What is the safest way to practice driving?

Question

can anyone tell me the SAFEST way to learn how to drive? ---without hitting anybody / anything? . I want to be a good driver. thanks.

Driving is also one of my biggest fears, and I don't want to 'freeze' up of 'freak' out, in the middle of the street...

Answer 1

Hello,

the first to point out,is that even the best drivers couldn't guarantee absolute safety - when you drive a car, your and the others' safety depends on your vehicle. In my opinion, to handle this fact, first you should have a basic knowledge of your car. How it works, how it handles, the more perspectives you can inspect, the better :D.

Want to be a good driver?

A good jockey should know his horse and the track, so simple. When you treat your vehicle like a horse, which has soul, unique behaviour, habits, you will be agood owner of your car and she will serve the treatment. Give your car whatever/whenever she needs, maintain it, and she will never let you down.

E.g. when you would like to drive a manual gearbox car, learn some about what that means (components, operation, using, conseqeunces etc.). Auto transmission is easier to learn, but knowing how it works helps to evade a lot of problems. The point is, that knowing how your vehicle proceeds your operations, gives you more control over your car.

I read from others, that you should drive the same car during learning and practicing. I don't share that opinion, it's better to learn accomodating to different vehicles than getting on with a car and struggling with the lack of experince when you think you are good now. When I learnt to drive, I tried every make and model I could come by. FWD, RWD, small, huge, touring, sedan, older and newer rides. For first car I bought a car that I have newer driven before. My advice for you, to try out everything you can, so you can pick one of your favour. For maximum experince, try out vans, too(eg. a small japanese van which has the front axles behind the drivers cabin can be a worthy experinece, for they turn like buses :O).

Advices to start:

1. Get some skills in basic handling a car (rolling, turning, shifting up/down, go reverse, move out uphill), try to get a feel how much space your car occupies, learn where your wheels run in the tarmac, where the deadzones are etc. I personally think it's very important to be able to roll the car very slowly and I were you I would learn how to move out only with idling engine in the manual gearbox (so that you are not using the gaspedal).
2. Learn the rules. When you practice your 'style' will evolve, some rules you will find reasonable, some you won't :D When you 'keep' enough major rules you will keep your license :D
3. When you get into a tricky situation, try to reset yourself. The basic instict of all driver is to panic and 'lock up', which will lead into more errors. 'Good' drivers learn to overcome panic, since it prevents you to react and avoid the situation. Learn from your mistakes. When you barely got out of the situation and you think you had luck, immediately analyze, how you should do that next time!

Before going into traffic, try some places away from public roads, as other suggests, parking lots, fields, yards are OK. Try out different surfaces: tramac, wet tarmac, mud, dirt, snow.
Good drivers don't just react to their cars' behaviour: they predict it. E.g.I drive an RWD car on snow and turn in too fast. When I realize that the car oversteers it's too late. When I am a good driver, I know that I turned too fast and the car will oversteer, so I counter-steer way before the car starts to turn over the inside of the curve. So to be good, always know what the outcome of your actions can be and what to do with them.
The more sophisticated physical model you have in your head from your car, the more control you have over it. When you picked the car, try out a driving safety course with cone tracks and skidpads. E.g. learning how to make emergency stops on highways is what most of the people try out first, three seconds before they die in a highway accident...

The simpliest form of practising basic vehicle behaviour is playing with computer car games which have 'realistic' physical models. Don't laugh, for these games exhibit these phenomenons to entertain the player, but the same tendencies can be observed in real world (that's why they are simulations), and that's a benefit even if the match is not 100%.

To minimize the possibilities of accidents (you can't prevent them, only evade them), try to gather the most information from your surroundings. Good drivers drive safer because they can extract the information from 'between the lines', thus recognising the signs of things to come (pre-accident circumstances). E.g. when I cruise in a resindential area and a ball crosses in front of me, I step on the brakes, to prepare for the kid who crosses to catch the ball...Maybe there won't be a kid or maybe the kid will look around before crossing the street but will you put his life at stake to find out ?

I hope I helped you with your concerns. Wish you good driving experineces !

(ps.: according to a polling, every 9 of 10 driver thinks that he has special driving skills. Driving in general does not require special skills. Another study says many people don't have the required minimum skills for driving :D )

Answer 2

Find a large empty parking lot (ideally one without many light posts) and practice to your hearts content. Don't think about driving on roads, etc., just focus on learning how the vehicle works and responds to your commands. It's better if you practice in the same car that you will use when you get your license, and ideally, that you will take your driving test in.

Practice starting and stopping. Practice turns. Try different speeds. At slower speeds, try making the car wiggle back and forth left-right-left to get used to it (kind of like riding a bike). Definitely practice backing up.

As you get more comfortable with what the vehicle does, then try some simply driving exercises. For example, pick a line in the parking lot, drive towards it, and then stop at that line, as if it were a stop line. Get used to when you need to put on the brakes to stop in time. Also practice emergency stops, a speeds around 50 km/h (30 mph) by putting on the brake hard. Learn how the ABS works.

Practice driving on the lot when it's wet, especially the braking exercises above.

The more time you spend behind the wheel like this, the more comfortable you will be. Leave the radio off, etc., so you can focus on the driving and get used to the sound of the car.

I also highly recommend learning to drive on a standard rather than an automatic. Once you learn, you will never forget. If you start on automatic, it becomes more difficult to learn to drive standard later.

Answer 3

The first thing you want to do, is be sure that you are not scared or panicky about driving. Find a race track or a baseball field in your communtiy that you could use and practice here, before you actually go on to the road and practice. If you live in a neighborhood with little traffic, you could even practice here until you really get the hang of it, and once you feel mor comfortable with driving try it out there on the open highway. Good luck and be safe.

Answer 4

I would go very early in the morning to a big parking lot ... also make sure you pick someone who dont get excited easily for the experienced driver that you must legally have, cause the main thing is to be relaxed

Answer 5

Las Vegas Speedway.

Answer 6

Find a farm or other private property with open space and drive around. Make sure you have permission. I learned a lot doing this.

Answer 7

i bought a field car and just learn ina huge field but either a field or a parking lot at 5 am

Answer 8

in an empty parking lot than gradually start to drive on the road.

Answer 9

practice on an empty mall parking lot or do it on a video game

Answer 10

with ps2 grand turismo honestly buy a bike no gas or insurance and save the envioroment