7 Lessons When Learning To Drive

Learning to drive is an exhilarating experience! Finally, some freedom and the ability to go further than your bike allow. Here are the top 7 lessons to learn when learning to drive.

Photo Credit: State Farm (flickr.com)

1. Driving Can Be Scary

In online drivers ed, you will learn all about how dangerous driving is. In fact, in the United States, if you are aged 15 – 20, the number one cause of death is the result of traffic fatalities. As you move beyond the learning phase and become a regular, everyday driver, this stat will fade away and you’ll be tempted to forget about it. Don’t. The moment you think driving is perfectly safe is the moment you become a dangerous driver.

2. Know Your Blind Spots

Blind spots in cars are areas neither the mirrors nor your eyes can see. These blind spots usually exist near the passenger doors or just behind the rear bumper on both the left and right sides. Most blind spots can be corrected by properly adjusting the car’s mirrors, but it’s always good to know where those blind spots are so you can pay special attention to those areas.

3. Don’t Get Intimidated

When learning to drive, everyone will tell you to drive below the speed limit, do things slowly, and drive in ways many other drivers will become impatient with. Ignore them. This is a good lesson to learn right away. Never let anyone pressure you into driving unsafe. If somebody waves you into traffic but you don’t feel safe about it, stay put. If someone honks because you’re driving too slow, give them the opportunity to pass you or ignore them. You are the “captain of the ship” and nobody else. Do what you feel is safe.

4. Control Your Emotions

It’s easy to get nervous while driving. Even confident drivers get nervous in some situations. Driving late at night on a deserted road, a sudden snowstorm or severe thunderstorm, a confusing construction zone, or rush hour traffic in a major city. Driving safely is all about keeping your emotions in check. Start practicing emotional control right away. It may the be the safest thing you can do.

5. Communicate Visually

This will take some getting used to. It’s almost an art form. People learn how to communicate visually when driving. Making eye contact, for example, lets the other driver know you acknowledge them. A quick hand wave or a nod lets the other driver you will let them proceed first. Slowly idling your car forward at a 4-way intersection tells other drivers you are about to go through. The longer you drive, the more this will become second nature. This is a vital form of communication when driving and helps to keep people safe. Just be sure to avoid using the middle finger – it never works out well!

6. Don’t Take It Personal

You are about to find out just how many poor drivers there are on our roadways. People drive unsafe all the time and you will see it daily. People will tailgate you, cut you off, honk at you, get impatient, and find any way they can to annoy you. Just relax. You have a decision to make – you can be a person that just let’s those things roll off your back, or you can allow it to get you upset and make you miserable to the point you hate driving. It’s your choice.

7. Form Good Habits Now

Habits formed while learning to drive stick with you for just about your entire driving career. Few people ever change their driving habits. From your seating position to the speed you drive to your following distance and how you handle yourself emotionally. It all starts now. So don’t slack off – take this seriously. But most of all, be safe and have fun!