Please can someone give me driving tips im a nervous wreck!?

sleepy

Of course it's normal to feel nervous. Even those people tailgating you probably once felt nervous. Sod them.
Just make sure (as I'm sure you remember from your driving lessons) not to get too close to the car in front. If the person tailgating you hits you, it's their fault for being so close.

The speed limit is there for a reason. If they want to break the law, fine, but try not to let yourself feel too intimidated by them.

What ever you do, don't start parking forwards into spaces. If you keep doing that, you'll never be able to reverse in. Just keep trying. You'll crack it.
Don't pressurise yourself by practising in busy areas, if there's a queue honking behind you, you'll get stressed.

My driving instructor trained me to bring the car up so I'd have to swing it precisely 90 degrees into the space (essentially an L shape move), but this is really quite an effort. Take it from an angle instead.

Go in the car with relatives and friends who reverse into spaces and observe how they do it.

Don't give up on reversing, or you'll end up being one of those people who I'm always cursing for reversing out onto main roads (illegal) from their driveways, or into pedestrians or my car at tesco. ;)

Just a side note - I once had someone aggressively tailgating me, then he overtook me and gave me a bit of a disgusted look.

A few minutes later, I passed him as he stood on a central reservation, mobile phone in hand, with his flash car wrapped around a lamppost.

Karma. ;)

New drivers are the best drivers, because they actually INDICATE at mini roundabouts and don't tailgate you at high speed on the motorway. Be smug, you're probably one of the best drivers on the road right now. Just try not to let the complacency slip in!

Safe driving!

fiery_saph

all i can say is, stress less hunny, ur gonna be a ball of string if u keep handelling things like this, if others are tailgating, just let them do it, they're just being butt heads.

i personally thinks its easier to pull in and reverse out.

but if u feel this is a weak point for u, go around after the shops are closed and use the empty parking lot as ur practise feild.

its good to remember that ur driving a machine that can potentially kill not only urself but others also, and its ok to fear that, but don't let that fear control u, use it as a tool, to make u more focussed on what ur doing.

deep breaths, take things slowly, there's no rush. even if ur 10 under the limit, its ok, there's no rush, u just work at ur own speed.

i have faith that everything will be ok with u.

MICHAEL S

At the moment you confidence is shot, your used to driving with someone now your on your own.
Time and practice will cure all problems, as for tailgaters stick to the speed limit and report them for bad driving

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it is perfectly normal to feel nervous, you are in solo charge of a machine.

your skills will improve with time .. and ignorant drivers are preety insensitive to learners , try not to worry about them .. you need to concentrate on your driving .. as long as you stick within the law and the speed limits, there shouldnt be a problem

i used to drive out when there wasnt much traffic just to get some experience.. and found chucking the car around an empty car park or waste ground, helped gained some reversing skills and manoeverability

GorGeous_Girl

all i can say is practice

good driving comes only with experience.

i would suggest you practice like 1 hr of driving everyday in areas you are familiar with, also even when you are not driving, read the roads, how broad it is, how much space there is to vear around other parked cars, speed restrictions.

dont get frightened by the speedy mcqueesy's, just veer left when safe so they can overtake you if needed. dont let them get to you !! just look forward and smile :) no need to get worked up.

you dont have to break the speed limit. they can be tw@ts if they want (sorry but thats my opinion on people who go over speed limits. its there for a reason!) you can also feel overjoyed when you see one of them getting flashed on teh speed camera - its a great feeling !!

confidence is the key, you need to know how wide and long your car is, so you know how far or how back you can take it. you can always have parking sensors installed in your car

observe other people when they are driving, how they swing the car, at what point they go into reverse etc..

when you park, make sure you position the car in such a way that you can move into the parking slot slowly and carefully. make use of all your mirrors !! if adjusted rightly they can give you a perfect view of what you need to do next.

practice parking in quiet times so you dont have too many cars trying to get in and out of the lot.

good luck and i am sure with time you will be just fine !!

its just one of those things... you need practice and confidence :)

Maud The Skivvy

If you're in the UK then you can get some 'P' plates. They're green and have a capital P on them so that people know you've just passed, but may still be nervous.

I used to go out early each Sunday morning and drive around for practise before the roads got busy.

You'll begin to improve and become less nervous, but it does take time. Try to ignore tailgaters. I still get tailgated and I've been driving for years. It's difficult, but just carry on driving like you've been taught. They're the ones who're in the wrong, not you. Put the radio or cd on and use that to take your mind off what's going on behind.

