i'm 23, i'm starting driving school next week but whenever i've tried learning before I get behind the wheel and all my confidence goes out the window. I just seem to fixate on the fact that once I have my liscense i'll always have my daughter in the car with me and I start to worry about what if something happens. I'm just looking for any tips to relax while driving and any other tips not related to the mental aspect of driving. All I really know is, the gas, break, heat and radio....please help, after all you may end up on the same road as me one day so it would benifit both of us......
2007-11-28 05:14:16 · 4 answers · asked by Anonymous in Cars & Transportation ➔ Safety
First off reduce distractions as much as possible when you are driving. Most accidents that occur are a result of the driver being distracted.
Second get as much practice as you can. The more experience you have behind the wheel the more comfortable it will be. Many people are nervous when they get behind the wheel for the first few times. You can always start off in areas that are not busy, perhaps even a cemetery. Deep breathing also would not be a bad idea, and choosing the right person to help you learn is also important.
As far a driving goes a few tips I always tell people are first be patient with all other drivers. Pretend that you know all other drivers on the road and so do not become upset when they do something that you were not expecting like cut you off or drive slow in front or you or tailgate. Keeping your head level will reduce the chance that you are in an accident. Expect drivers to do the unexpected, that way when they do instead of becoming upset you can say I knew he/she would do that.
Keeping a safe following distance is also a key. In normal driving conditions a 2 second following distance if you are driving a car. That will give you the time to react to what is going on in front of you.
Keep your eyes moving. Always be looking around and know what is going on. Look about 15 seconds ahead of you for brake lights and red lights to give you more time to react. Know what is behind you should you need to slam on the brakes, or to your side if you need to make a sudden shift...sometimes to avoid an accident it is better to move out of the way then to slam on brakes.
I hope that this helps, being a little nervous on the road is not a bad thing, it will keep you from becoming too relaxed, just do not allow it to prevent you from driving. You will get better; I wish you the best of luck.
2007-11-28 05:58:17 · answer #1 · answered by Michael 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The best way to build confidence is practice, practice, practice. Get out on quiet side streets or back country roads. You want to be away from other traffic. Then just go around the block a few times, and then go around several blocks. If there are no stop signs, pick a quiet, empty stretch and practice - use a tree or bush or car and pretend that's the stop sign. Signal your turns, use your mirrors, and leave the radio off for the first few times. Try parking, too, both parallel parking in in a pull-in parking spot. Practice backing up 50 or 100 feet in a straight line. When I learned to drive, we had a drill where we had to back a figure 8 around 2 light poles in the school's parking lot. But practice, practice, practice.
Once you're comfortable with these skills here, go to a busier street or road, and try driving there. Do left turns and right - use the center turn lane, if there is one. Try parking again.
Work your way up from here - go for the main street in town, the busy highway leading out of town, and the interstate. You'll figure out how to do this soon enough.
You'll quickly learn that driving a car isn't all that difficult. You'll will also learn (hopefully) that you DO have to pay attention, if only for your daughter's sake.
2007-11-28 05:27:57 · answer #2 · answered by Ralfcoder 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Don't be thinking of the worst all the time. When you walk down the street you're not constantly thinking "what if a murderer jumps out and stabs me right now?" right? Just focus on the task at hand. Work on staying between the lines, keeping a safe distance and always having an "escape route" if you need to swerve around anything for example. It also helps to assume that every other driver out there is a moron and that you should be on the defensive in case they do something stupid.
2007-11-28 05:22:58 · answer #3 · answered by The Jesus 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Stay away from me when your out on the road....please please please please please.
2007-11-28 05:20:35 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