Earning your restricted driver’s license can be one of the most freeing opportunities a teenager can get. No more scheduling rides, listening to music you don’t like, or waiting for a driver to pick you up! Now you can go where you want when you want. A whole new world of opportunities opens to you, if you can get over your initial fear behind the wheel that is!
The world is oftentimes a scary place and accidents on the road happen all the time. It is likely that you will or already know someone who has been in a car crash, and even more likely that you’ve seen one on the side of the road. But a car accident is more than just a stop to traffic flow, it can truly affect people’s lives in serious ways. This can be in the form of losing a trusty car, experiencing a rise in the cost of car insurance, physical and mental injury, or even loss of life. All these factors went rushing through my head each time I got behind the wheel with one of my parents in tow. I began to imagine all the scary things that could happen to me and my passengers, with only me to blame when it came down to the question, “How did this happen?”
Despite my fear, here I am now with my restricted license and most of my anxiety is gone. You can do what I did too, with five simple steps to relieve your driving stress!
- STAY OFF YOUR PHONE
Though this one may seem like a given, it is truly surprising how many people still don’t follow this simple rule. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, “Using a cell phone while driving creates enormous potential for deaths and injuries on U.S. roads. In 2023, 3,275 people were killed in motor vehicle crashes involving distracted drivers.” You do not want to be one of these statistics. Being on your phone in any capacity while driving is still considered distracted driving. This includes changing the music on your phone, calling someone, texting, checking Instagram, sending a video, and more. To combat the temptation to access my phone while driving I’ve taken to putting my phone in my glovebox and listening to CDs instead!
- Stay Observant
I know that you’ve probably heard these words from your driving instructor plenty of times. “Stay observant.” There is no harm in looking in your mirrors as often as you can. The more around you that you’re aware of, the faster you can react in a dangerous situation.
- Practice with someone who makes you feel comfortable!
Practicing driving at the beginning of your license journey can be incredibly stressful. There is so much to get right and wrong and it’s very easy to get overwhelmed. One thing that helped me so much was my dad’s calm demeanor when teaching me the ins and outs of driving. He trusted me and my abilities and was right there to help when I needed him. And don’t get me wrong, I love my mother! But the occasional yelped “STOP” or the desperate clutch for the handle above the window didn’t quite set me up for an anxiety free drive. So as much as you can, practice driving with someone who will make you feel as confident as you can!
- Talk Yourself Through It
When I took my official drivers test at the DMV at Bowman Field the main thing that kept me calm was talking myself through each maneuver. Parallel parking and three-point turns can be hard, but saying aloud what you plan to do next can be so helpful. It keeps you on track and it also shows the officer grading your driving that you know what to do. While some may say talking to yourself is strange, it can really work as a tool to get you your official license.
- Practice makes perfect!
There is no shame in failing your driver’s test. Seriously. I failed my first one and fully believed that I would never learn to drive. But after
implementing these tips I came back the second time ready to go and passed! The more you practice, the better you will feel!
As a wise woman once told me, “fear is just the absence of something. Fill it with preparation.” Driving is a part of growing up, and we here at the Assumption Digital Media team believe that you can do it. Happy driving!
