Automatic Driving Lessons In North Dublin – Mirrors

During your driving test, the tester will be watching you closely to see how and when you use your mirrors. Checking your mirrors frequently helps you understand what is behind you at all times. All traffic situations are different and you never know what could be coming up behind you. There can he bicycles coming up the inside, a motorbike on the outside or even an emergency vehicle coming up from behind. When you know what is behind, you can position your car safely at all times.

As you drive along a straight road with not many hazards or activity ahead, check each individual mirror every 3 seconds or so. We would check our left-wing mirror and then look ahead onto the road, then 3 seconds later we would glance at our inside mirror and then straight ahead and then 3 seconds later our right-wing mirror and then straight ahead. You see how it is one quick glance in each individual mirror but then looking straight back into the road you are driving on. Keep it in order like so, this helps you check all your mirrors evenly.

When turning left and right mirrors play a large role in helping you complete the turns safely. If the tester asks you to turn left, this is your cue to check your mirrors. You would start by checking your inside mirror and then your left wing mirror. Then you would signal and position the car safely. If it was a T junction you were turning left on, before you move off and complete the turn, again you would have a good look in the left-wing mirror to make sure nobody was coming up the inside. After you look right and left onto the road you will be entering, again quick glance into the left-wing mirror and proceed if safe to do so. When you join the new road, check all your mirrors. We have a saying “new road, new mirror.”

When the tester asks you to turn right, again the same principles apply. Check the inside mirror and then right-wing mirror and when it is safe to do, indicate right and move into a good road position. Before you move off, look in all 3 mirrors from left to right to see if there is anything coming up from behind. It the road ahead is clear, move off and pick up a safe road position. Once in position “new road, new mirrors.”

During the test, anything can happen and you may need to overtake a broken down vehicle or cyclists or whatever it may be. This is a great test of your skills and doing this competently will impress the tester. Use of the mirrors here is crucial. Before you get to the hazard, check your mirrors all around before you signal. When the way is clear overtake the hazard but when you move back into your lane, check your inside mirror and left-wing mirror before you indicate and move back in.

All driving scenarios in the test require you to use your mirrors at all times. When driving on a straight constantly look into the mirrors and let the tester know you are looking by moving your head. If you are looking into your mirrors by adjusting your eyes and not moving your head, the tester may not see this and will mark you poorly for your observation or could even fail you.

Driving Lessons In North Dublin Road Position

When you are driving on your test, the one aspect of the test that the tester is constantly monitoring is your road position. Road position is where your car is positioned on the road as you drive. The tester is watching your position on the straight roads, left and right turns, roundabouts, coming up to traffic lights and when you are completing your manoeuvres. Today I will focus on road position on a straight road and also turning left. Always be mindful of your road position and constantly be aware of where you are positioned on the road. You will learn everything you need to know about road positioning in your EDT Lessons and always try to apply them for driving in the future.

Position on straight roads. When you are driving on straight roads, always be looking far down the road and look out for possible obstructions such as parked cars, road layout, roundabouts etc. If the way ahead is clear, keep your car positioned to the left-hand side of the road. Keep your car positioned about a door’s width away from the footpath. Be mindful of drains and if it is raining be mindful of puddles. Keeping into the left side of the road means you are keeping away from the centre line in the middle of the road. Driving too close to the centre line is dangerous as traffic coming from the opposite direction can be too close.

The red car in the diagram has a good road position as the car is positioned into the left safely.

When an obstruction presents itself, calmly check your mirrors and if you need to indicate to the right do so and overtake the obstruction, leaving plenty of room between your car and the obstruction. Only indicate if you have to change lanes to warn drivers behind and in front of you. If it is a slight steer of the steering wheel to avoid a drain or a puddle, there is no need to indicate. After you passed the obstruction, again, check your mirrors, if nobody is coming up on the left, signal left and gradually steer your car back into the left-hand side of the road.

Position on left and turns. When the tester gives you an instruction such as “at the T junction I would like you to go left.” This should automatically make you think about how you want to approach this left turn. Ask yourself is there a stop sign or a yield sign? Is there traffic up ahead? Is there a bicycle lane to the left? After the split second it takes to read the road ahead, check your mirrors. Check your inside mirror and then your left wing mirror to see if the way is clear. If the way is clear, signal your intention and gradually move the car in towards the left. As you are doing this, reduce your speed and select a lower gear. If you know that you have to stop ahead, always gradually brake and avoid coasting. Always check your mirrors and be aware of cyclists coming up the inside. When you get to the junction, always look right and left and always read the road ahead that you will be driving onto. When you do this you will know where to position your car on the new road. And always remember new road, new mirrors. Always be aware of what is in front of you and what could potentially be coming from behind you.

