How to become a more confident driver

Passing your driving test is a great achievement, but taking on the roads by yourself can be daunting. Practice is the best way to become more confident, but there’s a few other things you can do to help you feel more comfortable on the roads. We’ve got a few tips, so keep reading!

Drive on your own

You might feel like you’ll be more comfortable driving with someone else in the car – after all, you’ve only ever driven with someone else in the car up until you passed. However, giving your friends lifts can be more of a distraction than a comfort in reality. You’re much better off practicing on your own, where you can make mistakes and no one notice, until you are confident in the car.

Remember: all cars are different

No car is equal. The bite point on every car is different, which can be a stumbling block for many new drivers. You might not have stalled much in your driving instructor’s car, but as soon as you get your own you find yourself stalling more often than not. This isn’t because you’ve suddenly become a bad driver – you just haven’t gotten used to the car yet. It will take time to get used to the differences in the car, so don’t get bogged down in any mistakes you make at the start.

 You never stop learning

Just because you’ve passed your test, doesn’t mean you have nothing left to learn. You’re only at the start of your driving journey, so don’t be surprised when you come across driving situations you never tackled during your lessons. Don’t forget, you did your test in one town – every town will have different roads and different traffic systems, so take it in your stride. Practicing regularly will help you here – especially at different times and in different weather conditions. Try and focus on things that make you nervous, like roundabouts or parallel parking. These are things that we all struggle with at first, and it all comes with practice.

Ignore other drivers

There is nothing worse than stalling in a queue of traffic and having a car beep behind you. Often, this can stress us out and make us take longer to rectify our mistake. However, just because someone is beeping at you or flashing their lights, doesn’t mean you’re in the wrong – in fact, it means they are as they breaking the Highway Code. Don’t worry about what other people think, because they would have done the same when they were new drivers. Be safe and take your time, as they’ll get where they need to be either way.

Take a Pass Plus course

If you’re unsure about driving on motorways, rural roads or in adverse weather conditions, taking a Pass Plus course can be a good way to build your confidence. Over six hours, you’ll have the opportunity to practice more challenging drives with an instructor in the passenger seat. As a bonus, some insurance providers will offer a discount if you take the course, so you could make some savings.