Learning to drive is a rite of passage in many people’s lives. Either because it is another step from adolescence to adulthood, or because we break down a barrier. However, learning to drive is rarely a straightforward process, and definitely not easy.
Despite this, it should not be a difficult process, especially if we follow a series of tips and good practices. At CSTT Chris shilling transport training we know how pleasant it is to finally learn dangerous goods courses to drive, and that is why we share the following tips.
Familiarize Yourself with the Vehicle and its Controls
- Despite what they may tell you, learning to drive is nothing like a video game. We are not referring to these types of controls, but to those of the car, the ones you will use to control it.
- Before thinking about starting the car, you must be absolutely sure that you understand what each control is for.
- From the pedals (accelerator, brake and clutch, if included), through the buttons on the steering wheel, the dashboard and even the icons and information lights.
- In this way, you increase your knowledge of the vehicle and reduce unforeseen events on the road.
Make Sure you Take your Time
- When we learn any new skills, we must take our time.
- When learning to drive, this criterion applies in exactly the same way.
- Give time to your first lessons, whether with a friend or family member, or on a driving course.
- Learning to drive is a fundamental skill, and it is very important to do it well, without rushing or skipping important points. Especially if you will take the lessons on your own with a friend or relative, because in a driving course they are usually very well structured by time and concepts to learn.
- While there is no minimum duration, you should give yourself the time to get comfortable behind the wheel.
Practice when the Conditions are Right
- Don’t let the desire to learn to drive make you fearless. The car is not the place to forget about security measures, especially if you are just learning.
- Make sure that every time you take your lessons, the conditions are right. This means that there are no factors that are going to make the experience stressful.
- Try to always schedule your lessons in the morning or at noon, to have the highest possible visibility. If possible, try to do it at a time or area that is not very busy, and therefore, the traffic is light.
Start Slowly but Surely
- You must move forward as safely as possible, step by step.
- Before hitting the highway or high-speed tracks, you must master the basic controls of driving.
- Keep in mind that you must master basic things like learning to start, change lanes or mirror before attempting to take on bigger challenges.
- The same goes for learning to turn in a U or go backwards; they are basic questions that you must master first.
- The best way to master these concepts is to start the lessons in parking lots or vacant lots.
- There you will have room to try different maneuvers and feel comfortable with the size of the vehicle before trying it outside.
- In a driving course, the school or instructor probably has identified suitable points for this.
- If you can’t do it like this, remember what we said before: try to do it in a less busy area.
Respect the traffic regulations to the letter
- The traffic regulations are created to protect all of us who occupy the street: motorists, motorcyclists, cyclists and pedestrians.
- Each of the rules written there was designed to guarantee a safe and harmonious mobility among all.
- If you are going to learn to drive, it is your duty to know it and respect it to the letter. Doing so will help you know how to react to various situations that may arise along the way.
- And to know your rights in case a traffic agent asks you to stop.
- In any driving course, they will surely also give you a traffic regulations exam.
- And if it is a course that is respected, failing that exam should also be a reason for not passing the course.
- Eliminate Distractions
- If you are going to learn to drive, all your attention should be 100% focused on it. This means that you should not have distractions while driving.
- It is also clear that you should not drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Learn to Drive: Have your car Manual Handy
- Believe it or not, the car manual is very useful to learn to drive.
- Many makes and models include tips and advice for driving the car in their manuals.
- In it you can find recommendations for parking, tips for defensive driving, tips for driving on slopes or specific regions, or for driving at night, in fog or in the rain.
- Definitely, the manual is something that always has to go in the vehicle of those who want to learn to drive.
- In a driving course, you can discuss several of these topics with the instructor to complement the information in the manual.
Drive Defensively
- Driving defensively means always being ready for any situation that may arise.
- You must always be attentive to your surroundings, to be able to react appropriately to any unforeseen event.
- Driving defensively, even if it sounds bad, means assuming that pedestrians and other drivers are inattentive and will make mistakes.
- Knowing how to prevent these mistakes and having an action plan is the best thing a budding driver can do.
- One way to drive defensively is to always allow a reasonable distance between your vehicle and the one ahead of you, as it is impossible to know when it will suddenly stop or turn.
- With practice and experience, little by little it will be easier to foresee the mistakes that pedestrians and drivers may make.