Holding your road position when you are driving shows the tester that you are a competent driver. If you hold your nerve with the position on your car the whole time and greatly enhances your chance of passing. Poor road position is one of the most common forms of failure on the driving test. Hold your position, you can do it.

Automatic Driving Lessons In North Dublin Cockpit Drill

After the under the bonnet checks, the tester will ask you to sit in the car. When you sit in the car, the tester will ask you to demonstrate a few simple tasks. The tester will remain outside the car and ask you to turn on your parking light, dipped headlights and full beams. They will ask you to demonstrate both your indicators from the front, left and right. The tester will then walk to the back of your car. As they walk to the back, they are examining your tyres and making sure the car is safe. From the back of the car, they will again ask you to turn on your backlights, demonstrate both indicators and also ask you the press the brake pedal. The tester is checking that all your bulbs are in working order and you also know how to use these controls when they are needed. If you do not know how to use these controls are any bulb is not working, your driving test will be terminated.

Now the tester will get into the car beside you. This is where the tester will ask you to demonstrate the secondary controls and also the cockpit drill. The cockpit drill is basically knowing that you are safe and secure before you start the engine. We naturally do these checks without thinking about them, but you must be able to explain them and why we do them. It is good to rehearse your answers and answer them in an order you can remember.

The first part of the cockpit drill is making sure your door is closed securely. I can’t stress this enough. That is the first part of the cockpit drill and if the tester asks you to explain the cockpit drill I would start here. You can explain to the tester that you would make sure my door is closed securely to avoid it opening while driving.

After we say that the door is closed securely, we would talk about our seat position. We would say that we would adjust our seat so that we can see out the windows, reach the pedals comfortably and also be able to reach the steering wheel comfortably.

As you can see from the diagram, we would have a gentle bend in the elbows and gentle bend in the knees. You don’t want to be reaching the pedals or stretching out to the steering wheel. This can be very uncomfortable and can be dangerous. It is essential that you can see out the windows and reach the controls.

After the seat is in position, it is time to adjust the mirrors. We always adjust our mirrors after we adjust the seat. First, we adjust the inside mirror. We can hold it with both hands and gently adjust it so that you can see out the whole back window

This is an excellent diagram as it shows in the interior mirror the whole of the back window and also you can see the rim of the inside of your own car. This is a perfect position as you can see everything out your back window. Next is the wing mirrors. All cars are different and usually there is a toggle on the driver’s door that is used to adjust the wing mirrors. We would adjust the wing mirrors so that we can see the back corner of our own car, usually aim for the back door handle. This is the perfect position to get the best view of traffic behind.

After we have adjusted our mirrors, we would simply say “from here I would check to see if my car is in neutral and that my handbrake is up.” If you are driving an automatic, instead of having the car in neutral, you would say “I would make sure my car is in Park mode.” We do this to make sure the car is secured for when we start the engine. If the car is in gear and we don’t check this and turn the key the car will jump forward. This could be disastrous for your test.

Last on the cockpit drill is your seatbelt. Always wear your seat belt and always make sure it is fastened securely. Now that you have explained all these the tester will ask you to start the ignition and you are ready to drive.

Automatic Driving Lessons In North Dublin Under The Bonnet

On the day of your driving test, you will be asked to “pop” the bonnet. This simply means open the bonnet by pulling the lever from inside the car. The term “pop” is used because of the sound it makes when you pull the lever. When you pull the lever, you must walk to the front of the car where the tester will be standing and lift the bonnet up. All cars are different and all cars have different locks which you must open to lift the bonnet up. (see yellow lever above the Ford symbol) Always practice opening the bonnet before your test. Practice this a few times so it comes easy to you on test day. Once you have the bonnet open, there is usually a metal rod which holds the bonnet up. Some cars have bonnets that stay open automatically but again, always practice as all cars are different. Leave nothing to chance on the day of your test.

