While many people view knowing how to drive almost as a necessity in some areas, beginning driving can create feelings of stress and or anxiety for some. Along with the appropriate driving lessons, certain precautions, steps and actions can be helpful when learning to drive and ultimately ease the tensions of a new driver for the duration of their driving years. The more equipped and knowledgeable a student driver becomes, the better their overall driving experience will be.

Read and Get Acquainted

The Driving Manual – The driving manual will be a necessary tool for the drivers ed and license testing. Prior to the driving lessons, a new driver should read their driving manual, take notes and memorize the materials to get a full understanding of the information. New drivers should make note of questions that they have. When driving instructors review the material, if a student driver does not understand the material, they should be prepared to ask their specific question and get clarification. It will be helpful to reread the material once it is discussed in class and review any notes taken to get acquainted and absorb the material.

The Car Manual – Reviewing the car manual and car features will also be helpful to new drivers. Prior to driving the vehicle, a driver should take note of the car features and their locations. The driver will be more comfortable and at ease when they are aware of the features and how to properly use them. Touch and feel the features, do they require a tap, push or pull and what happens if they don’t appear to work properly? What steps are taken to troubleshoot? Knowing certain troubleshooting facts will help new drivers resolve common operational errors when using certain car functions. The car manuals generally have a table of contents and an index which will help drivers quickly search for items. New drivers will quickly learn that their car manual is included for a reason and is certainly an important tool for all drivers.

Signs – A student driver should become very acquainted with signs and their meanings. Memorizing the signs in the driving manual is a necessity and being able to recall them on notice is essential for safe driving as well as passing the driving test. New drivers should practice paying attention to the road signs and recalling their meaning. Paying particular attention to the less common signs and staying brushed up, will also be helpful for recognition when they appear. New drivers should look up any signs which they cannot recall.

Safety
New drivers should keep the safety first mantra at the forefront when driving. In all that is done in operation of the the vehicle and every movement of driving, safety first should be considered. When safety is at the forefront of driving, the driver will always proceed with caution and care.

Habits
New drivers should start drivers ed with good driving habits and commit to maintaining them throughout their driving years. When established early on, good driving habits are more likely to be maintained. Student drivers should note that the rules and methods that they learn from the driving manual and driving classes are foundational and if they work to master and continue them, they will become better drivers. Habits and practices such as seat belt safety and proper seat and mirror positioning are easy to implement and make a great impact on keeping drivers and passengers safe.

Seat Belts
A new driver should make it a practice to buckle-up once they are seated. New drivers can review their car manual regarding properly adjusting the seat belt. Once they are buckled, they should make it their standard to verify that everyone in the vehicle is buckled before moving the car from the parked position.

Visibility
There are various factors that affect visibility when driving. New drivers should make it one of their driving habits to do what is necessary to ensure that they have the best visibility possible. Some visibility factors that new drivers can address include: their vision, car mirrors, windows and verifying weather and travel conditions.

Vision
It is essential to have optimal vision when driving. Prior to attending a driving class, new driving students should have a current eye exam. Lens wearers should be sure that their prescriptions are current and their lenses are clean and in good condition. Having tools on hand to clean lenses and if possible a backup pair can also be helpful for drivers.

Mirrors
Clean and properly adjusted mirrors are necessary for optimal visibility when driving. It is best for new drivers to get in the habit of always verifying that their mirrors are clean and properly adjusted prior to beginning to drive. Drivers should make any necessary seat adjustments and then make any adjustments to their mirrors.

Windows
Drivers should verify that they have proper visibility through their windows. It is good practice for new drivers to get in the habit of making sure their windows are clean and unobstructed. In colder weather, drivers should take the time to make sure all windows are fully frost free. Clear and unobstructed windows allow for optimal visibility and help avoid unnecessary blind spots.

Weather Visibility
It is important to drive in weather conditions that allow for optimal visibility. New students should get in the practice of checking the weather conditions prior to driving. Drivers should avoid driving in weather conditions in which road travel is discouraged due to bad weather conditions which could cause limited visibility and dangerous road travel such as icy roads, downpours and flash flooding, etc., down trees and power lines.

Focus
Student drivers should practice being focused when driving and avoiding distractions. New drivers should get in the habit of keeping the driving area free of distractions such as phones and other electronic devices. New drivers should also get in the practice of avoiding conversations that could take their attention from driving. Focusing on the road without tensing up and avoiding tunnel vision is a skill that drivers will also need to develop to stay alert. New drivers can practice moving their eyes and not staring to avoid fixation. New drivers make efforts to get accustomed to observing their surroundings, using their peripheral vision and all of the car mirrors, windows (and cameras when available) to maintain the best view of the road and things around them.

Destination

Arrow Driving School Edmonton notes that while driving is a helpful privilege, it also comes with great responsibility. While the reason for driving is to get from one destination to another, the priority is to get there safely. New drivers can lessen the stress of driving with the proper drivers education, training and guidance. Arrow Driving School can help new drivers get the best start to their driving experience and give them the necessary foundational drivers education to help them throughout their driving years. Arrow Driving School Edmonton offers driving classes that can get student drivers off to a great start. Visit the Arrow Driving School website at https://www.thearrowdrivingschool.com for more driving tips and information regarding driving classes or call (780) 721-8282.