You have decided to learn to drive, that in itself is a major decision and one that has probably taken a lot of thought. This is the first step towards your driving licence, and for many, possibly one of the biggest decisions of your life. Why is it such a big deal?
Well, it is life changing! Anybody who gets on the road will tell you that their life has changed for the better, albeit, somewhat expensive! But, none-the-less, it is still better. The world suddenly becomes bigger and more exciting as new opportunities present us and our lives. For many, these can include new relationships, friendships, new job opportunities and some new adventures!
When it comes to the actual process of learning to drive – some students will find it a lot harder than others. In fact, it can be very stressful- and you shall experience a whole heap of emotions! Learning to drive is NOT easy for anybody. How does anyone manage to get to a respectable level of driving within the DVSA’s recommended guideline of 44 hours!
Well, a plan is where to start!
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Preparing to learn to drive
When it comes to learning to drive, it is important to have a plan, and in the words of Tony Robbins: “A Massive Action Plan!” You have decided to learn to drive, you have found and sourced your driving instructor and now are planning to embark on your programme of tuition!
Without a PLAN, your driving lessons won’t be as fulfilled as they could be! What do I mean? Ok, so, getting yourself into the correct ‘state of mind’ and with a solid training plan, you will undoubtedly deepen your ability when it comes to absorbing and interpreting information.
So, I reckon, that this is a valid starting point when it comes to learning to drive. Mind management isn’t something you naturally have, or even recognise, but when you understand the key concepts of what is needed to give you the best start to managing yourself and your training, you shall find that you are best placed to be coached, trained and this, in turn, will improve all areas of life!
“Planning Is Key”
So what does all this waffle mean? It means, that with a plan, you will have better training sessions, more improvement per training session, and possibly need fewer lessons overall! So let us look at an example:
Interview for a new job: You have an interview and you are really excited about the role. Do you just turn up to the interview? No, you don’t. But what you will do is prepare for your interview. From the wise words of Roy Copper: “Failing to prepare, is preparing to fail!”.
You plan for your interview by researching the company, you revise your skills and equip yourself with possible answers to questions that you may be asked. You ensure you look the part, you plan your bus route or lift to your interview so that you aren’t late! Learning to drive is no different.
When starting out, it is important to set the benchmark for your training. Layout a few ground rules: These may include:
- I WILL not be late for my driving lessons
- I will make sure I equip myself with the necessary documentation prior to and during my lesson!
- I will communicate effectively with my driving instructor!
- I will commit to weekly/ regular training to establish a continued level of learning and attainment.
Learning to drive deserves this kind of commitment, and this article is here to help you prepare yourself for life on the road. So, let us continue!
In every area of your life planning is at the forefront of what you do. Whether you recognise this or not, as some actions you take on a daily basis are what we call ‘autopilots’, they are things that you do on active autopilot.
For example, You have joined a new football team. What you do on autopilot is consider preparing yourself for your fitness induction. Do you just turn up? No, you do NOT! You prepare and go for a few runs after college – possibly for a week before your first training session.
This auto-pilot has been instilled in you from an early age. Any time you did anything new, that you were interested in, you would have had some form of action plan prior to doing it. This would have been inputted by your parents by consistent actions and behaviours.
This process is the exact same process for learning to drive. When you prepare yourself for learning to drive, you automatically learn from people who have the greatest influence in your life.
This could be your dad, your mum, your best friend or even your driving instructor. Every new driver will seek advice and some form of coaching from people who already drive. Making sure you only seek the advice from someone who you look-up-to is important.
Is it wise to seek verification from someone who constantly speeds, promotes road-rage, or who makes you feel like a bag of nerves when sat with them? After all, we become who we are surrounded by!
It is vital to make sure that you take responsibility for your plan and make sure your plan is followed through. Getting the correct driving instructor or driving school is crucial to your overall learning!
Planning your Driving Lessons To Best Serve You
Ok, so you want to make sure that your driving lessons go ahead and you are in the best possible ‘state of mind’ to absorb new skills and information. So, how can you prepare yourself to gain maximum benefit? Here is a list:
- Make sure you are committed to learning and take the good days with the bad days!
- Make sure you don’t miss your driving lessons or cancel them because a night out on the booze is more important.
- Get feedback from your driving instructor and ask questions if you aren’t sure about something.
- Get private practice. A large part of the learning process is the experience. Your trainer should be able to advise you on practice sessions with your parents/family/friends.
- Your commitment to your goals and the rituals you put in place will follow through to the test and beyond!
Remember, learning to drive is a ‘lifelong skill’, you are forever learning to drive and are continually improving as a driver. Throughout your whole life, you will encounter new situations and experiences that won’t be nice, and some that will be very scary. The 40+ hours you will have whilst learning to drive to get your driver’s licence only scratches the ‘learn to drive’ process. Your goals and driving plan will benchmark your driving attitudes for years to come.
Why is all this important? This is important because your life is important! Every year, 1700 people are killed on the roads in the UK, and nearly 15,000 people are seriously (life-changing) injured. That is life-changing statistics! Taking your driving lessons seriously will plant the ‘responsible driver’ seed for generations to come!
Here are a few tips to get focused and into the correct zone for mind management!
- Set goals. When do you want to pass by? Book your theory test and practical exam early! Plan your driving lessons to fit your goals
- Make sure you get a thorough plan of training from your driving instructor. The best learners write down their goals, and their plans and 90% achieve better results when everything is recorded!
- Be committed to and open minded to the endless learning. You can never be too good a driver – even after your test pass! Commit to a lifetime of learning!
- Make sure you are well prepared for your driving lessons – emotionally and mentally. Avoid stress, tiredness and emotion prior to your driving lessons.
- Do not learn with distractions. Turn your phone off, or even better leave it at home. Your driving lessons are more important and your friends can wait.
- Plan to spend some time revising or watching some training videos on Youtube. The more information you have access to you will have more knowledge, better understanding and a greater appreciation of the skill you have obtained.