Once you have the bonnet securely open, the tester can ask you a number of questions about different components in the engine. They could ask you about oil, coolant, windscreen washer fluid, steering fluid, brake fluid and where you would put these fluids. Oil is the most common question asked by testers. The tester could ask “where does the oil go?” or “how do I measure the oil level in the engine?” These are commonly asked questions and having a short, sharp answer is best. The tester knows the majority of us are not mechanics and they don’t want a long technical answer. Simply say “oil goes in here” and point to the engine block where the cap is for oil. (see the black cap on the engine block) In your pretests, your instructor will show you the cap. “I measure the oil level by taking out the dipstick, wiping the end of the dipstick with a rag or tissue, reinsert the dipstick back into its holder and take it back out. The oil level should be displayed at the end of the dipstick.” Your instructor will show you where the dipstick goes. Keep your answers short and to the point.

Coolant. The tester could ask you “where do I add coolant?” or “why do I need coolant?” The coolant tank is easy to spot as it is usually a big white, transparent tank with pink fluid inside. (see top left corner the tank with pink fluid) You would simply say “When the engine is cold, I open the cap and fill the tank with coolant up to the maximum line.” I could also say “I need coolant because coolant prevents my engine from overheating when I am driving” Again short, sharp answers keeps the tester happy and also reverse your answers so you can say them smoothly.

Windscreen washer fluid. The tester could ask “where do I add windscreen washer fluid?” or “why do I need windscreen washer fluid?” Sometimes this cap can be hard to find so always know where it is because you will be definitely asked about this. Always have this tank full on your test as you will be asked to demonstrate the use of them later on in the test. (see blue cap on the right side of the picture, the cap will have a diagram of a windscreen and a wiper with water splash)

Steering and brake fluid. This question is not asked as frequently as the others but if it is asked to be prepared to give an answer. This is usually the same tank and it is a smaller tank. If the tester asks “how do I know if I need fluid?” simply say “if my fluid level is below the minimum mark on the tank.” (see the small tank above the coolant tank)

Keep the answers short and sweet. All cars are different and familiarize yourself with all the components before the day of your test. Practice your answers and it will be easy for you.

The car used in the picture is a 2011 Ford Fiesta 1.2 petrol

ADM Driving School What To Expect On The Day Of Your Test

Automatic Driving Lessons in North Dublin. ADM Driving School, what to expect on the day of your test.

So, it is finally here, Test Day. In my last blog post, I explained the benefits of getting a good nights rest and having everything you need for your driving test. Have your clothes ready so you are not rushing around eating breakfast while ironing your jeans and have your licence and stamped EDT Logbook in a spot where you can find them easily. Having a clear schedule for the day helps your mind focus on the task at hand which is the Driving Test. If the test is an early morning one, wake up with plenty of time to get dressed and have breakfast. Leave your house expecting heavy traffic so that you get to the test centre early. Being early is a great way to keep calm.

So you’re on the way to the test centre, naturally, you will be nervous and relaxed, controlled breathing helps you stay calm and focused. When you get to the test centre, park in the designated RSA parking bays. Always look for the best possible parking area. Look for parking bays that would have good visibility when you will be driving out. Always reverse your car into the parking bay. Doing this makes it easy to drive straight out of the parking bay when you are ready to drive in the test.

Go into the RSA waiting room. Try to get in 15 minutes before your scheduled time. Always use the bathroom provided. There is nothing more uncomfortable than doing a test when you need to use a bathroom. Get it all out of your system now. Patently wait until the tester calls your name. When the tester calls your name, stand up, say goodbye to your sponsor and follow the tester into the room. As you approach your tester, greet them with a big smile and say good morning. Let the tester know you are friendly and polite but also confident you will succeed.

When you follow the tester to the back room, they will ask to see your learner permit. They will also ask you to sign a piece of paper declaring that you are insured on the car you will be driving. When you are sitting there try to relax and be friendly and confident in your speech. The tester will ask you some simple questions pointing to a chart with road signs on them and ask you to explain the meaning of the signs. The tester will also ask you a few more complicated questions like “when would you use your hazard lights?” Reading the Driver Theory Test book has all the answers you need.

When you are finished in the office, it is time to walk to the car. The tester will lead the way, so follow them and be polite and courteous as you do. You are being tested the whole time so carefully walk out onto the road looking left and right to see if there are any other road users coming. Be safe the whole time, it helps you look responsible and aware of all road users at all times.

When you get to your car, the tester will examine the details in the window making sure they are in date and correspond to the car you are driving. The tester is secretly examining your car as you are there making sure your tyres are in good condition and the car looks safe. The tester will then ask you to pop the bonnet. You will be asked a series of questions about different components. I will do my next blog post about that. The tester will then check all your lights are in working order.

