
logicalgal
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We all suffer from "fear of the unknown". In this case, you are afraid of making a mistake, or hitting something.
Begin by getting to know your vehicle, somewhere in a quiet area, like a large parking lot on a Sunday morning for example.
Learn where your instruments are........wipers, lights, horn, defroster, vent controls, parking brake, and gear selector...speedometer, window and mirror controls, etc. Learn how to set up your seat, steering wheel height (if it's adjustable), and mirrors.
Learn where your blind spots are.
Walk around your vehicle and become familiar with it (existing damage, condition of tires/rims, wiper blades, all lights working?)
Open your hood and find all 6 fluids essential to the safe operation of your vehicle (windshield washer fluid - summer/winter, coolant/antifreeze overflow/fill reservoir, transmission fluid dipstick, brake fluid reservoir, power steering fluid reservoir, oil dipstick (check oil level frequently).
Doing all of these things will eventually make you more knowledgable, and thus more comfortable with this new piece of machinery.
Learn to steer properly (hands at 9 and 3, or 10 and 2, or whatever your driving school advises......)
Next, learn how to start your vehicle. (It will start in PARK, or NEUTRAL only.....). Learn the different key positions (look in your vehicle's handbook, which you should keep handy for reference purposes, i.e. changing your clock, finding fuses, etc.)
Next, learn to shift the gears smoothly and deliberately, without slipping back and forth incorrectly. PRNDL or PRND21 is how the gears are usually configured. (PARK, REVERSE, NEUTRAL, DRIVE, SECOND GEAR, FIRST GEAR). You will usually use Park to start, Reverse to back up, and Drive to move your car forward in a normal fashion.
Next, you will need to fully depress your brake to shift into DRI VE or REVERSE gear.
Learn to shift from PARK to DRIVE first, and move straight ahead slowly and then learn to stop gently and smoothly. You will see that by gradually releasing your right foot from the brake, your vehicle will move forward. Get used to moving your right foot on and off the brake gently. Then you can begin moving forward and use the accelerator by using only your toes and not the ball of your foot........keep your heel back....use a "squeezing" motion rather than "pressing or pushing" the accelerator.
Once you have mastered these basics, learn to look well ahead when you move forward, and look where you want your vehicle to go when steering around corners...(look far ahead up your intended path of travel)......don't focus on your steering wheel position so much.This will take some time, so enjoy the learning process! Learning is a life-long process.....
I would suggest you take a few in car lessons to get familiar with proper (and safe) techniques from a reputable Driving School.
I hope this helps.......and don't forget to breathe.....[GRIN] |