So, you’ve passed your driving test, the party has been enjoyed by all and the hangovers are a thing of the past (if you’re over 18 of course)! In the cold light of day, you suddenly realise that you can get into a car without a qualified instructor next to you. Yes! You’re on your own!
Many say that learning to drive and taking the test at the end can be one of the most stressful things a young adult can do. However, your journey has only just begun. You will now be armed with enough knowledge of the roads so you’re deemed safe to handle a car as set out by the rules according to the UK Government.
I remember when I passed my test and a colleague at work (who was a good deal older than me) commented that now was when I actually learn to drive. He wasn’t far wrong. You see, it doesn’t matter if you passed your test first time with flying colours or, it took you a few times to get it right. Those first time jitters will still surface.
For that reason we’ve decided to give you a few tips on what to look out for that you may not have picked up while you were learning:
The Basics
When you were still learning, you will have had to go through a theory test and, this will have involved recognising certain hazards that can appear on the road. Unfortunately, this cannot prepare you for every eventuality and neither can this article but, there are few hazards below to watch out for that you might come across:
- People parked in stupid places that obscure your vision for oncoming traffic – in this instance SLOW DOWN, stop if you have to. What you will learn are that other road users are more than happy to help. If someone is coming the other way, they might stop with a gap large enough for you to pass through.
- Lines of parked cars along a road can be a potential hazard. Again, speed is the main thing to watch out for here. Children especially don’t always have good road sense so; keep your eyes peeled for anyone jumping out in front of you.
- Cyclists are something-else you should think about and that’s why you have both rear view and side mirrors. USE THEM; they could save someone’s life (as well as yours). Cyclists are not always easy to spot so make sure you’re fully aware of what’s around you before you use a junction or roundabout.
How to Handle Other Road Users
It’s a sad but true fact that we all pick up bad habits once we grow more confident about our driving skills. This is why you should always treat everyone-else on the road as if they were new at the whole “driving game”. All sorts of things can happen. People may stall their car at traffic lights which could cause a small prang if you’re too close. People don’t always indicate when they’re about to turn off so, again keeping your distance is the safest thing to do.
This is just a small portion of the things you should look out for – keep your eyes peeled for more information on advanced driving tips.
