learning to drive as an adult isn’t as rare as it once was. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, around 40% of 18-year-olds are not licensed drivers. If you’re one of the many adults who take driving classes for beginners, it’s easy to feel nervous.
After all, the US is a country built around driving. If you don’t have a driving license, or if you don’t feel safe behind the wheel, you might start feeling isolated. Adult driving lessons could be the boost you need to finally feel comfortable and confident.
Interested in taking lessons? Check out our 7 tips for success.
1: Find the Right Driving Instructor
Finding the right instructor is important for success in mature driving lessons. Your instructor should have legitimate qualifications and a good reputation. But, certifications aren’t everything.
It’s much easier to master adult driving skills when your instructor:
- Puts you at ease as soon as you get into the car
- Communicates clearly
- Understands how to communicate with you
Ask your friends and family for recommendations and check online reviews to find someone who is a good match. Finding the right teacher can make the difference between succeeding and failing. Don’t be afraid to shop around for the right adult driving lessons instructors.
Of course, you’re also responsible for being a good student. Make sure you:
- Clearly explain your preferred learning style
- Embrace feedback and be receptive to criticism
- Be open about your ability and confidence levels
2: It’s All About Practice
Learning a new skill is all about practice. If you’ve ever learned to ride a bike, or play guitar, you have experienced how (with consistent practice) you can make what seems impossible, possible. According to Fiveable effective practice is all about regular sessions.
The best way to reinforce and maintain your adult driving skills is through frequent practice sessions. If you’re unable to drive on the road, you can still practice in safe areas like car parks.
Consistency is key as it helps reinforce your knowledge and facilitates muscle memory. If you often practice, and avoid long gaps of inactivity, you’ll elevate your skills and build confidence.
3. Master the Foundational Driving Skills
The driving test involves nerve-inducing advanced techniques like parallel parking or three-point turns. If you’re struggling with these high-level skills, don’t worry. By mastering the foundations of driving, the tricky stuff comes naturally.
Start by learning to do the following smoothly and confidently:
- Steering
- Braking
- Accelerating
If you can’t execute these basic maneuvers with conviction, you’ll never be comfortable behind the wheel. Make sure you can handle the basics in all kinds of weather conditions. Braking feels very different in wet and slippery conditions compared to when the weather’s dry and sunny.
4. Learn and Understand Road Signs
Knowing how to read road signs is another key skill. You’ll need to recognize them well enough that you understand them at a glance. You can’t afford to worry about what a sign means while you’re driving, you need to know them on sight.
Check out the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices if you want to brush up on your road sign skills. Don’t risk your safety by driving without adequate knowledge of the road.
5. Keep a Positive Attitude
Having a positive attitude when tackling a difficult challenge can actually boost your performance. To maintain the right state of mind, you have to accept failure as part of the learning process. Truly successful people embrace failure as they understand that true success is simply a build-up of errors, mistakes, and misunderstandings.
When you understand this principle, you won’t get sidetracked by rumination and regret. If you make a mistake, don’t get stressed or discouraged. Instead, try to understand the mistake as a single moment in your driving journey.
Remember, it’s easier to stay optimistic when you surround yourself with positive people. Getting encouragement from friends and loved ones is just as important as having a winning mindset. With the right attitude and with dependable people supporting you, you’re sure to find success.
6. Master Defensive Driving
Even if you’re driving responsibly, you can’t always guarantee other road users are doing the same. Being a good driver means using defensive driving techniques to keep yourself safe. The key to defensive driving is situational awareness, you should:
- Frequently scan your surroundings and check your mirrors
- Ensure your headlights, brake lights, and turn signals are fully functional
- Eliminate potential distractions like your phone
- Stay alert at all times
You need to go beyond seeing what’s happening in the moment and anticipate the future. Look out for brake lights, turn signals, or erratic driving, and try to predict the actions of other road users. Know how close you are to the vehicle in front and maintain a safe distance.
Generally, there needs to be a three-second gap between your vehicle and the one you’re following. This ensures you’ll have enough time to react if they brake suddenly.
7. Know Your Car
When you’re taking adult driving lessons, try to use one car consistently. Every car has its quirks and differences. Once you’re familiar with them, you’ll feel more confident and in control.
Make sure you’re familiar with all the essential controls like lights and hazard signals before you get behind the wheel. You should also understand maintenance basics like changing the oil or checking tire pressure. At the very least, make sure the owner’s manual is readily available.
Now You Have the Keys to Success for Mastering Adult Driving Lessons.
Driving classes for beginners can be anxiety-inducing, particularly if you’re learning as an adult. The good news is that learning to drive as an adult is an attainable and rewarding challenge. You’ll need to master the fundamentals, consistently practice, and take adult driving lessons with a compatible instructor and success is guaranteed.
Are you looking for a driving school that prioritizes your safety, comfort, and, confidence, consider Brentwood Driver Training? We’ve provided, productive, stress-free lessons in Williamson and Davidson counties since 1992. If you’re ready to start feeling at ease behind the wheel, contact us today.