Now its drive time. Concentrating on the task at hand is all you need to think about. What to do when you are driving will be covered in an additional blog and we will break all the manoeuvres down one by one. Stating the test right builds confidence for the actual driving and being prepared is the best way to do that.

Preparing For Your Driving Test

On the day of your driving test, it is normal to feel nervous and anxious. You would have put a lot of work into the preparation of the test and you want to see that all your hard work pays off. If you have been practising your manoeuvres, learning your hand signals and practising what you what to say when the tester asks you questions, you can feel confident that you are ready and nothing will stand in your way. If you do not prepare and leave everything to the last minute, you feel overwhelmed and your nerves could get the better of you. Always have all your checks done the night before and have all your necessary paperwork ready so you are not scrambling on the morning of your test. If you can, try to give yourself as little distractions as possible. Try to take the day off work or try to get the children brought and collected from school. Having as little as possible to do creates calm and you won’t be worried about being late for the test. A week before your test, always make sure your documents in the window are in date and they match the car you will be driving. Also, replace any broken bulbs and check your tyres to see if they are in good condition. The testers have very strict rules about this, and they will terminate your test if there are any issues.

The night before your test, do one last check of the car. Check all the bulbs are still working and make sure yo have plenty of fuel. Make sure you have L plates displayed. Make sure all your windows and wing mirrors are clean. Clean your interior by shaking out your mats and wiping your dashboard and controls. Remove anything hanging from your interior mirror. When the car is ready, organise all the paperwork you need for the test. Have your licence ready with your EDT book. If your test is first thing in the morning have your clothes prepared. All this keeps you concentrate on the task at hand. Also, you will be on time and it is essential. If you are late your test will be terminated. Try to get a good nights sleep by avoiding eating late and watching TV late at night. Read your Driver Theory Test Questions and Answers book the night before your test to confirm the answers in your mind.

If you plan ahead, study the material and get plenty of rest, there is no reason why you will not pass your test. Leaving everything to the last minute will affect the way you drive as your mind will be worrying about all the possible things that could go wrong. Preparation mixed with practice and the test will be easy for you. You can never predict what will happen when you are out on the road doing your test, but being relaxed and well-rested will help you deal with any situations that may arise.

The morning of your test, set your alarm for early and wake up and do whatever it is you do to feel good. Have a shower and a nice healthy breakfast with a cup of tea or coffee and really enjoy the morning off to yourself. When you leave for the test centre, leave extra early to avoid traffic or any number of things that could get in your way. Go into the test centre 15 minutes before your test time, use the bathroom and wait patiently until it is your time to shine.

Mock Theory Test Ireland

As a learner driver, it is important that you have all the information you need to drive safely and in a socially responsible way on our roads. Before you drive on a public road or in a public place, you must have a learner permit for the vehicle you want to drive. In most cases, you must pass your Driver Theory Test to show that you understand what you must do to drive safely. The questions in the book are designed to test your knowledge and also to make you think about the different situations you may come across as a driver. By studying and learning the material and passing the test you will have taken an essential step to become a safe driver. It is essential that you then apply your knowledge when you are on the road.

Learning how to drive takes time and patience and the best way to learn is to take driving lessons while practising as much as you can with an experienced driver. Learners taking out a first learner permit for a car must take the Essential Driver Training (EDT) programme. EDT Lessons is a minimum of 12 one hour lessons which breaks down the skills you need to be a competent driver.

Before we do the EDT Lessons, we must take The Theory Test. After you study the book and you feel confident, it is now time to book the test. Booking the test is easy, simply go to www.theorytest.ie or call 1890606106.

Passing the first time is great for your confidence and this means you can start your driving lessons sooner rather than later. There is usually a 3-week waiting list to sit your exam and this gives you lots of time to study. It is wise to break the sections of the book down into manageable sections. Doing this makes it easier to learn and it does not overwhelm your brain. All the information will be relatively new to you, so take your time and try not to get frustrated when the information is not instantly sticking in your brain. Be calm and patent and with repetition, you will soon know the answers.

Being prepared for any test you take is key in being successful. If you look back on everything you done well in life, you will remember that being confident and ready, made the test more manageable. Being prepared will not only help you pass the test first time, but it will also save you time and money because you won’t have to pay the 45 Euro fee for a new test and also wait another 3 weeks.

That is why I decided to help people who are about to take their Theory Test. Many people come to me and use my service as I break down the questions and answers and make them more understandable. Sometimes, the questions are written in a way that it is confusing and hard to understand. By reading through the questions and explaining what exactly they mean, it is easier to find the answers.

