How to gain more confidence whilst driving a car?

maralex_inc

Driving Instructor speaking here and I would like to help you with the best advice i can give in this situation. To make yourself a much safer driver you have to start with the basics and never break these basic rules while you are on the road. I can assure you that more than 98% of all drivers in US (does not include professional drivers) cannot follow the very basics of road safety, so if you can keep them up you can quickly move yourself into top 2% of all drivers...sounds good?

I will not state the obvious and remind you about things like talking on the cell phone while driving. I will talk about the most important things:

1. Control of your vehicle. It begins with the steering. In order to have proper control of your steering you will need to always have both hands on the steering wheel (placed 10 and 2 o'clock or placed 9 and 3 o'clock - whichever gives you more turning ability in a given situation. Normally you switch between these two positions). When dangerous situation occurs - you might have less than a second to carry out your reaction. Steering precision will be of extremely high importance for these quick maneuvers. Furthermore, when you steer, you have to keep your hands in those locked positions. This means that when you are turning, you never move your hands to help to turn the wheel - you need to keep them locked on 9 and 3 and cross your arms as far as necessary. It may seem a bit silly or uncomfortable at first, but if you keep doing it for some time, you will see that this will provide the most consistent and accurate steering maneuvers.

2. Always use your turning signals. Even when there are no cars in view. Many so called 'seasoned' drivers say - Nonsense. I dont have to use my signals when there is nobody in view - i always use them when there are other cars, otherwise i dont waste my time. My response is a simple example - I am waiting in a left turning pocket where there is no light or signal and yielding to the uncoming traffic. The only car in the oncoming lanes is preparing for the left turn himself, but since there is nobody around him he decided to jump into his pocket without bothering about the blinker. Well....if I only knew that he was going to do that I would plan my maneuvers 100% differently. Now he upset the timing of the left turn for me and cars behind me without ven knowing.
This is a more safe example. I could produce many more examples when the lack of the turning signal becomes a fatal point - even though it seemed there was no cars around that particular driver.
So - use them even when you see nobody around.

3. Safety zone - space between you and other drivers. Always maintain it. I cannot stress it enough. When accidents occur - they occur suddenly and you do not expect it. The same 98% of drivers rely on the fact that nothing at all is about to happen so when it does - almost always too late. Apart from that you reduce the other's ability to change lanes safely if you do not keep enough space between you and other cars. This means no just the car in front of you, but also the car behind you and the cars to your sides. You have to keep watching who is too close to who. Unfortunately, since most people can't drive well, you have to do it for them if you want to stay safe.

This would be a good start for you. There are many things to include, but these very basics cannot be overlooked if you want to be safe.
Practice them and with experience you could be better than any driver you see on the road around you.

Friendly Stranger..

You should do what many first time teens do. Many of them practice in vacant lots. My suggestion to you is to find a street in your local area that isn't busy. If you are not comfortable driving around traffic drive around in a vacant lot to get the feel again. Once you become comfortable driving where there are no cars, then graduate to driving in less populated area. Also another tip is to remain calm, and don't make sudden movements in traffic. Just relax, concentrate and slowly move your way up to driving in traffic.

nfl expert

practice on side roads at first. Then work your way up to roads that are 30-40 miles per hour. this will help you get used to the handiling of driving again and alittle with your reaction time. Then work your way up to the more busy and faster roads.

Xavia

Find a quiet street and just get yourself back into it, if you need ask a friend to drive you too a quiet spot, and just drive around in circles until you get more confidence.

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