By Pamela Rose
Being a confident driver starts with knowing how to be a smart one.
It’s not just about being able to drive. It’s about knowing the rules of the road, staying alert and maintaining awareness, and preparing for whatever can happen on the road.
To help you to develop into a more confident driver, we have compiled these 5 easy steps to become a more confident driver.
Practice
Makes Perfect!
It’s true. Driving is not easy.
It is essential to be super aware of everything around you, including other drivers, pedestrians, and road signs. But driving doesn’t have to be overwhelming if you know what to do.
The best way to get better at driving is to practice. Every time you drive, make sure you’re paying attention to your surroundings and following the rules of the road.
The more you practice at becoming a competent driver on the road, the more confident you will feel in your abilities and enhance your skills and reactions to many different situations on the road.
Practicing will also help you become more comfortable behind the wheel so that when it’s time for that long trip or commute into work on a busy road system, you’ll already know what to do and be able to do it with more confidence.
Stay Calm
Sometimes, when you’re in a car, it can feel like the whole world is coming at you. You might start to panic. But don’t! Keep your cool.
Start by taking deep breaths and making yourself calm. The more relaxed you are, the better driver you will be.
Then, make sure to take note of all your surroundings. Make eye contact with pedestrians and other drivers to make sure they see you before making any turns or changing lanes.
Pay attention to where pedestrians are walking because if they step off the curb, they could get hit by any car even if they have the right of way!
If you think that there is something that is distracting about your environment—like an animal or another driver—make sure that you take care of it before proceeding on the road so that it doesn’t cause any accidents.
Lastly, try not to get distracted by your phone or other passengers in the car with you. If someone needs to text while driving, ask them to pull over first so they can be safe!
Drive with an experienced driver
If you’re a new driver, take advantage of the opportunity to drive with someone who has experience.
They will be able to show you the ropes and help you learn and develop as a confident and independent driver. And if you do happen to get into an accident, they can be there to reassure you and show you what to do in an emergency situation.
If there is no one experienced to ride along with you, consider installing another set of electronic eyes in the form of front and rear dash cams. These will be able to give you a visual right around your car which can provide fantastic reassurance and increased awareness, which can make you feel more confident.
Take an advanced driving course
Taking an advanced driving course is the best way to better understand the rules of the road and increase your driving skills.
Learning from a professional can help you feel more confident on the road.
A professional driving course will teach you how to deal with everyday driving situations, like merging into traffic, braking, and how to drive in different road situations, which can increase your awareness and confidence.
They’ll even show you how to prepare for emergencies like skidding out of control or breaking down in the middle of nowhere.
Trust us—we’ve all been there!
Driving courses are also designed to improve your skills in different environments.
You’ll learn how to drive well in heavy traffic as well as rural areas, including unpaved roads and car parks.
A lot goes into becoming a confident driver.
The truth is that no two drivers are alike.
That’s why it’s highly recommended to take an advanced driving course designed specifically for your needs.
Remove stresses
To be a more confident driver means removing all of the potentially stressful situations from your drive.
There are so many potential distractions on the road these days, and it’s easy to get frustrated or angry when you have to stop for traffic or have a car blocking your lane.
To avoid these stresses, it’s essential to remove yourself from the situation mentally and not let the situation distract you from driving.
Take a really deep breath and count to 10 before you lash out at another driver or take an unnecessary risk, which will undoubtedly dent your driving confidence.
You can also let your passenger handle the stress for you by taking over navigation duties or giving you feedback on what they see happening ahead of you.
Conclusion
For some people, driving confidence does not come naturally.
Confidence often comes in droves with lots of experience. This can be built and developed with lots of practice and driving in real situations.
Not every driver is confident in demeanour, but they have the extensive skills or longevity of driving that takes them through the barrier of driving confidence.
There may, of course, be some situations that dent your driving confidence, such as accidents and incidents, and the best advice for regaining that confidence is to stay calm, never give up and build slowly to make yourself into a more confident driver once more.
If you are unsure of your confidence in your own skills, then utilise the many advanced driving courses available to build your confidence in driving situations that might worry you under expert instruction.
