Keeping your cool
Learning to drive is one of the most exciting things someone can do. It’s also one of the most stressful things people can do.
It’s easy for people who’ve been driving for years to forget what it was like when they were learning, but being in control of a huge travelling piece of metal is enough to freak anyone out.
But don’t worry. If you’re feeling stressed, it’s normal. Driving is a new experience, and anything new can be daunting.
So what’s the best way to keep cool while you’re learning to drive?
It might sound dull, but the best way to keep cool and calm in the car is to be familiar with what you’re doing. By focusing on gaining as much experience as possible, you’ll become more familiar with the rules of the road, and less likely to get stressed.
That doesn’t mean you should jump in the deep end on your first day. The first step is to make sure you’re comfortable with what’s in front of you - so your brakes, indicators, mirrors, seat belts, gears and clutch (if you’re driving a manual). Make sure you are comfortable in your seat too, with the steering wheel, head restraint, mirrors, and seatbelt all properly adjusted. Once you’re familiar with everything you’ll need to use in the car while driving, you can get some experience on the road.
By bombing down the freeway? Not quite. Part of learning to drive is being honest with yourself about what you’re realistically ready to tackle in your lessons. Start small on the road by getting a feel for how the car moves in a large empty car park, an industrial estate on the weekend when its empty, or even the quiet streets in your own neighbourhood.
Does starting small mean you’ll never encounter something stressful? No, but you’re more likely to handle a stressful situation and keep calm if you’re starting small and working up to more complicated driving.
Aside from getting as much practise as possible, here are some great tips that every driver – even one who has been driving for decades – should keep in mind:
- Stay alert – the situation can change in seconds, and you need to be able to respond
- Slow down before intersections
- Avoid distractions – put the mobile away or turn it off. That Instagram story can wait
- Keep a safe distance from the car in front – you never know if they’ll have to quickly stop
- Travel at a safe speed for the road – this means taking into consideration if it’s raining (or recently rained), and the traffic conditions
- Be careful about getting tired – driving tired is seriously dangerous. When you’re tired you don’t respond as quickly, which can be the difference between a near miss and a tragic accident
When you’re learning to drive, it’s not just you in the car – that person next to you who’s always telling you to go easy on the clutch? That’s your supervisor.
With your supervisor, it’s important to remember that usually they aren’t trained professionals but are family members or friends. Yes, they need to be eligible to teach someone to drive (that means they need at least two years on their full licence), but they aren’t necessarily experienced in teaching. They might not have even been in a car with a learner since they were learning. If this is their first time supervising, it’s important to make sure they feel at ease too, otherwise, they won’t be able to teach you as well as they need to.
If you’re feeling nervous about tackling something new in your lesson, ask your supervisor if you’re ready for it. If you’ve had an argument before driving, maybe postpone the lesson until the emotion gets out of your system..