You just bought your new car and you aren’t that confident with your driving skills because you are a newbie at it. You get tense when you’re on the road and you feel like you’ll bump into another car at any moment. These are your nerves speaking, and while they’re valid, it doesn’t have to be this way forever.
Below are several pointers on how to ease your nerves while driving.
Get to Know Your Car Better
Get to know your car better by knowing what a particular switch does, where to locate the button to open the fuel flap, and so on. You should also familiarize the size and dimensions of your car so you can estimate whether you’ll fit in a parking space or not bump into another car when you’re in traffic. You’ll become confident in your driving once you get to know your car better. Obviously, you have to do this at home before you decide to drive.
You might already know your car before you first bought it by looking at its features, dimensions, and reviews. But you should still take time to know about it now because it’s different when it’s on paper. Don’t just rely on your findings on paper—do an observation yourself.
Practice Makes Perfect
This old adage rings true all the time. You have to practice driving several times to acclimate yourself to the habit and your surroundings. Drive for at least 15 minutes every day in the neighborhood, then once you’ve gotten used to it, you can go further and longer. You won’t even notice that you’ve grown accustomed to it. Always start slow and don’t pressure yourself to be immediately good at it.
In addition, you must try driving at different times of the day to see how the roads change. It helps you notice how empty the roads are in the morning, how packed it becomes when it’s around lunchtime and evening. This technique will allow you to adjust your driving habits.
Mind Your Own Business
Sometimes, the mind is the enemy when you drive. You feel judged by other drivers—they’re going too fast, you’re going too slow, and whatnot. It’s important not to listen to your negative thoughts and focus on what’s in front of you. If you feel like you’re being watched, you can have your car tinted (if you haven’t already), at a reputable tint shop near you. Furthermore, you have to stop thinking about stressful things about driving because most of the time, they’re all in your mind.
Take a Break
If you are tired or overwhelmed from your driving, take a break. You can stop at the side of the road to rest your hands and feet or to sleep. Driving can be exhausting, and if you don’t take a break, you might end up sleeping while driving. Taking a break allows you to breathe and clear your mind before you can continue driving. Take your well-deserved break because there is no shame in this
Make Your Environment As Comfortable As Possible
Your car interior should be comfortable to ensure that you are comfortable as well. Remove all clutter and get rid of things that you are not going to use. In addition, you should not wear restrictive clothing because it will be difficult for you to move. Remember that you can’t have a clear mind if you have a messy environment. Make your environment as clean as possible all the time.
Being a driver entails that you know your basics about driving, you know your car so well, and that you care for the people inside the car as well as the ones outside. Your comfort should come first because you are the one who is behind the wheel. If you are not comfortable, it will show in your driving, and it could affect others too. Aside from your surroundings, you can play some music to calm your nerves while driving. You’ll forget the nervousness and the pressure of being on the road.
Another important reminder is to keep all the distractions away so you can have your complete focus on driving. You should not answer calls, eat, or watch movies when you are driving. Your focus will be divided between driving and distraction. If you need to take an urgent call, you need to stop at the side of the road to take the call. That way, you can give your undivided attention to the caller.