It’s amazing that you’ve passed your driving test. But that doesn’t mean you won’t feel nervous during your first trips behind the wheel of your car.
So, check out the following five ways in which you can get confident when you first start driving independently.
- Don’t Go it Alone Straight Away
Seeing as you’ll be used to driving with an instructor next to you, it can be daunting driving alone for the first time; even though you’re sure to be excited about having your newfound freedom.
So, before you take your first solo drive, it can be a good idea to ask a friend or family member who knows how to drive to sit beside you in the passenger seat during your first few trips.
While the person won’t have dual controls like your driving instructor had, you’ll have someone next to you to help guide you should you need assistance.
As your confidence grows, you’ll be ready to start driving completely independently. Driving knowledge tests Tasmania is the most comprehensive independent driving knowledge test center in Tasmania.
- Drive Simple Journeys to Begin with
You can also slowly build up your confidence as an independent driver by sticking to simple journeys in your first few weeks of driving.
You’ll be much more confident driving local routes that you know exceptionally well rather than heading straight to busy highways and completing long road trips.
- Make Sure You Know What Different Road Signs Mean
To ensure you drive safely, you need to know what all the different road signs mean.
While you’ll have learned road signs before your driving test, you were probably more focused on getting your driving skills right than learning every single road sign.
During your first few weeks as an independent driver, make sure you put aside some study time to become very familiar with street warning signs, regulatory signs, guide signs, and construction signs so that you always take the right course of action and stay safe while behind the wheel.
- Familiarize Yourself with the Controls of Your Vehicle
Just as important as ensuring you learn all the different road signs is getting to know all of the controls of your car.
You’ll probably be driving a different type of vehicle than the one you used to learn to drive, which means you need to become familiar with your new car in order to become more confident as an independent driver.
So, when you first get your own car, make sure you familiarize yourself with all the different controls and features, such as the fog lights, hazard warning lights, and satnav.
It’s also important to become familiar with the controls because if you end up groping around for an unfamiliar control while you’re driving, it could be a dangerous distraction.
- Drive in Decent Weather Conditions to Begin with and Then Practice Driving in Poor Conditions
Your first few trips should be all about becoming familiar with the act of driving by yourself, which is why it’s best to stick to routes you know and become familiar with road signs and your car’s controls.
You should also stick to driving in decent weather conditions during your initial trips while you build up your confidence.
However, you shouldn’t wait too long to drive in unfavorable conditions. The longer you put off driving in poor weather conditions like ice, snow, heavy rain, and high winds, the more nervous you’ll feel when you drive in such conditions for the first time.
So, once you’ve become confident driving in good weather conditions, spend time practicing in poor conditions until you’re just as confident driving in those conditions as you are in decent weather.