How the course works is simple. All you need is a smartphone, tablet or laptop. We simply do a zoom call (a zoom call is a video call but it enables you to see my screen and I can’t see yours) From my screen I will have the mock exams and we can discuss each question that comes up. We will do this 5 times over as many periods as you like and the 6th exam will be you alone and I won’t assist you and we will see how your progress has been. Doing this helps you get ready for the test and you won’t be surprised when you sit down to answer the questions.

Give yourself the best possible Theory Test experience and email me anthony@admdrivingschool.ie to book your place. Course costs 20 Euro and it can be done at your own pace. Limited places are available.

Automatic Driving Lessons North Dublin

Here at ADM Driving School, we supply the highest quality driving lessons at affordable prices. The main areas we cover are Raheny and Finglas. As we are from Coolock, these test centres are perfect for us as we live in the middle of both centres. We are familiar with the routes covered in the driving tests and this makes it easy for us to demonstrate possible manoeuvres where they could be demonstrated on your test. Being familiar with possible test routes makes it so much easier when you are completing your driving test as you will be familiar with speed limits, road markings and road layout.

When learning how to drive, give yourself every possible advantage in passing your driving test. By choosing automatic driving lessons, you have given yourself a huge head-start in passing your driving test. Automatics are much easier to drive as they have no clutch or manual gearbox. The good thing about having no clutch is moving off and stopping is much easier and there is no fear of the car cutting out. Learner drivers tend to get flustered about the clutch and gears so much that it affects the learning of how to drive. When you eliminate this, learning how to drive is fun and the learner can focus on other important aspects of driving. The other important aspects of driving could be reading the road ahead, anticipating traffic situations, being more aware of other road users and reaction to hazards. As you progress through your EDT Lessons, reading these situations is important to safe driving and the clutch and gearbox can sometimes get in the way.

When you chose automatic driving lessons, moving off and stopping is made simple. There are usually 4 options on your automatic gear lever. these options are P, N, R, D. P stands for Park. Normally, Park would be selected when the engine is off and you have parked the car. N stands for neutral. Normally you would select Neutral when you would be stopped at traffic lights or other junctions when the car would be stopped for a short period of time. Applying the handbrake is important when the car is in neutral to prevent the car from rolling backwards or forwards. R stands for reverse. Always make sure the handbrake is applied before selecting reverse as the car will roll and without proper observation, this could cause an accident. D stands for Drive. Again, make sure the handbrake is applied as the car will roll forwards.

Once you have selected the gear to match the direction you wish to travel in, proper observation is key. Always check your mirrors and blind spots before moving off. Once the way is clear, you can signal your intention with the indicator, and gently move off from the parked position. In automatic cars, you can move off with confidence as you will not be worried about the car cutting out. Knowing this builds confidence in learner drivers and it helps the learner driver focus on their road position and upcoming hazards.

When driving manual lessons, reaction to hazards can be a daunting process. If you have to slow down for a speed ramp, you would have to press the brake to slow the car down, release the brake and then press the clutch, with the clutch in, select a lower gear suitable to the speed you will need to be going for the potential hazard, take your foot off the clutch and apply more pressure to the accelerator. All while trying to read the road ahead. Automatic cars only have accelerator and brake. This makes going and stopping easy and it gives the learner driver more time to read the road ahead.

