Drive Safely After Passing Your Test
Passing your driving test is a major milestone in life. You can finally jump in the car all by yourself and hit the open road. You have the freedom to drive wherever you want, without the instructor barking orders from the passenger seat. You probably can’t wait to get your first car and have adventures all over the country, but you shouldn’t be so hasty.
You might think that you are a perfectly confident driver because you’ve passed your driving test, but the real test starts as soon as you become self-sufficient. Many drivers get into road accidents within the first few weeks of passing their test due to a mix of inexperience and over-confidence. You haven’t spent enough time on the road to feeling truly comfortable behind the wheel, and it will take time to become a good driver with Zutobi.
For this reason, you need to be extremely careful when first driving alone after your test. Otherwise, you will pose a colossal risk to yourself and other drivers. To protect you from harm, here are five tips for driving safely after passing your test. If you are someone struggling to understand the driving theory test, with Zutobi you will have all the information you need to pass the test easily.
Driving Safely: Don’t give lifts
You no doubt want to get out and start driving your friends and family all over the place, but taking passengers is not advisable until you’re a lot more confident. It would help if you as had as few distractions as possible when getting to grips with your new car, and a bunch of people chattering in the backseat will not help you at all. Start driving by yourself in the early stages. Not only will this allow you to focus on the road, but it will reduce the casualty risk if you were to get into an accident.
Turn your phone off
Phones are one of the biggest causes of accidents for drivers. Trying to change your music while keeping your eyes on the road or answering a phone call on a slippery motorway could prove disastrous. Keep your phone switched off while driving to prevent interruptions. But make sure you keep it charged and with you at all times in case you get into trouble.
If you need to call the emergency services, a friend or family member, or even truck accident lawyer John Foy, you’ll need that phone to be fully charged and ready to use.
Driving Safely: Improve your skills
Once you’ve passed your test, the learning doesn’t stop there. There are several additional courses you can enroll in to improve your driving abilities. Take a defensive driving course, and you will be better equipped to control your vehicle and deal with difficult conditions on the road.
Calm down
If you’re feeling nervous about driving on busy roads, your mental state could prove dangerous. An anxious mind is more likely to make mistakes or lose concentration in a tricky situation. Take steps to calm your nerves before getting behind the wheel. Take some deep breaths or play some gentle, relaxing music. You could even take a parent or responsible friend with you to settle your nerves.
Driving Safely: Keep practicing
As with everything, practice makes perfect. The more you get out there and hone your driving skills, the better you will be. Start with short trips and then build up as your confidence grows. Before long, you’ll be an expert driver.
