How to overcome the fear of driving for beginners: advice from a psychologist on how to combat anxiety

traffic police

28.08.2018

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An exam is always a holiday, I remember, said one hero of a well-known old Soviet film. Is it really? Almost anyone will say that, of course, this is not true. This is exciting, scary, this terrible tension until you shake in your hands. Especially if it is a traffic police exam. There are lucky people who are calm and unperturbed in any situation, like a rock. Or they are so confident in their knowledge and skills that they see no point in worrying. However, most will still need simple tips on how not to worry before the traffic police exam.

What is this exam and what is it eaten with?

In order not to be afraid of the exam, you need to know well what it is. When preparing at a driving school, they will tell you this many times, explain it to you, and give examples. In addition, before day X you will have to pass a similar test within the walls of your home school - an internal exam. Can you repeat roughly the same thing again? For sure.

Actually, the exam consists of two parts: theoretical and practical. In the first one you will have to answer questions about tickets. Knowledge of traffic rules and driving theory will be tested. The practical part of the exam, in turn, is divided into two parts. The first involves an exam on a racing track - testing the ability to perform a standard set of exercises. The second includes driving in the city.

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How to overcome the fear of driving a car before passing the traffic police exam?

Passing the practical part of the exam is one of the most difficult questions for a modern driver's license applicant. Many people worry about driving, because there are a variety of difficulties in this regard. Someone approaches the delivery process without confidence in their abilities and abilities to properly operate all the functions of the car. Others develop a fear of the road and real traffic situations when it is not an instructor sitting next to them, but a rather intimidating traffic police inspector. Today we'll look at how to overcome your fear of driving before your test.

For many, the difficulties of passing the driving test begin already in the theoretical part. Nerves and lack of enough time become the main points that prevent you from passing the theory. It is enough to answer one question incorrectly, and a whole wave of uncertainty arises, various myths and fairy tales are remembered, and obviously incorrect answers are given. But when it comes to practice, it gets really bad.

To drink or not to drink, that is the question?

Many tips on how to calm down before a traffic police exam include a recommendation to take a sedative.
However, such drugs inhibit attentiveness, reaction speed and speed of thinking, making a person overly lethargic and relaxed. Do you need it for your driving test? Hardly. In addition, excessive relaxation can be dangerous not only for the success of the exam, but also for other road users. But the day before you can relax and get a good night's sleep. But you can resort to pills only as a last resort: they can cause lethargy the next day. It is better to drink tea with chamomile, mint or lemon balm, warm milk with honey, take a bath with foam and lavender essential oil, and get a massage. And go to bed early.

Important! Some people are used to relaxing before bed with a glass of beer or wine. On the eve of an exam, this is the worst thing you can think of. After all, alcohol will lead to a slow reaction the next day, and may not completely disappear from the body.

I love - I don’t love

Some people love to practice parallel parking, but hate hills. Others prefer the snake... This is about the basic exercises. Often cadets make a common mistake: they try to avoid exercises they don’t like, paying more attention to their favorite ones. As a result, the former remain poorly developed. How can you not worry during your driving test?

After all, no one will ask what we like and what we don’t. You will have to pass all the exercises, and equally well. And to do this, you need to practice all the exercises on the race track equally hard, so that you can literally go through them with your eyes closed.

If there are any particularly weak points, be it in theory or practice, then it is worth tightening them so that they fly off your teeth. And this is the most effective way not to worry during the traffic police exam. After all, only impeccable preparation will help you be confident in your knowledge and strengths.

AT THE DRIVING TEST

Prepare to move

Make sure, through your manager or driving expert, that the car is familiar to you.

Your goal is to demonstrate competence, not perfection.

The examiner wants to see you as a safe and competent driver. You don't have to demonstrate perfection at all. Minor errors will not necessarily mean failure, at least until these errors turn out to be related to security. Listen to what the examiner tells you and what he asks you to do. If you don't understand any directions, don't be afraid to ask for clarification. What did the examiner mean: turn left or change lanes to the left? It would be much better to ask and clarify than to guess and end up doing something wrong and failing the exam.

