The first few times you head out on the road without an instructor or another qualified driver with you, it can be a mix of excitement and anxiety. Over time you will become more confident in your ability and enjoy driving much more. Everything that you have been practicing for months and, in some cases, years before your test will come into action.

Cockpit 

You must do cockpit checks every time you get in the car before you start driving as a learner. Keep this habit after you pass your tests. The cockpit checks will run through mirror adjustments, testing lights, looking for dashboard lights, and more.

It only takes a few minutes to do, and will make sure that your car is in good order.

Bad weather 

If you have been lucky, you might only have driven in weather that is good for driving, warm but not too sunny, with no issues. So when the snow or ice hits, you might be tempted to skip driving and use public transport instead. One of the most important things you can do is head out in lousy weather. If you don’t feel 100% confident, ask a friend or family member with more experience to come with you.

It can help with your confidence to get your car winter-ready with weekly maintenance, winter service, and use some BF Goodrich tires.

Plates

There is some stigma attached to using plates – because other drivers can get irritated more easily. However, it is more important that you feel confident with your driving.

Music 

One of the biggest joys of driving is when you can head somewhere and listen to your favorite music in the car. But for the first while after passing your test, avoid listening to your music too loudly. Instead, keep it at a lower level in the background. Some studies show that teenagers who listened to music while driving were almost 100% more likely to have driving errors than those who didn’t.

As you get more comfortable with your driving, and it becomes more of second nature to you, a little music calms your nerves.

There is a saying about needing to turn the music down to better see a map in the car, which is partly true. Lower music can help us concentrate on what we are doing.

Road trip

If you are the first of your friends to pass your test, you might feel pressure to make sure that you take everyone on a road trip. While road trips can be a lot of fun, they require intense concentration and work. A car filled with excitable people can be one of the biggest distractions around.

When you are confident in your ability, that is the right time to head out on a shorter road trip, then after a while, with some more practice, a longer one.

Study the route

Confidence in where you are going can stop you from making serious errors at junctions and roundabouts. Driving becomes less stressful the more familiar you are with the route that you have to take. Pay special attention to where there are awkward or unusual turns so you can know when they are coming up.

SatNavs are great, but looking at the route ahead of time can help you prepare better.

Quiet times

At certain times of the day, there is a lot of traffic on the road, and it can be beneficial for you to drive when there are fewer road users around. Early morning, ahead of rush hour, and in the evening are ideal times to practice.

Sundays can also be a great time to practice driving on highways since they are usually quieter than weekdays when people are trying to get to and from work. Being a new driver means having all the skills you need to be successful on the roads; all you need is a little bit of practice and some confidence.