Nervous Driver Tips
Many people who learn to drive have a combination of nerves and excitement. Even if someone says they have no nerves and are perfectly confident when it comes to driving, the first time you get behind the wheel and move the vehicle you are bound to feel nerves, and possibly as mentioned some excitement.
Sometimes people tell themselves that they are nervous and expect to be nervous, and this gets the better of them. The main course of nerves is not feeling in control, or worrying about your own ability.
So it is essential to remember that no-one is able to drive safely from day one - that's the point of lessons, gradually getting better as you build up experience at driving on the roads, getting used to the car, the controls, the space around the car, road conditions, reacting to other drivers, learning to control the vehicle through use of the gears, using the mirrors, signalling, reversing and so on and so forth.
Many nervous drivers also have the character trait of over-analysing how they are doing, and what they are doing. Being aware of your own performance is of course a good thing, but do not analyse to the detriment of yourself by making yourself super nervous.
Assuming you are learning with a driving school, then you will be with a qualified and experienced instructor, and most likely in a dual control car too, so try to put your trust in that person to give you honest feedback on your performance and many instructors are experienced at working with nervous drivers because the fact is many people learning to drive ARE nervous.
There are also driving instructors who specialise in nervous drivers, so if this is you then perhaps you could consider one of those driving schools that specify this in their advertising material. Above all, as you learn to drive and get better at driving, get more used to it, and it becomes more routine and familiar then many drivers report that the nerves do melt away.
Related Articles...
Why is there a Hazard Perception Test
The statistics have long shown that the newer the driver, the more likely they are to be involved in accidents on the roads. This is probably because they are inexperienced as drivers, although...
Taking the theory test if you don't speak English
Not everyone who takes the Driving Theory Test will be confident enough in their ability to speak and understand English to take the test. Whilst some people in Wales will want to take the test in...
Using the foot controls in an automatic
When driving an automatic car, there is one less pedal to think about: there is no clutch pedal so the ABC of accelerator, brake, clutch becomes instead simply accelerator and brake.
That's...
What a slippery road surface sign could mean
The problem with a slippery road surface sign is this: whilst you know what it means, you don't know what it means. If that sounds confusing, then the point is simply this - what is it that is...
Motorway Driving Tips
Driving on a motorway for the first time can be both exciting and a little daunting - exciting as it is something new whilst daunting as you won't have experienced driving on a motorway before...
What details to get at an accident
When you swap details with a driver, here are the things that you should be sure to obtain from the other driver:
You need to of course get their name, their address and a contact telephone...
Why communication matters
When you are driving, in the vast majority of occasions there will be at least a fair number of other road users on them at the same time as you. This means that they will be reacting to how YOU...
What is driving test theory?
Theory is something we understand when it comes to maths or science. A theory is a prediction as to why something that has usually been observed to happen does happen, and scientists use theories...
What to do in an accident situation
If you do have an accident, then you must stop. Whilst you may read about people driving away from the scene of an accident, you should always stop and face up to any responsibilities involving...
Your driving licence: getting it back
As the New Drivers Act article outlines, if you get six penalty points or more in the first two years of having a licence, then it is revoked and you have to retake both tests: the theory and the...
Back to home page of driving theory test questions