Be realistic!

When you take a driving test, remind yourself that the examiner does not intend to accept new drivers as drivers who are “reckless” during the test and who will be chased by law enforcement officers in the future.

Don’t be funny and don’t ask the examiner how long ago he had a medical examination of his health, how is his blood pressure, did he wear diapers? The only requirement for you is to drive normally, calmly, adhering to the traffic mode on the road. Do you know how to drive calmly? Then just do it.

Explain your actions whenever possible.

If you find yourself in a situation where road conditions force you to do the opposite of what the examiner suggests, for example, you are unable to change lanes due to the density of traffic. Then simply explain what you are doing and why, and suggest an alternative.

Do not give up

If you think you have made a mistake that will lead to failure, do not give up, do not refuse to continue the exam. Accept the situation as it is, relax and continue driving until the test is over. It is possible that the examiner will either not notice the error or decide that the error is not significant enough to stop the exam. You will do well in the test if you demonstrate a safe driving style, and the examiner will certainly appreciate this. Central's rating in the traffic police is high. So it’s up to you whether you convince the examiner of your competence or not. If you can do this, your driver's license is in your pocket.

Prepare to move

Once in the car, check that the gear shift lever is in neutral and the handbrake is on. Even if you are absolutely sure that these levers are in the correct position (while the car is stationary), show the examiner that you are checking this. Before driving, make sure that your vehicle's seat is adjusted correctly so that you can feel comfortable while driving. Adjust the mirrors as well.

Examiners love it when they demonstrate this (in secret).

Start the car moving correctly

When starting off, follow the road inspection algorithm. Look in the center and side rear view mirrors, then turn on the turn signal and turn your head to check the blind spot. It is possible that in your mirrors you will not be able to notice a car entering the road from the opposite direction.

Don't look at the controls, keep your eyes on the road

Most vehicle controls are designed so that you can operate them without looking at them. You must use the pedals, shift gears and indicators without taking your eyes off the road.

Examiner's silence means moving straight

If the examiner does not give you any instructions for a while, you should understand this as a silent command to continue moving in a forward direction. Therefore, you can choose the appropriate lane to continue your route at your discretion, depending on the situation on the road.

Show smooth control

You will greatly demonstrate your competence if you move and generally do everything smoothly. This means: smooth acceleration and speed changes, timely gear changes and, finally, smooth braking. And please don’t knock anything in your way! When starting or accelerating in heavy traffic, pay attention to the distance to the vehicle in front of you. It should increase as the speed increases. If you continue to drive in a low gear at high speed, even for a short period of time, this will be perceived as uncertainty on the part of the driver. When braking, gradually increase pressure on the brake pedal, and then, as the speed decreases, the pressure on the brake pedal should also gradually decrease. If the brake pedal is used too late, too quickly, too harshly or... not used at all, it can fail you.

Choose your pace based on the forecast

Avoid situations where you have to make sudden maneuvers to avoid an unexpected danger. Look ahead at least 12-15 seconds and predict possible scenarios for the development of the situation. Your driving and your thinking should move at the same pace - don't let your mind trail behind your chosen driving pace. Look for signs of potential hazards early. Your examiner will be greatly impressed if you demonstrate the ability to predict when another car or pedestrian will appear in front of you in a hurry to cross the roadway. Constantly keeping an eye on the people and cars ahead of you is a common sense requirement. For example, smoke emerging from the exhaust pipe of a parked car on a cold day is a sign that the engine has just been started and the driver intends to start driving. Children playing soccer or volleyball next to the road may suddenly kick the ball into the road and then run after it.

Prepare to deal with the unexpected

In an exam, as in life on the road, anything can happen. And part of your skill as a driver is to demonstrate your ability to cope with the different real-life traffic situations you may encounter. If you come face to face with a situation that you did not foresee in advance, try not to panic. Follow your examiner's instructions. Before making a decision, consider all possible courses of action, e.g. make your choice consciously.

