Picture by Dids
The feeling you get when passing your test is unreal! You’re wildly excited to drive anywhere, in any car, even if it means picking up your mom something from the shop for the umpteenth time! Your first few drives without your driving instructor watching you like a hawk can make you feel a mixed bag of both vulnerable and free. And now your relationship with your driving instructor is done, these are the things they didn’t tell you about your driving and the roads in general.
Road Rage Is Real
Of course you may have experienced a tiny bit of this while out on the roads, but with so much to concentrate on as you’re learning, you probably didn’t have the time to take into account the scope of people who get incredibly aggressive and annoyed. There’s a good reason for being wary of these people, it’s called road rage for a reason, and so, someone cutting their car up, not keeping up with speed or taking too long to take off at the lights begins to grind on these people who have seemingly forgotten that they are not perfect drivers themselves. And so what does this mean for you? It means if you feel someone creeping up behind your car, and they’re a little too close for comfort, or someone honking uncontrollably at you, as much as you might want to drive annoyingly slow to aggravate them more, in all circumstances don’t make a classic motoring mistake and rise to their level by reacting. Pullover to let them past, or simply ignore them and carry on driving safely.
Don’t Trust Other Drivers
Whether you’re new at driving or have years under your belt, never assume you know what a person or car will do next on the road. For instance, if you see someone chatting by the pedestrian crossing and it looks like they’re not going to cross, slow down regardless, they may whizz around and head into the road at a moments notice which could cause a nasty accident and the need for you to call a car accident lawyer. Or if a car is indicating that they are heading off the island, don’t trust their signals, wait until you know for sure they are exiting before you head on to the roundabout yourself. The point to make here is be skeptical of other peoples driving people as this could save yours and someone else’s life on the road.
Holding Onto Their Seats
For newbie drivers especially, when your relatives get into your car, they’re likely cautious about your driving. This can cause tension and anxiety, so it’s best for all involved for you to put your responsible driving hat on and put your passengers safety first. It’s not fun for others if you’re racing around putting their lives at risk, and it’s especially not amusing if you actually get into an accident and you or your family get hurt.
Your prime job as a new driver is to keep you, other drivers, and pedestrians as safe as possible. Which means being conscious of other drivers anger issues on the road, being careful not to put your trust in other drivers, and be thoughtful about the way you drive when your relatives are in the car with you.