the roads.
Lessons will teach you the fundamentals with a qualified professional there for support, but additional driving with a friend or family member is an excellent way to rack up more hours on the road. All you need is learner driver insurance, a suitable vehicle and an experienced driver to sit with you – then you can drive for as long as you want to boost your confidence.
Common mistakes to avoid
Mistakes are inevitable, but they are an invaluable opportunity to learn and develop as a driver. That being said, here are some that you might want to avoid if you can:
Not checking your mirrors – Something that driving instructors should be drilling into you is checking your mirrors. These enable you to see where other road users are in relation to your vehicle. Not checking your mirrors clearly in a driving test may result in a fail, so get into the habit while you’re learning.
Not indicating – Indicators are crucial for other drivers to know where you are going, so they can plan their movement too. Failing to indicate can put everyone in danger, so ensure that you signal whenever you are turning, changing lanes or using a roundabout (if necessary).
Driving too slow – Driving can be scary and learner drivers often go too slow rather than too fast. This may seem safer, but it can actually put you at more risk when other drivers are going faster around you.
