Back on the road - tips to build back learner driver confidence
If you had to pause your driving lessons during lockdown, it is okay to feel a little nervous to return to the driver's seat. Here are some simple tips to build back confidence and enjoy taking the wheel once again!
Our top tips to get your driving confidence back
1. Consult the curriculum
All learners will have a Log Book which has a 20 lesson curriculum within. It is full of useful information that can help refresh your memory or lay the foundations for learning, such as: Learning Goals, What You Need, Learning Content and Facts and Tips. It is a great resource for learners and supervising drivers to get back in the right frame of mind for successful lessons.
2. Choose a relaxed location
Choose a location for your first drive back to build confidence and give context to your lesson. For example, if you are still developing basic vehicle control or scanning skills, perhaps an empty car park may be the best place to practice.
If you are practicing your traffic skills or low risk driving, find a quiet block and complete a number of left-hand turns and later right-hand turns, focusing on vehicle positioning, indicating, scanning and head checks and using mirrors.
Put into practice all of the road rules you know from your Driver Knowledge Test. Focus on revision in a calm environment before driving in busier or more complex situations.
3. Speak your mind and ask questions
If you are feeling anxious or unsure of anything, please speak to your supervising driver or instructor. What you have been able to do easily three months ago may pose a challenge for you now. Your teacher will appreciate knowing how you are feeling and what you would like to focus on.
Communication really is the key to a great learning experience. A good teacher will ask questions like: “How are you feeling?” and “What do you want to practice in this lesson?”
4. Take a few minutes to find the correct driving position
We are all different shapes and sizes, so we need to adjust our driving position for comfort, posture, vision and safety. Knowing how to set up a comfortable and safe driving position is an important learning for every driver. Newer drivers may not yet fully appreciate the importance, so take a few minutes to go through the below steps until you are comfortable and ready to go.
Finding your optimal driving position:
- Place your left on the foot support or to left of clutch in a manual vehicle to act as a brace during steering, braking and accelerating. Maintain gentle bend in the knees at all times. A “locked knee” (straightened) can result in ankle, knee, hip and spinal injuries.
- Maintain a healthy spinal position. Sit back and up in your seat - don’t slouch. There should be no gap between the seat and the spine. Poor posture positions the spine in a weakened position during a crash and will result in back problems.
- Arms should be the correct distance from the steering wheel. With shoulders relaxed, the driver should be able to reach the top of the steering wheel with the wrists ensuring that when the wheel is held there is a gentle bend at the elbows. This will improve control, reduce fatigue and reduce risk of injury.
- The head support should be properly adjusted. As a guide the contact point should be equal to eye level for the driver.
- Seat belt correctly fitted with no twists, the “lap” section of the belt should be positioned across the hips with no slack and the height adjuster set to the correct position, in line with the driver’s ear.
- To find the correct distance from an SRS (Supplemental Restraint System) Airbag, make sure there is at least 30cm of space between you and the steering wheel and angle the steering wheel towards your chest to take the impact of the airbag.
5. Ask the professionals for help
The NRMA offers tailored driving lessons for learners looking to get their licence and increase their confidence on the road. Our friendly and professional instructors are trained to maximise your ability and create safe driving habits.
What's more, we even offer a Safer Drivers Course. Specifically for learner drivers under the age of 25, the course is designed to establish safer driving practices. Learner drivers who have completed at least 50 log book hours of driving^ will receive 20 hours of log book credit when they complete a safer drivers course.
