Passing your driving test is one of life’s milestones, and it is something you should be proud of. When you have finally escaped the tutelage of your driving instructor, there is a great sense of freedom. Not having somebody besides you criticizing you for even the smallest of mistakes can be a relief. However, it is easy to become complacent when you don’t have those reminders, and this is why many new drivers will experience some form of a road accident in their first year.
There are mistakes common to most new drivers, so use the following as reminders, and enjoy your time on the road.
Failure to keep practicing
You may have a piece of paper qualifying you to drive, but that doesn’t mean you can’t improve your skills. You may have struggled with parallel parking so you may be inclined to keep driving until you find an easy parking space to fit into. Don’t! Make an effort to work on the weak areas in your driving, as this will help you in the long-term. Ask an experienced driver to give you extra help to improve yourself, or take an advanced driving test to further enhance your ability.
Becoming a speed demon
Getting out onto the open road is great, and many new drivers love to put their foot down and take risks with speeding. Big mistake! Speeding limits are imposed for a reason, so be a responsible driver and stick to them. You are liable to cause injury, either to a pedestrian stepping out onto the road, or passengers in oncoming vehicles who are driving legally. Increased speed gives you less control over your vehicle, including stopping distances, so don’t be a fool! You really don’t want to get banned in your first year of driving.
Driving under the influence
Many young drivers lose their license in the first year of driving because of drugs and alcohol. While the temptation to drive after a night out with friends is strong, you should still take a cab, no matter how invincible you feel. Anybody under the age of 21 caught with a blood alcohol level of at least 0.01 percent will face harsh penalties. There is legal help available, even
if you should refuse a breathalyzer test, but you are liable to lose your license for a year. Harsh penalties are imposed for a reason, and that is to make sure you adhere to the law and don’t kill yourself or somebody else.
Driving an unsafe vehicle
After spending a lot of money on driving lessons, you may not have the cash to buy a brand new car. Going second-hand is fine, but you need to make sure it is roadworthy. Even after having your car serviced, there is the constant need to keep up with maintenance. Some people have been driving for years but don’t know how to perform simple tasks, such as checking tyre pressure or changing light bulbs. Cars can be expensive to repair, but by making it safe to drive will save you a lot of unnecessary stress and expense in the future.