Learning to drive is an exciting chapter of your life. Not only are you gaining a new technical skill, but you’re obtaining a satisfying membership to a club; drivers. No longer will you need to wait for a bus, or squeeze onto a tube or tram. You will be able to enjoy the freedom and power to travel from point to point with a sense of privacy and autonomy.
Driving for the first time is also potentially hazardous; both for you, your passenger, or other road users. In this article, we’ll set out exactly how you can learn in a safe and fun way as you practice for your driving test.
Use a driving school / professional driving instructor
In June 2021, the UK government reported that there were 38,417 approved driving instructors in the UK. This number has been falling gradually over the last decade (in 2011 the equivalent number was 47,074).
A driving instructor has undertaken specialist training and is qualified to offer driving lessons to students on UK roads. They have not only been taught the ins and outs of the requirements in the official driving test, but they have learned effective teaching techniques.
The key reason why the government regulates drive instructors is one of safety. Learner drivers – particularly those on their first 10 lessons – are new behind the wheel and will not be fully in control of their car.
Obtain the appropriate insurance
The law of the land states that any driver (or person in charge of a stationary vehicle) must be covered by an active and suitable motor insurance policy.
A motor insurance policy can cost from £200 to £5,000 per year and will provide compensation to anyone who may suffer financial or physical harm from your actions as a driver.
Learner drivers are prone to making mistakes and have a higher likelihood of being involved in a road traffic accident or parking incident. That’s why learner drivers must also purchase learner driving insurance to comply with the law and act as a responsible party.
Use a dual-control car
A dual-control car provides a set of pedals in the passenger footwell which allows the front passenger to apply the brakes in an emergency. Although it isn’t strictly mandated in law, you will find that all professional driving instructors will conduct their lessons in dual control cars.
These controls may not need to be used in every lesson, but you’ll feel relieved if they are. They could help avoid scenarios such as merging into a roundabout when a vehicle is approaching or passing through a red light at a junction.
When learning to drive, you will sometimes feel overwhelmed by the number of things to pay attention to. Pedal movements will take time to become ‘muscle memory’ and therefore these require extra care too. This naturally means that even a conscientious and attentive driver can fail to spot a signal or piece of context that is warning that their next move is dangerous.
That’s why dual controls are so effective in learning within a safe environment. They allow the second set of eyes to take action on your behalf if necessary.
Remember that a vehicle is a weapon
Your driving instructor will waste little time in explaining the responsibility you have to others when driving a car. Even a small-town car will weigh above 1 tonne and could quite possibly kill or maim a pedestrian in a collision at 30 mph.
This can be daunting at first, but this just underlines the duty you have to act sensibly and cautiously when driving a car. Behind the wheel, you will need to make decisions quickly. When pressures such as being late or distracted take effect, we can inadvertently make reckless decisions that were not necessary.
There is no need to take risks when driving because being late for an event or work is never worth risking ruining your or someone else’s life.
In conclusion
If you remember these pieces of advice, you’ll be able to embark upon a driving adventure with the reassurance that you are doing all you can to be a safe road user.