Select and control the speed correctly

Acceptable speed limits change all the time, so demonstrate to your examiner your understanding of the reasons for speed changes, choose the speed according to road signs, but not only: take into account all conditions. You may need to reduce your speed after passing any warning sign, when approaching a pedestrian crossing or stopping a route vehicle. In heavy traffic , try to move with the speed of the flow

. 5th “Golden Rule”! (Remember your teacher's advice.)

Control your distance and your condition

If you allow yourself to lose concentration and drive too close to the car in front, you will very likely fail the test. You must be able to assess the conditions of acceptable risk when choosing a distance:

critical distance – less than 0.5 seconds;
high risk level – distance from 0.5 to 1.0 seconds;
medium risk level – distance from 1.0 to 1.5 seconds;
low risk level – distance from 1.5 to 2.0 seconds;

Driving at medium to low risk distances is possible, but requires driver attention and good visibility.

Maintain a safe lateral spacing

When driving in the far right lane, try to position your car at a distance of 1 meter from the sidewalk, and when driving around a car standing on the sidewalk, the safe lateral interval should be at least 0.7 meters. Driving with smaller lateral intervals requires reducing the speed.

Use correct steering technique

Mistakes made by the driver when performing technical taxiing techniques can not only lead to irreparable consequences when unexpected obstacles arise in the path of your movement, but can complicate the performance of even ordinary maneuvers. When driving, try to watch how you hold the steering wheel in your hands and how you use the technique of intercepting the steering wheel when making turns. Turning the steering wheel too early during a turning maneuver can cause the rear wheels to hit an obstacle, such as a curb. Our driving experts will teach you these maneuvers

Demonstrate full awareness of your surroundings

To successfully pass the exam, it is important to show the examiner that you act according to what you see in the mirror. If you look, but don’t see, and most importantly, don’t act according to your observations, then what’s the point of looking in the mirror? It is necessary to look up at the central rear view mirror not only before performing any maneuver and before braking (even in cases where the braking is smooth and not emergency), but also to periodically assess the situation behind you when driving without changing your position on the roadway.

When approaching an intersection, be prepared to change direction

You may be instructed to change the direction of further travel, and then you will be ready to change lanes to the extreme right or extreme left for traffic in your direction. The examiner's instructions will not take you by surprise.

Don't stop unnecessarily

You need a complete stop: in front of a stop line or traffic light (when the signal is red), at the request of a police officer or in front of a STOP sign. At intersections where a road sign or traffic light requires you to give way, you do not have to stop at all. Slow down enough to ensure the road is clear and proceed with caution and attention. You will have to stop completely only if you need to let through traffic moving in the direction you are crossing, and when turning left, also if you need to let through oncoming traffic that appears in your path.

Pay special attention when instructed by the instructor on the route before changing lanes, turning or turning around.

There is always a possibility that someone may try to overtake or get ahead of you. Therefore, before changing lanes to both the right and left lanes, an additional check of the situation (additional inspection) is necessary. The same is required before turning left (U-turn). Although no one is allowed to pass you if you have turned on your left turn signals in advance, this does not mean that no one will try to do so. Even if the other driver is breaking the law, you may fail the test if you don't see (not notice) him speeding past you.

Be careful when turning. Make sure it is safe.

If you need to maneuver to give way to a driver approaching from another direction, you first need to be able to estimate the amount of space required to perform the maneuver. This maneuver usually takes about 3 – 4 seconds. In order for the driver who has priority right to move in front of you to maintain the same speed, he must have at least 2 more seconds left in front. Thus, (remember the recommendations of our experts) to make a left turn you need to have at least 5 seconds of free space.

Don't show too much confidence when changing lanes

Proudly demonstrate your correct driving skills to your examiner, but do not do it as if you were driving your friends and showing them what a “cool” driver you are. This is not necessary. During the exam, you must be sure that you can occupy the gap between other vehicles calmly, without unnecessary recklessness or extreme sports. If you rush through this gap too quickly, you will not score points. You'll just scare the examiner. And his decision may not be in your favor.

