Once you have passed your driving test and become a confident road user, it’s hard to imagine you’ll ever have time away from driving. Depending on your individual situation, it’s more than likely that you may have kept your driving to a minimum over the past few months, due to the lockdowns that have been in place across the world.
No matter what your reason may be for taking a break from driving, you may feel a sense of anxiety at the thought of getting back behind the wheel once again. It’s inevitable that a lot of people will feel like this, as driving carries a number of important responsibilities.
If you feel like your driving knowledge and confidence may not be as strong as what it once was, then we want to help you get back on the roads and become the confident driver you were not so long ago.
Familiarise yourself with the technical side of driving
Although the physical element of driving a car will take up most of your time, it’s inevitable that at some point during your driving life, an unexpected warning light will appear on your vehicle’s dashboard. With this in mind, it’s important to familiarise yourself with the different warning lights which may appear if your car comes into any difficulty.
Whether you complete your own research online or take a warning lights test, refreshing your memory on the different possible lights which may appear on your vehicle’s dashboard, will leave you confident in knowing what the potential issue may be and how to resolve it.
Ease yourself in by taking short journeys
If you’re not feeling particularly confident at the thought of getting behind the wheel again, then don’t throw yourself in at the deep end and take long journeys. If you haven’t been in your car for a few months then the last thing you want to do is put yourself off by going straight onto the motorway or another high speed road.
Instead, take a few short routes around your local area or even to do the shopping. If you know the route you’re taking well, then it will provide you with the confidence you need to familiarise yourself with driving again, and prepare you for longer distance journeys.
Take someone in the car with you
It may not sound very helpful, but taking someone who you know and trust in the vehicle with you, will provide a reassuring effect whilst you’re getting used to driving again. Similar to the last point, even if you’re taking a trip to your local supermarket then ask someone to go with you, and then as your confidence starts to build, you can attempt longer journeys when you feel the time is right.
It’s understandable that you may have lost some of your driving confidence after taking a break from driving. If this is the case for you, then it’s important to know that by following the steps we’ve mentioned and researching some of your own, you can be back behind the wheel in no time at all.
