The truth about newly-qualified drivers

Submitted by DanEMG on May 3, 2019 – 11:22

Greetings loyal readers!

Here’s a grim statistic to kick off this week’s post: According to our colleagues at THINK!, 1 in 5 drivers crash in the year after passing their driving test. That’s a staggering amount when you consider the hard graft that goes into passing. So, what’s happening? And can *you* do anything about it?

Before we discuss anything else, have a think about this:

• If you’ve recently passed your test, how did you drive the first time you went out on your own?
• If you haven’t passed your test, how do you think you’ll drive the first time you go out on your own?

Write down your immediate reactions to these questions –it’ll be important later.

What did you come up with? You may have said that you were nervous, but I’m willing to bet that you also said you were very, very careful.

Motoring with intent

So, if novice drivers start out with the best of intentions there must nothing to worry about-? Sadly, the best intentions are often like new resolutions; easy to make and easy to break. According to the boffins, newly-qualified drivers are

• inexperienced – good hazard perception skills require real practice – things improve after about 1,000 miles of solo driving
• overconfident – newly licenced drivers often become overconfident in their abilities soon after passing their driving tests. Studies of novice drivers have shown that they’re inclined to be excessively confident in their ability to predict the behaviour of other road users²
• easily distracted – we’ve blogged about this topic before, but it’s relevant here. In-car entertainment systems, mobile phones, sat-navs and passengers all have the potential to divert attention from the road
• tempted to take drink and/or drugs and drive – another topic that’s had the blog treatment, drink and drugs are the sworn enemy of safe driving. Not only do they seriously affect your reaction times, they could cost you a whole lot of money – and potentially your freedom – if you’re caught driving under their influence. You would also have to live with the consequences of your behaviour. This might be killing or seriously injuring other people – even your friends.

If you’re wondering whether you’ll ever give in to temptation, then imagine how *easy* driving can feel. You’ve had a few weeks’ worth of trouble free motoring and everything is going smoothly. You start to relax, drive with one hand on the wheel, forget to signal maybe stop checking your mirrors. Your mates call round and you pop out for a few beers then drive home. You’re in the groove now and nothing can touch you…until it does. That’s a typical example of how overconfidence can creep into your driving. You need to guard against it, as it has a track record of leading to serious consequences.

Follow your dreams

So, what can you do? Well this is where our thought exercise comes in. If you find yourself slipping into bad habits, cast your mind back to your first couple of solo drives. Think about how much effort you put into scanning for hazards, obeying road signs and maintaining good driving technique. You wanted to be safe, you wanted to be a good driver. Use your memories as an inspiration every time you get behind the wheel – not the feeling nervous or trying too hard, but the commitment to safety that you had when you started your driving life.

There are other things you can do, too:

• Dodge the temptation to use your mobile phone by switching it off and putting it in the glove compartment
• If you’re on a night out with your friends, use public transport or choose a ‘designated driver’ before you leave. Never get into a car if you suspect the driver has been drinking or taking drugs.
• Don’t be shy of asking your instructor for additional lessons
• Check out pass plus

Above all, reflect on your driving at end of every journey. Being able to reflect on your thoughts and emotional reactions will provide important feedback and help you to improve.

Driving safety

Of course, this isn’t the whole story. If you want to learn more about safe driving for life, check out our Driver Knowledge Centre. You can also visit our shop for more great resources, including The Official DVSA Guide to Driving – the essential skills.

Well done Michael for passing your driving test today at folkestone test centre.

E

General rules, techniques and advice for all drivers and riders

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4. Lighting requirements

You MUST

• ensure all sidelights and rear registration plate lights are lit between sunset and sunrise
• use headlights at night, except on a road which has lit street lighting. These roads are generally restricted to a speed limit of 30 mph (48 km/h) unless otherwise specified
• use headlights when visibility is seriously reduced (see Rule 226).

Night (the hours of darkness) is defined as the period between half an hour after sunset and half an hour before sunrise).
Laws RVLR regs 3, 24, & 25, (In Scotland – RTRA 1984 sect 82 (as amended by NRSWA, para 59 of sched 8))114
You MUST NOT

• use any lights in a way which would dazzle or cause discomfort to other road users, including pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders
• use front or rear fog lights unless visibility is seriously reduced. You MUST switch them off when visibility improves to avoid dazzling other road users (see Rule 226).

In stationary queues of traffic, drivers should apply the parking brake and, once the following traffic has stopped, take their foot off the footbrake to deactivate the vehicle brake lights. This will minimise glare to road users behind until the traffic moves again.
Law RVLR reg 27115
You should also

• use dipped headlights, or dim-dip if fitted, at night in built-up areas and in dull daytime weather, to ensure that you can be seen
• keep your headlights dipped when overtaking until you are level with the other vehicle and then change to main beam if necessary, unless this would dazzle oncoming road users
• slow down, and if necessary stop, if you are dazzled by oncoming headlights
• Hazard warning lights. These may be used when your vehicle is stationary, to warn that it is temporarily obstructing traffic. Never use them as an excuse for dangerous or illegal parking. You MUST NOT use hazard warning lights while driving or being towed unless you are on a motorway or unrestricted dual carriageway and you need to warn drivers behind you of a hazard or obstruction ahead. Only use them for long enough to ensure that your warning has been observed.
• Law RVLR reg 27

Signals warn and inform other road users, including pedestrians of your intended actions. You should always

• give clear signals in plenty of time, having checked it is not misleading to signal at that time
• use them to advise other road users before changing course or direction, stopping or moving off
• cancel them after use
• make sure your signals will not confuse others. If, for instance, you want to stop after a side road, do not signal until you are passing the road. If you signal earlier it may give the impression that you intend to turn into the road. Your brake lights will warn traffic behind you that you are slowing down
• use an arm signal to emphasise or reinforce your signal if necessary. Remember that signalling does not give you priority.

You should also

• watch out for signals given by other road users and proceed only when you are satisfied that it is safe
  
• be aware that an indicator on another vehicle may not have been cancelled.
  

You MUST obey signals given by police officers, traffic officers, traffic wardens and signs used by school crossing patrols.
Laws RTRA sect 28, RTA 1988 sect 35, TMA 2004 sect 6, & FTWO art 3106
Police stopping procedures. If the police want to stop your vehicle they will, where possible, attract your attention by

• flashing blue lights, headlights or sounding their siren or horn, usually from behind
• directing you to pull over to the side by pointing and/or using the left indicator.

You MUST then pull over and stop as soon as it is safe to do so. Then switch off your engine.
Law RTA 1988 sect 163

Well done Chloe for passing your driving test today at Ashford test centre,