There's nothing more nerve racking than driving a car on your own for the first time after you first pass your test. If you've been following me recently, you'll know that I only passed my test in December, but I was lucky enough to be able to buy car soon afterwards. I was thrown in at the deep end with that one because I drove the car out of the garage on my own and had to drive it half an hour back home again.
Granted, I had my boyfriend tailing me so the pressure was off a little bit in that sense, but that still doesn't take away from the fact that it was one of the scariest things I've ever had to do. But it was also one of the best things I could have done - just get it over and done with as soon as possible and then I'll be that much more confident when having to do shorter journeys and I was right.
I've been driving regularly on my own since then and my confidence has built immensely in that time. I have the radio on or I play some of my own music using Bluetooth and life is good! I find that music takes the pressure off somewhat and I feel that much more relaxed about it all, but I'm still very much alert and watching the roads as I go (obviously).
But driving around on my own got me thinking, I wonder if there are a few hints and tips I could come up with for new drivers who are nervous about driving around on their own for the first few times, much like I was, basically! So here's what I have come up with. If you have anymore tips that would be good for new drivers, leave them in the comments below, then we can all help each other :)
Don't start offering lifts straight away
It's important that you can get some experience on your own before you start giving friends and family members lifts anywhere. You can't do that right now anyway unless you're in a household or support bubble with them, but when things blow over and we can all start socialising again, don't give people a ride until you're feeling confident in yourself.
It might seem like a good idea, but it could make for one hell of a distraction, not only that but they could indirectly pile on the pressure and I know from experience that when a learner driver or even a new driver gets flustered, it can throw you off for the rest of the journey. Take things slowly and when you feel ready, perhaps start with one passenger, then two and work your way up from there.
Put your phone out of sight
Phones are a major distraction at the best of times, let alone when you're driving. If you're one to always look at your mobile when a notification flashes up, then put your phone away in a bag or in the glove box when you're out driving. You only have to look away for a second and something could come out of nowhere. Better still, put your phone on silent or 'drive mode' until you've completed the journey and the engine is off.
Drive short distances often to start with
Despite the fact that I drove my car on my own for the first time for over 30 minutes, I recommend that you take short journeys regularly to start with. Don't do what I did unless you absolutely have to, because that was a very scary experience for me, but it had to be done. Maybe go to the shops or drive around the block a couple of times before elongating your journey times.
Have the radio on
Like I've already said, I found having the radio on to be quite calming, as I find that silence can often add to the pressure and I tend to overthink things a lot more. This might not work for everyone, but it definitely works for me. It also puts another voice in the car with you, because up until this point you've only ever driven with another person next to you. It really helps to put my mind at ease!
Take a minute to clam your nerves before setting off
It can be quite a shaky start when you get into the car on your own for the first time, so make sure you're calm before setting off on your journey. You need to be in the right mindset before heading out onto the road, so make sure you aren't feeling too nervous to concentrate because being alert and aware of everything that's going off around you is paramount when out on the road.
Remember, every driver was like you at some stage
You'll get the odd driver who is pushy or feels like they can bully you off the road, mainly because you're a new driver. They might not know it, but you're still not as confident a driver as they are, so take your time. Do the speed limit, be sensible when approaching junctions and roundabouts etc because you can't compromise anything for a pushy driver.
Just remember that if they want to pull around you, they can, don't bow down to the pressure they're putting you under, because it will happen at some stage. All drivers were fresh out on the road at some point and I think a lot of them forget that, so just bear that in mind and stay happy and calm behind the wheel!
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I hope you enjoyed this blog post. If you have anymore tips for brand new drivers, feel free to leave them in the comment section below! I will see you again really soon with a brand new blog post :)
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