If you’re new to driving, and you’re a little nervous behind the wheel, don’t worry. You’re not alone. It can take a while for drivers to build up their confidence, even after they’ve passed their test.
In this post we’ll share some driving tips for nervous drivers.
Take Your Time and Be Kind To Yourself
Don’t be too harsh on yourself. Give yourself all the space and time you need to build up your confidence, and remember that most, if not all, drivers once felt like you.
Drive As Often As Possible
With enough practice, driving can become second nature. Whatever makes you most nervous now – whether it’s junctions, roundabouts, merging with traffic, gear changes, or something else entirely – could eventually seem trivial, given enough time.
How Often Should I Drive After Passing My Test?
To begin with, aim to drive as many short journeys as possible, as often as possible. This could be trips to the shops, commutes to work, or lifts for friends and family. If there are no opportunities to drive, just get behind the wheel and go for a 20 minute drive to anywhere.
As you get more confident, take longer journeys, with unfamiliar locations, and with new driving conditions.
Practice makes perfect. The more you drive, and the more road conditions you experience, the more you’ll realise that you’ve got this. You can handle anything!
Driving Tips For Nervous Drivers
- Aim to drive smoothly. Smooth driving means gentle acceleration, wide turns, and light braking. It means keeping sufficient distance from other road users, so that you’ll have plenty of time to react to unexpected situations.
- Give yourself plenty of time. If you’ve got somewhere to be, leave as early as possible. This way there’ll be less stress and you won’t feel the need to rush.
- Use a P-Plate. New drivers can put green P-Plates on their car – that’s P for “probationary”, and you can use them for as long as you like. Green P-Plates send a message to other drivers that you’re a new driver which might make them more courteous and understanding.
- Don’t worry too much about other drivers. Obviously, you should look out for other road users, and be aware of sudden hazards. But don’t let other drivers worry you, rush you, or bully you. For instance, don’t feel pressured to pull out at roundabouts and junctions if you don’t feel the timing is right, even if there’s a big queue of cars behind you. If a driver beeps you while you’re waiting, it doesn’t mean that you need to make a move. It just means that the driver behind you is too impatient.
Consider Extra Driving Lessons After Passing Your Test
There are specialist driving lessons for new drivers which could help you build up your confidence. The Government’s Pass Plus scheme involves a series of advanced driving lessons which could help you experience driving situations that you may not have encountered during your initial run of driving lessons and can help build up your confidence.
Specialist Car Insurance For New Drivers
At Go Girl, we specialise in providing new drivers and young drivers with comprehensive car insurance. We understand how challenging driving can be for first-time drivers, which is why we’re dedicated to offering you the appropriate cover designed with your specific needs in mind.