Learn to master reverse gear

Various maneuvers will require you to know how to use reverse gear: 3-way turns, parallel parking and reversing onto an adjacent road are the most common maneuvers. Try to turn your head while looking over your shoulder - sometimes this is better than relying on mirrors. Learn to use the steering wheel when reversing, and also be sure that you can stop whenever another car, obstacle or pedestrian appears in your way (while reversing).

Believe me, if you have taken driving training with our driving masters, you will pass the exam. But, don’t be too self-confident and read my wishes again.

If you studied at another driving school and cannot pass the driving test after the third, or even fifth time, with a free schedule, our driving experts will correct the mistakes.

General Director of the Central Driving School of Moscow Sergey Lobarev

Don't listen to bad advisers. And talk less

If you chat at every turn about the upcoming exam and the accompanying worries, then every listener - with good intentions, of course - will strive to give advice. And not always good. And, most likely, contradicting other advice.

And also, especially for those who have already attended a driving school and received a license, they will probably tell you how it was for them. How an evil inspector almost killed you in the parking lot. Or how you came across such a complex ticket that no one has ever sorted out.

Having heard enough of this, how not to worry before the traffic police exam? Hence the conclusion: talk less about your experiences and listen less. It will be calmer this way. Then tell the whole world how you successfully passed the exam - the first time!

Life doesn't end

And the easiest way to calm down before the traffic police exam is to just... calm down. Just ask yourself the question, what will happen if you don’t pass it? That's right, you will have one more try. And further. But generally speaking, life does not end with such a small failure.

Therefore, how not to worry during the driving test? Tune in for the best, calm down, pull yourself together. Of course, it’s easier said than done, but it’s still possible. How to pull yourself together? There are some simple recommendations:

Think through and imagine everything in advance down to the smallest detail. Imagine how you, with a calm smile, relaxed, get into the car and fasten your seat belt. And so on.
Remember your most successful, successful day, when you were more confident than ever. Close your eyes, remember as many details and little things of this day as possible. Feel your feelings at this moment. And try to fix this feeling of confidence in your soul.
Think about the fact that the traffic police officer taking the exam is just a person. He, like everyone else, goes to bed and eats, communicates with family and friends, walks the dog, and goes to the store. It has its weaknesses and shortcomings. Realizing this greatly relieves fear.

Or else, remember that you have already had exams in your life, and probably more than one. You defended your diploma and graduated from school. And the Unified State Examination will be even worse!

***

And yet, how not to worry? What could be worse than passing the traffic police exam, someone will say. Whatever. To get lost in the forest. Move to live in another country. For some, even visiting the dentist’s office. And the exam is just another stage on the path of life. And you shouldn’t be afraid of it any more than you would be afraid of an ordinary little test. The main thing is that the result is worth it.

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Additional lessons and driving practice before taking the test

Remember that before you receive your license, you need to prepare as much as possible for the exam process. To do this, you need to take advantage of every opportunity to acquire the necessary skills and focus on learning as much as possible. There is a lot of time legally defined for training; the limit on driving hours is constantly increasing.

But for many, standard indicators are not enough, so novice drivers prefer to take additional lessons. You can contact your instructor or the driving school directly with a request for additional classes. You can also go to another school or find a private instructor, of which there are many today. You just need to remember these important points:

until you receive your license, you can only drive with an experienced instructor;
Only a car with special equipment is allowed to be used;
if you use the services of a private instructor, check the car insurance option;
it is best to drive extra hours in the same car in which the practice takes place;
the main goal of additional driving hours is to develop self-confidence;
for additional driving time you will have to pay extra on top of the standard driving school rate.

It is better to use the services of the driving school where you are undergoing training. Any institution will agree to provide you with additional practice time subject to additional payment of a certain amount of money. The best option would be to use the same car that will be used in the exam. This will help not only to study the road better, but also to get used to the car itself.

Often, drivers have enough time allotted by law for practical driver training. For a more detailed study of all the features of the driving process, there is a period after obtaining a license, during which you can study in your own car, placing a relative with extensive driving experience in the front seat. The task after driving school is to directly pass the exam.