Learners drivers often find that learning to drive is stressful and they can’t relax until they are test ready. However, by following these simple tips, hopefully they will help you relax and get more out of your driving lessons, so that they become enjoyable.
If you can relax you will learn quicker, therefore reducing the number of lessons you will require and saving you money in the long run. There are various reasons why learners don’t relax in the early stages of their lessons and we will cover them below.
DON’T BE FRIGHTENED OF CRASHING THE CAR.
If you can relax you will learn quicker, therefore reducing the number of lessons you will require and saving you money in the long run. There are various reasons why learners don’t relax in the early stages of their lessons and we will cover them below.
DON’T BE FRIGHTENED OF CRASHING THE CAR.
A lot of learners are inevitably frightened of crashing the car on their lessons. Please don’t be! The vast majority of driving instructors have dual controls, so that they can control the car if they are needed to.
We are all qualified and some are advanced drivers as well. All instructors should be fully aware of their surroundings always and not let you get into dangerous situations.
Being frightened may have an adverse effect on you though, as you will tend to stare ahead and not be aware of your surroundings therefore being more at risk than if you were relaxed.
We are all qualified and some are advanced drivers as well. All instructors should be fully aware of their surroundings always and not let you get into dangerous situations.
Being frightened may have an adverse effect on you though, as you will tend to stare ahead and not be aware of your surroundings therefore being more at risk than if you were relaxed.
DON’T BE FRIGHTENED OF MAKING A MISTAKE.
Learner drivers are often frightened of making mistakes on their driving lessons, as they see this as bad and embarrassing!
Don’t be embarrassed about making mistakes, we are human and learning to drive, mistakes will happen. Your driving instructor will be able to ensure that any mistakes made are not dangerous and are dealt with correctly.
We all learn from our mistakes, so use them to work out what you would do next time, instead of blanking them out!
Learner drivers are often frightened of making mistakes on their driving lessons, as they see this as bad and embarrassing!
Don’t be embarrassed about making mistakes, we are human and learning to drive, mistakes will happen. Your driving instructor will be able to ensure that any mistakes made are not dangerous and are dealt with correctly.
We all learn from our mistakes, so use them to work out what you would do next time, instead of blanking them out!
DON’T OVERTHINK WHAT YOU NEED TO DO.
A lot of learner drivers overthink and therefore by the time they do something it is often too late! By going with your gut instinct, the first thing that comes into your mind, you will find that you will not be rushed and do whatever it is you want to do early, meaning that you are more relaxed. 99.99% of the time this will be the correct decision as well, if it is not learn from it and work out what you would do next time.
A lot of learner drivers overthink and therefore by the time they do something it is often too late! By going with your gut instinct, the first thing that comes into your mind, you will find that you will not be rushed and do whatever it is you want to do early, meaning that you are more relaxed. 99.99% of the time this will be the correct decision as well, if it is not learn from it and work out what you would do next time.
DON’T SIT TOO CLOSE TO THE STEERING WHEEL.
If you sit on top of the steering wheel, it will have several effects on you, all of which will increase the tension running through your body.
The final two involving the steering wheel, not only make you tense because of the way you are told to do it, but also by being told “if you don’t do it this way, you will fail your test!” This sentence alone really makes you nervous and tense, instead of you being put at ease.
At Xpert Driver Training Ltd all our driving instructors attend regular training courses to improve our knowledge and skills so that we can pass it on to you our learner drivers. The information above was all gained by our instructors whilst on development course.
If you sit on top of the steering wheel, it will have several effects on you, all of which will increase the tension running through your body.
- Poor clutch control – Do you find that when using clutch control, you struggle to keep the clutch still, or as you start to bring the clutch above the bite, your leg is pushed up by the spring of the clutch? If so you are probably sitting too close to the steering wheel. Your heel should glide along the floor and your leg should bend and straighten from the knee and your knee should not raise up towards the steering wheel. If you can improve your clutch control and make it smoother, you will relax more.
- If you can’t see correctly you will be nervous. Having the seat forward means you will have far less peripheral vision as the driver’s door pillar will be blocking your view, try moving the seat backwards so that your peripheral vision increases.
- Holding the wheel at 10 to 2 often makes people tenser as it’s not a natural position for your hands. A lot of instructors will tell you that you must hold it at 10 to 2, otherwise you will fail your driving test! They are wrong! Years ago, yes you had to, however these days, mainly because of technology advances you don’t have to, however you must hold it safely, so holding it down at the bottom is not going to be safe! But putting your hands in a more natural position is going to make you more relaxed.
- Don’t worry too much about how to steer. A lot of instructors tell you, you “must not cross your hands or you will fail your test”! Again, due to technical advances in cars, this is out dated, if it is safe to do so you can cross your hands! Some instructors insist that you feed the wheel through your hands as you will fail your driving test otherwise. Wrong, this only makes you more rigid and tense, in your arms. You can steer however you want if it is safe, so be relaxed and steer safely.
The final two involving the steering wheel, not only make you tense because of the way you are told to do it, but also by being told “if you don’t do it this way, you will fail your test!” This sentence alone really makes you nervous and tense, instead of you being put at ease.
At Xpert Driver Training Ltd all our driving instructors attend regular training courses to improve our knowledge and skills so that we can pass it on to you our learner drivers. The information above was all gained by our instructors whilst on development course.