Reversing is just something that you'll have to practise at - even some experienced drivers can't reverse - some people are just good at it and others aren't.

Don't be ashamed of sticking to the speed limit - it's there for a reason and designed to save lives.

Try not to panic. I've been driving for years, but I'm still too nervous to make my way into the City Centre one way system! You'll find your level of ability and learn to cope on the roads. Get yourself out into the countryside or visit somewhere you've always wanted to go - this will remind you of why you learnt to drive in the first place.

Good Luck and remember to have fun! Driving is great - it gives you such freedom!

logicalgal

Yes, you've passed your driver's TEST, and now you will be TESTED the rest of your life while behind the wheel.
It's normal to be nervous when you are first out driving alone.
After all, up until this point you have driven with an experienced driver who can point out priority concerns for you.
At first, I would suggest you drive when it's early, or on days/times when traffic volume is lighter. Practice parking and reversing into those spaces in an empty area, so that you can use just the division lines for reference purposes. Also when backing into a parking space, using your side mirrors as well as looking back and around you (and also riding your brake) will teach you good techniques.First of all, choose an appropriate parking space......i.e. don't use a space with the car next to you being crooked, over the line, or in rusty and unkept condition.
To back into a parking space, you can drive past your empty space until the back bumper of your vehicle is approx. at the center of the next parking space. Then begin turning fully where you wish the rear of your car to go......do this very slowly and look around for pedestrians, other cars backing (watch for those WHITE backup lights). Check your side mirrors to ensure you are passing the yellow line or other vehicle. Once you are parallel to that yellow line, then straighten out your steering and place your rear bumper even with rear bumper of the car next to you. Keep practicing until you can do this easily and so that you end up in the center of your space.......

Dorth

Yes, it is normal to be nervous when you are a new driver. Even old, experienced drivers can be a bit nervous at times. Believe me, I know. lol It's good that you are taking care with your driving and being cautious. Just drive safely and you'll do fine. Keep your eyes open for other drivers and drive the best you can. As far as reversing out of a parking spot at the store. Why don't you pull thru the parking space so that you are in the space in front, if it's available. That way all you would have to do is just pull forward instead of having to back out. That may ease your nervousness untill you get more used to driving. :) People will tailgate in their cars no matter where you drive. I think it makes them think they are getting closer to their destination. I just ignore them, and if I'm not going fast enough for them...they can pass me. :)

cookie

when i first started driving i was a nervous wreck, it is completely different driving on your own to having your driving instructor sitting next to you! what i found very useful is really practicing my parking eg going to supermarkets and reverse parking or going on to side road to reverse park, practice makes perfect!!! not everyone is just a natural driver it comes with time. don't worry about other drivers let them wait till you finish parking and don't panic! Good luck

lizziebeth

Your confidence will come with practice. However I would advise a Pass Plus course with your instructor or with another if your own does not do the course. Have a look on our web site for more informaton about pass plus....www.atob-driving.co.uk

thud.fan

One of the little things they don't tell you in driver's ed is that every driver should know the length and width of their vehicle - not in inches and feet, but whether or not it will fit into a given space and have enough room to get in and out of the vehicle on both sides...And it is amazing how many drivers who can't put their vehicle straight between 2 lines...All of this takes practice and good judgment...Just remember that on crowded parking lots, you'll park between the vehicles and not the lines.

Driving the speed limit can be dangerous if everybody else is going faster (or slower)...In CA, the "basic speed law" is whatever the flow of traffic is doing...In a 65 mph zone, if everybody is going 40-45 mph and I'm going 65, then I'm driving too fast for conditions...And if everyone is doing 70-75 in a 65 zone, technically, I'm legal...But if I'm in the #1 lane and I'm forcing other drivers to slow down and go around, I might be cited for driving too slow for conditions...Tailgaters are a nuisance...It is best to just ignore them...If it really bothers you then perhaps move to the right hand lane.

sidb

practice makes perfect, when you been driving a while it becomes easier

Andy D

yup- i learnt to drive then bought a brand new car!

I used to park in supermarkets about a mile from the shop lol.

Learning to drive gives you the skills - constant repetition and experience gives you the confidence.

As for the speed limit I obey it when passing:
a school
a policeman
a speed camera

3 months time you will be fine

good luck

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