Just started to drive any tips???

[Geist]

There's been some good points and I'm sure we could all go on until the cows come home, but, one I didn't notice: It's ok to slow down in the right situation. Narrow city street and you're not sure if there's enough space; slow down or if it's bad enough pull over and stop. Let the person coming the other way sort it out and then you can go on your way. Don't do this on a motorway though Going with the flow is still important.

As has been said, observation is key (You should be glancing in your mirrors often.) and a lot of that comes with practice as does the muscle memory for gears. The less you have to think about something the more you can focus on where you're going and what's around you. Keep the radio off. It's a needless distraction; having the window down an inch also really helps hearing what's going on around you.

My final point would be, relax and don't hug the steering wheel

[KeyboardDemon]

Sorry, late to the thread, I don't know if it's been suggested already but I'll say it here in case it hasn't.

Read a book. Not just any book though, I'd highly recommend a book called Roadcraft, it's the book that Police drivers have to read at the start of their advanced driver training, it's full of excellent common sense advice and teaches you many useful techniques to master, starting with how to control your attitude. How can you expect to control a car that weighs close to a ton if you can't control your attitude.

Other advice is stuff like when parking, park to get out easily. Don't drive on to your drive, reverse in so you can see the traffic coming from both side when you drive off and more importantly you can also see it when you reverse on. Same with parking bays in car parks, you'll have a cleaer view of the traffic outside your bay if your nose is pointed towards the direction you need to drive in when you leave it.

[bledd]

My tip is to give people room to do weird stuff. Much easier to take avoiding action, or stop if you have left a nice gap.

This.

I tend to leave almost double the normal braking distance.

This way if something happens ahead, I can break once, check my mirror to see if the guy behind me has noticed, if he hasn't, I still have room space to use.


Don't go over speed limits that are between 20-50, these are the prime areas for getting points.

If you're on the motorway doing 80mph and so is everyone else, you're far less likely to get in trouble unless you're driving like a cretin.

[Ttaskmaster]

QUAKE IN FEAR, YOU PUNY MOTHERLESS MORTALS.....

For I am now officially licenced to drive a big-ass car on the public roads, heh heh!!!
Passed me test yesterday.

[ik9000]

QUAKE IN FEAR, YOU PUNY MOTHERLESS MORTALS.....

For I am now officially licenced to drive a big-ass car on the public roads, heh heh!!!
Passed me test yesterday.

And that attitude suggests you probably shouldn't have! I trust it's joking, but the assumption one is superior to other road users is behind a good deal of problems I've seen on the road.

[Rables]

Just appreciate not everyone on the road is sane, and as such they will do idiotic things endangering everyone around them.

Just keep your distance, mark a point were the car in front passes and say "Only a fool breaks the two second rule" and obey the speed limit.

Also this is when the real learning begins, experience will bring with it confidence and awareness.

Oh and please turn your phone off initially while in the car, see far too many people texting etc when they should be looking at the road, its too much of a distraction for some people - plus its illegal.

Good luck

[Ttaskmaster]

And that attitude suggests you probably shouldn't have! I trust it's joking, but the assumption one is superior to other road users is behind a good deal of problems I've seen on the road.

And that considerable assumption about my attitude says a lot about you as well as making it clear you haven't been following my posts in this thread, but you don't see me complaining...!!

Blatantly I am a brand new driver with all the difficulties therein, so of course I'm joking. You should know me by now...
But since I have also held a motorcycle licence for quite a few years now, I am naturally superior in every way already... The only way I could be even more superiorerer is if I owned a Harley with ALL the chrome trimmings!!

But no, seriously, I am now in charge of an enormous car so watch out as I make all the usual Newb mistakes!!

Just appreciate not everyone on the road is sane, and as such they will do idiotic things endangering everyone around them.
Just keep your distance, mark a point were the car in front passes and say "Only a fool breaks the two second rule" and obey the speed limit.
Also this is when the real learning begins, experience will bring with it confidence and awareness.
Oh and please turn your phone off initially while in the car, see far too many people texting etc when they should be looking at the road, its too much of a distraction for some people - plus its illegal.
Good luck

Already know all that, having been riding for so long, but the sentiment is appreciated!

[ik9000]

Best watch out for that skip then mate.

[Ttaskmaster]

Best watch out for that skip then mate.

Nah, I stopped skipping once I was a good mile away from the test centre.

[Youdontfeedair]

i have just started too enjoying it?

[Matt.]

Anticipation and awareness is always best. I kept the radio off for months when I first started driving after passing my test, and all passengers had to sit in silence.

I had the pee taken out of me, but I was seriously paranoid I was going to have a crash.

[Chadders87]

My wife has just passed her test and the biggest thing that she could advise is be confident. Don't second guess yourself or hesitate.

[duc]

Even if you're in the right, don't be a dick!! Every driver will be on a different level to yourself; be it confidence, competence, awareness, reactions etc.

[Jeeply]

Be confident but don't be overconfident when driving. It's better to be a defensive than aggressive driver. Be safe on the road.

[Ttaskmaster]

Anticipation and awareness is always best. I kept the radio off for months when I first started driving after passing my test, and all passengers had to sit in silence.

Coming from the bike, I'm locked into hearing the engine, so mine are currently driving around in silence anyway... besides, they can't be trusted to choose decent music!

[ik9000]

Nah, I stopped skipping once I was a good mile away from the test centre.

one of my school friends drove her mum's car into a skip. Quote of the year - "but I didn't see it".

"You mean that big yellow thing with flashing orange beacons and a hazard markings?"

"Yeah that's the one - I didn't see it..."