Between 1.8 and 2.8 million new drivers get their licenses every year. That’s a massive flood of new faces on the road.
These new drivers can feel like deer in the literal headlights. Inexperience and panic can lead to potentially dangerous errors.
Read on to learn the most common mistakes new drivers make when learning how to drive a car and the best ways to avoid them.
1. Ignoring Mirrors and Blind Spots
Your car’s mirrors are like an extra pair of eyes. Not using them correctly is almost like driving blind.
That’s why one of the first car driving instructions you’ll receive is to always adjust your mirrors before you start. The rearview mirror should give you a clear view of the road behind you, and the side mirrors should show a small image of your car and the road next to you. If there’s any dirt or debris on them, clean it off.
Get into the habit of checking your mirrors frequently while you drive. Don’t forget to do it when you’re:
- Switching lanes
- Turning
- Slowing down
New drivers may also become overly reliant on their mirrors. They forget to look beyond them and check their blind spots.
Your mirrors won’t show the areas just outside of your peripheral vision. That’s why they’re known as your blind spots. They can hide other vehicles or cause accidents while you’re changing lanes.
Look over your shoulder. Peek at your side-view mirror when you’re leaning forward.
This beginner mistake is tied up with another one, which is failing to judge distance properly. Always remember the classic phrase that appears on most car mirrors; “Objects may be closer than they appear.”
One of the most important car driving instructions is to check your blind spots to get a full picture of true distance. Otherwise, you won’t be able to park cleanly or tell how close other cars or obstacles are.
2. Poor Speed Control
Speed control is one of the most important driving techniques for beginners. Smoothly maintaining the right speed throughout a trip is a difficult but essential art to master.
Changing speeds too often by pumping on the brakes leads to an uncomfortable ride. Once you’re out of the car, you’ll feel like you’ve just exited a theme park ride.
It’s also a significant safety issue. Failing to maintain proper speed increases the risk of accidents and disrupts the flow of traffic. That doesn’t only apply to speeding but also to not going fast enough to stay with the cars around you.
Driving Too Fast
Speeding is related to 29% of fatal car accidents. Not all new drivers who accelerate too fast are overconfident speed demons. It can be an honest mistake.
It’s easy to accidentally push on the accelerator too hard when you’re getting used to how it responds. There’s so much to keep track of while driving that you may lose track of the numbers on your speedometer.
Not going too fast is essential for maintaining safe driving practices. This is especially true when you run into a stoplight.
Don’t view yellow lights as a sign to speed up. They’re actually a signal to slow down and stop if possible. Rushing through them is a potentially dangerous mistake.
Waiting at a red light can leave you raring to go as soon as it turns green, but don’t rush it. Always wait a few seconds and check before going out. Go out slowly enough to give yourself time to gauge everything around you.
Driving Too Slowly
Believe it or not, studies show that driving 10 miles below the speed limit makes you ten times more likely to cause an accident.
Braking too hard or too much is an easy mistake for a new driver. The sensitivity of the brake pedals takes time to get used to. New driving situations can create panic, making you feel like you must stop immediately.
Going too slowly can worsen the situation for other drivers, which can also affect you. They’ll have difficulty adjusting if you suddenly stop or go too slowly through an intersection.
3. Not Practicing Enough
Learning how to drive a car means taking in and remembering a massive amount of information. Most mistakes are because of a lack of experience.
Give yourself plenty of time to practice until you’ve mastered it all. It’ll help you avoid mistakes and ace your driver’s license testing.
It’s a mistake to only practice automatic car driving. That’s like only taking half of a course and expecting to pass the final exam.
You don’t want to be unprepared if you take your test in a manual car or have to switch techniques. Practice manual car driving as well to get used to the similarities and differences.
Take professional driving lessons. They’ll teach you the basics in a controlled environment. You can practice without the extra pressure of running into potential danger.
When you’re ready, try driver training that goes beyond the basics and teaches important skills such as handling conditions such as nighttime driving or inclement weather.
These adverse conditions can happen to you at any time in the real world. The more you practice in them, the more prepared you will be to face them.
You can even try taking a few online driving classes. They’ll supplement everything you’re learning on the road. They’ll also fill in on days you can’t get out on the road due to weather or other issues.
Learn How to Drive a Car at a Qualified Driving School
Learning how to drive a car isn’t as easy as it’s made out to be. That’s why it’s so easy to make mistakes when you’re starting out. The most common ones are not checking mirrors and blind spots, poor speed control, and a lack of practice.
Brentwood Driving Training School has been serving Williamson and Davidson counties since 1992. We’re the only school in the area that only employs state-licensed driver-ed teachers with master’s degrees.
We have a fleet of over 20 different training cars, as well as virtual simulators. Contact us to enroll in our driving school today.