Find Out The Most Common Mistakes New Drivers Make

When you are learning to drive, you take driving lessons with a professional instructor and they teach you how to drive a vehicle safely on the road. You will learn the basics of the road and how to handle any difficult situation that may arise. Everything is fresh in your mind and you are focused, but as time goes on you start to forget some of the things you learned in driver's training. We have a list of some of those common mistakes new drivers make while driving.

Not Making Adjustments First

When you first get into the vehicle, you should immediately fix the settings to fit your height and preference. Your parents or someone else may have driven the car since you did last, so you want to make sure to adjust the seat to make sure you can reach the pedals, gear shifts and see the road clearly. Then you should adjust the mirrors so you can see around and behind the car. All of this should be done before you leave your parking spot or driveway, not while you are driving down the road.

Following Too Close

One of the key things to remember from your driving lessons is to leave enough distance between your car and the vehicle in front of you. The other vehicle may make a sudden stop for a car crash, something running into the road or a blown tire. You need to give yourself enough time to stop and not rear end them. You do this by remembering to use the three-second following rule.

Not Using Turn Signals

When it comes to driving, only the driver knows what their intentions are on the road. That is why it is critical for every driver to use their turn signals. The driver behind you or waiting to make a turn across from you doesn't know if you will continue to drive straight or turn unless you alert them by using your turn signals. This is something many drivers forget to do, so remembering to do it as a new driver means it will likely stick with you as you get older.

Driving Too Fast or Too Slow

For new drivers, they are often nervous about the speed limit. You often see new drivers either driving too fast or too slow. While it is important to not drive over the speed limit, as that is dangerous to do, it is also dangerous to drive too slow. Drivers should keep with the flow of traffic, without speeding. New drivers should also drive for the conditions.

Distracted Driving

As technology has advanced, distracted driving has become a bigger issue. While many drivers know this is a problem, they also admit to still doing these distracting things while behind the wheel. And distracted driving is not just using your cellphone. It can also be eating, doing your makeup, passengers or drinking your coffee. These all can take your eyes and your mind off the road, which is where they should always be.

While new drivers need to keep these things in mind and not make these common mistakes on the road, the same can be applied to more seasoned drivers also. We often get comfortable behind the wheel, which is when we start working in more lazy tactics and have over-confidence on the road. Remember to stay focused when behind the wheel and keep these basic tasks top of mind!

As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to our friendly support staff. If you want to start your driver's training journey with Coastline Academy, make sure to sign up for Drivers Ed and book your driving lesson today.