These top tips for learning to drive could help you sail through your tests with confidence, composure, and a welcome sense of calm.
Check your eyesight
When learning to drive, the first step is to check your eyesight meets the legal minimum standard. You can wear glasses or contact lenses to meet it if required. A professional test is the only way to be sure you can see properly. The considerations include visual acuity and field of vision. However, you can get some idea whether your sight is legal without professional help. You must be able to read a car’s number plate made from September 2001, from 20 metres.
Choose manual or automatic
Consider whether you want to drive cars that have manual or automatic transmission. If you pass your practical test in a manual, you qualify to drive cars with either transmission. However, if you pass the test in an automatic car you are only qualified to drive automatics. That might be restrictive and frustrating long term. There are far fewer automatics on the road.
Study Highway Code early
Study the Highway Code before your first practical lesson. It contains information you need from the first moment behind the wheel. For instance, it confirms what the traffic signs mean.
Get professional tuition
Whereas a friend may offer to teach you to drive – professional tuition is helpful too. This is because a professional knows exactly what is required to pass in 2022. A friend who qualified years ago might not be so sure so you may be mislead, albeit accidentality. Today’s requirements differ to the past. Pick an instructor that has plenty of experience, a high pass rate, and is easy to get on with. Once a professional has confirmed what is required today, you can practise via a friend without being misled.
Be familiar with the car
Before driving, check how you operate the vehicle’s primary controls. Examples include the parking brake, indicators, windscreen wipers, and demister. You might need such controls at any moment. Also, ensure that the car’s seat, door mirrors, and rear-view mirror are positioned to suit. Note any blind spots, too.
Practise, practise, practise
Practise as much as possible to make it easier to pass the practical test. Ensure too that you face numerous different scenarios. Seek them out if necessary. Drive on major roads at speed, urban streets, and narrow country lanes. Practise when it is sunny, rainy, foggy, light, and dark. Drive too when the roads are busy and quiet. Confidence and good judgement come from experience.
Much the same applies to the theory test. Practise helps you pass so take every opportunity. Practise tests are available on the net.
Have the right mindset
The right mindset is a tremendous asset on the road. So, stay positive as you learn to drive even when you make avoidable mistakes. Errors are inevitable. Everyone makes them. Rather than dwell on such things – which can be upsetting and discouraging – view them as an opportunity to learn and improve. Additionally, decide from day one to be a safe, calm, responsible, and legal driver on every trip. There will then be very little drama, if any.
Get suitable clothes
Suitable clothes help keep you safe and comfortable on the road. Loose shoes might fall off your feet, for instance. That is dangerous. A large, thick, uncomfortable coat that restricts your movement might be troublesome too. You must be able to turn as required to see traffic, people, and any other hazards. And naturally, use sunglasses and a hat to reduce glare on bright days.
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