New drivers can take time to find their feet. After all, it’s not just the official rules they have to get used to – there are many unspoken driving behaviors they need to master as well! So, maybe your niece or nephew has just passed their test, or maybe one of your parents has decided to start driving later on in life? No matter how old someone may be, being a new driver can be a nerve wracking thing!
And as an experienced driver yourself, they may now be turning to you to ask the best things to know about getting on the road. In the same way you wouldn’t want them to get ripped off when buying a new car, you want them to be as safe as possible when driving. However, a lot of the right knowledge simply comes from practice! So if you’re not quite sure what to say, here are some top tips that’ll help them get their head round being a new driver.
Good Ways to Block Out Distractions
You can be easily distracted when driving, whether by a text on your phone or when you’re trying to change the music on the dashboard in front of you. Because of this, if someone is new to driving they may feel intimidated by everything that’s in front of them. Most driving instructors won’t even allow the radio to be switched in during lessons, so getting used to coping with that kind of distraction may take time.
Simply remind them here that hands-free technology exists, and it’s easy to use. Connect the phone to the car before you set off and you’ll have everything you need right in front of you. Music can be easily switched, and in some cars you can use your voice to send texts and answer calls as they come through. And while teens and young adults will already know this, an older relative like your parent may not.
How to Prepare the ‘Cockpit’
The ‘cockpit’ of the car is where the driver sits. As such, it should be customized to suit them as much as possible. The seat should be at the right height and comfortable enough to spend long hours in. Similarly, they should know how to adjust the wheel to their own arm length. Modern cars are designed to be used by drivers of all heights.
You can suggest to them a load of gadgets to set up in there as well, such as a phone holder if they want to follow a route on a map, which is especially good in older cars without built-in GPS. Overall just make sure they know they can change things to make them feel more like a confident driver, and sometimes that just means putting a cushion or two behind your back to elevate you!
Never Ignore a Maintenance Issue
A maintenance issue can be anything, from a light on your dashboard repeatedly blinking at you to a big plume of smoke coming out of the hood of the car! However, we want to stop the first thing from progressing into the second, and that means never ignoring a potential maintenance issue. Even a tyre that has low pressure can cause severe damage if driven on for too long.
Tell a new driver what to look out for, what certain lights mean, and what tools they should keep in the car just in case. Doing a bit of roadside DIY isn’t a bad thing if it’ll help you get to a mechanic’s shop down the road. And everyone who goes behind the wheel should know how to change a tyre and the oil! If they pick up these crucial car maintenance skills now, they’re less likely to have trouble later on.
How to Deal with an Accident
An accident can occur no matter how careful you are as a driver. Because of this, a new driver should know just how to deal with a crash, and how to cope if they end up with a car accident injury. The first thing to remind them of is not to panic – this will only make the situation worse, and you’re unable to think rationally about what to do next when you do.
The second thing to do is ensure they’re safe, the car has come fully to a stop and has been turned off, and that they’re able to get out of it without compromising themselves. Remind them that hazard lights are incredibly useful at a time like this, and that they should have an automobile breakdown company’s number in their phone.
They’ll also need to get as many details of the situation down as possible. Share name, registration, and insurance details with any other drivers involved. If anyone was injured, the police should also be called.
To Give as Much Distance as Possible
Distance is the best thing to have on the road. The further away you are from the car in front, the safer you’ll be. Of course, you don’t want to be miles behind and hold up the whole queue, but you do need at least a couple seconds of driving to be safely behind them. It’s hard to tell meters and feet on the road, so tracking by time is the best way to be proactive here.
This is especially important when you’re on roads you’re unfamiliar with and may need to take sudden turns, or when it’s raining hard and the tyres could slip. A new driver should know ahead of time about these things from their driving lessons, but it’s always worth a reminder. It’s easy to fall into bad habits when there’s no instructor sitting next to you!
Giving a new driver some well earned advice goes a long way. They’ll feel safer on the road, they’ll drive more responsibly, and you don’t have to worry about them either. Take tips like these and help the new driver in your life beat their road anxiety.
