Getting Back to Basics – 5 Tips New Drivers Need to Drill into their Memory

May 5th, 2014  |  Auto Insurance

Congratulations! You have just passed your road test to get your driver’s license and you can officially get behind the wheel and start to drive.  But, this doesn’t mean that you are out of the woods yet – you still have a lot to learn when it comes to being a safe and responsible driver.

One of the biggest mistakes that new drivers do is assume they know how to drive. Even though you have passed your road test, you still have a lot to learn behind the wheel and much of this comes with experience and making the right choices when driving. Driving without a driving instructor or parent is very different than driving alone. Perhaps the best way to approach your new found freedom is to get back to basics.

Back to Basics – 5 Tips for News Drivers

Here are 5 tips that all new drivers need to follow to continue to develop their skills and become safe drivers:

1. Apply what you learned at driving school: Finishing driving school does not mean you can forget what you were taught – rather it’s time to put what you learned in the classroom to action. Driving school provides you with the foundational skills and knowledge to become a good driver – use these skills to become a better driver.
2. Safety first:Safety should always be your number one concern, especially as a new driver. Always wear your seat belt, abide by the rules of the road at all times, and never drink and drive.
3. Get familiar with being in the driver seat: Familiarity is essential as a driver. You need to know where everything is in your vehicle and know what all the switches and knobs do. Do you know where the hood release button is located? What about the button for emergency hazard lights? Do you know who to call if you experience a breakdown? 
4. Forget about your phone: Don’t become another statistics. Put your phone away and make sure it is turned off and out of reach before you start driving. We don’t need another distracted driver on the road.
5. Avoid developing bad habits: It is easy to develop poor driving habits, especially as a new driver. It is important to avoid developing habits, considering you will be required to pass another road tart to get your full driver’s license. These bad habits could cost you when doing your final road test.

If you could offer one piece of advice to new drivers, what would it be? What tips do you think is most important?