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Many people learn to drive when they are young, usually between 17 and 18. More women than men tend to start driving a bit later than this, but that seems to be changing. Whether you are just thinking about driving lessons, or you are already half way through a course, here are some great tips to improve your learning experience.
The Theory Test
Make sure that you prepare well for your theory test. Know the rules of the road off by heart and get someone to test you regularly in the weeks before you take the test. Remember that without this, you can’t get your licence.
How You Learn
It’s a fact that we don’t all learn things in the same way. You may find that your first instructor teaches in one way, but that learning something else to start with might serve you better. Try to understand how you learn best, and then look for a tutor that you think will match your needs.
Dealing with Mistakes
You might as well face the fact that you are going to make mistakes when you start learning to drive – we all do. The best way to deal with this is to try and practice whatever you did wrong between lessons, and then forget about it. If you go to your next lesson worrying about what you got wrong last time, chances are you will do the same thing again.
Practice Makes Perfect
Once you have started learning to drive, it’s a good idea to get a relative or friend to let you practice with them between lessons. The more practice you get at this stage, the more likely you are to pass your driving test first time out.
The Clutch
Unless you learn on an automatic, and most people don’t because it limits their options later on, you need to focus on clutch control. One of the things that you need to learn is to keep the clutch still when you are moving off. When the vehicle starts to move slowly, put some gentle pressure on the accelerator while holding the clutch at what is known as the biting point, as the car starts to move off gently. If you’ve ever had a jumpy start, this is the way to control it.
The Test
Most professionals would agree that it’s a good idea to have an extra driving lesson on the day you take your test, or as close as possible to that date. Make sure you have your theory test pass and your provisional licence with you on the day of the test.
Passing Your Test is Not the End
You may think that once you’ve passed your test you are a fully-fledged driver. The truth is that you have learned a set of skills that will need time to become a habit. None of us know what we are going to encounter out on the road. Make sure that you keep learning from your own driving experience, as well as honing the skills that enabled you to pass the test.
