If you’re a nervous driver, or think that you will be, don’t worry – you’re not alone.
Research carried out by the RAC has found that approximately 10 million drivers in the UK suffer some kind of driving anxiety disorder, with women being more commonly affected. For example, it is estimated that one in five female drivers refuse to drive on a motorway at all.
Some of the more common fears that learners have are fear of large vehicles coming towards them, fear of impatient drivers behind them, fear that they themselves will cause a hold up by stalling and fear of judging when to go at roundabouts. These fears tend to lead to more mistakes, thus compounding the problem and reinforcing a negative driving experience.
But these fears can be overcome, and hopefully the following three points can help with that:
1) Relax before a lesson
Driving lessons themselves can make people anxious. Pupils sometimes worry that they won’t understand what’s asked of them, or that they’ll look stupid if they can’t do it, or if they have to ask again how to do something. These should never be fears that you have. I (and any good driving instructor) will be patient, willing to answer any questions, however many times they are asked, and will never think anyone is stupid for finding driving hard. We don’t bite! The reason that you are having lessons is that you can’t drive yet, so it stands to reason that you won’t be able to do everything straight away.
2) Understanding your needs
As your instructor I will make every effort to ensure that each lesson you have is tailored to your specific needs. For example, I won’t be making you drive around the Maypole roundabout on your first driving lesson! We’ll progress at a rate which suits your learning requirements. It’s always better to walk before you can run, and there’s little point trying to get across a busy junction in the rush hour if you’re still struggling with clutch control, so we’ll work on your clutch control in a quiet environment. That way you’re far less likely to make mistakes, which lead to a lack of confidence in the future. If you’re finding steering a problem, we’ll work on that in a safe environment with wider roads, and get you proficient before expecting you to negotiate a tricky narrow street with numerous parked cars and other obstructions.
3) Breathe
I know it may sound crazy, but learner drivers who get stressed often forget to breathe! If you’re finding a situation stressful, maybe before doing a parallel park on the driving test, it’s a good idea to take several long deep breaths. This is a very simple but effective method of relaxation which can help to reduce nerves so that you feel calm and in control once more – hopefully bringing you closer to achieving your goal of learning to drive and passing your test!