Driving Lessons In North Dublin Driving In The Snow

When temperatures dip below freezing driving conditions can become treacherous, the risk
of ice or snow on the roads increases.
The Road Safety Authority (RSA) has, the following ‘Top 10 Safety Tips’ for motorists
driving in snow and ice. They are;
1. Get a grip. Remember your only contact with the road surface is your tyres so it’s
vital that they are up to the task in icy and snowy conditions. Check tyres, including
spare wheel, and replace them if the tread depth falls below 3mm. Check that tyres
are inflated to the correct tyre pressure. Lack of grip can occur even on treated roads
so drive slowly in the highest gear possible, manoeuvre gently and avoid harsh
braking. Replace tyres if necessary.
2. Make sure you can see. Clear your windows and mirrors before you set out, carry a
screen scraper and de-icer. Do not use hot water on the windscreen as it can crack
the glass. Replace windshield wiper blades if necessary. De-mist the inside of your
windows thoroughly. Make sure your windshield washer system works and is full of
an anti-icing fluid. Remember too that heavy snowfall will reduce visibility! Watch out
for grit/salt spreaders and snow ploughs. The glare from the sun can be dazzling in
the winter when the sun is low in the sky, so wear sunglasses in these conditions.
3. Check & use your lights. Use your dipped headlights so that others will see you.
Make sure your headlights and taillights are all in working order, replace broken
bulbs. Make sure lights are clear of snow.
4. Gently does it. Manoeuvre gently, slow down and leave extra distance between you
and the vehicle in front. Too much steering is bad and avoid harsh braking and
acceleration. Use the highest gear possible to avoid wheel spin. Select a low gear
when travelling downhill especially if through bends. Falling snow, fog, rain, or hail
will reduces visibility. Do not hang on to the tail lights of the vehicle in front of you as
it can give a false sense of security. When you slow down, use your brakes so that
the brake lights warn drivers behind you.
5. Watch out for “black ice.” If the road looks polished or glossy it could be, “black
ice” one of winter’s worst hazards: Black Ice is difficult to see! It is nearly transparent
ice that often looks like a harmless puddle or is overlooked entirely. Watch out for
black ice, especially in sheltered / shaded areas on roads, under trees and adjacent
to high walls.
6. Give yourself a brake. If you get into a skid, you need to know if your vehicle has
ABS (Anti- Lock Braking Systems). After you “Step” on the brake the ABS begins
cycling — you will feel pulses in the pedal or hear the system working. It’s easy to
properly use antilock brakes: Remember – Step, Stay and Steer. Step on the pedal.
Stay on the pedal. Steer around the obstacle. (A warning: A little bit of steering goes
a very long way in an emergency).
For vehicles without ABS, you’ll have to rely on the old-fashioned ‘Cadence Braking’
system: Push the brake pedal until the wheels stop rolling, then immediately release
the brake enough to allow the wheels to begin turning again.
Repeat this sequence rapidly. Your goal is to have the tyres producing maximum grip
regardless of whether the surface is snow or ice.
7. How does your vehicle help? Check in your owner’s manual and find out if your
vehicle has any safety assist technology like Electronic Stability Control (ESC) or Anti
Lock Braking System (ABS) and know how they assist your driving in severe weather
conditions. But remember technology offers no miracles. Don’t let these lull you into
overestimating the available traction.
8. Be Prepared! In prolonged icy or snowy driving conditions it is advisable to carry the
following in the boot of the car
a. High Visibility Vest
b. Tow rope
c. Spare bulbs
d. Spare fuel
e. A shovel
f. Appropriate footwear in case you have to leave your vehicle ie boots
g. A hazard warning triangle
h. Spare wheel (with tyre at correct pressure and tread)
i. Check that your spare wheel is in good condition and is fully inflated. Some
cars may have an inflation repair kit instead of a spare wheel. Make sure that
you know how to use it.
j. De-icing equipment (Both for glass and door locks)
k. First aid kit (in good order)
l. A fire extinguisher (fully operative)
m. A working torch
n. A car blanket, additional clothing & some food and water
In preparation for driving you should also ensure:
o. The vehicle is properly maintained, serviced and engine oil viscosity is
suitable for cold conditions.
p. Have the strength of coolant/antifreeze measured.
q. Ensure vehicle has adequate supply of fuel for journey.
r. Consider carrying some salt or sand. And
s. Give someone an estimated time of arrival at your proposed destination.
Carry a mobile phone and spare, fully charged, battery (if you don’t have a
car charger)
9. Get informed. Listen to local weather and traffic reports. The RSA has prepared a
helpful guide ‘Severe Weather Advice for Road Users’ which you can download from
the RSA’s website. It has lots more useful advice on dealing with the difficult road
conditions.
10. Stay at home. The best thing to do in extremely bad weather is to stay off the road.
Take heed of warnings not to go out. This leaves the emergency services free to deal

Published on RSA website

Automatic Driving Lessons In North Dublin Staying Calm

Learning how to drive can be a very nerve-racking experience. As a new driver, there is a lot of information to learn all at once. This can seem very daunting and learner drivers can be highly anxious and stressed before they start their lesson. This is understandable of course, when, as a learner driver you see the whole picture of driving down busy roads using the clutch and brake and so on, it can be information overload. It is very important to break the driving experience down into manageable pieces. The RSA has designed the EDT Course to help with this. The EDT Course breaks the driving skills down into separate lessons. Only when a learner driver feels comfortable with the basic lessons like moving off and stopping, will they be allowed to go onto more advanced situations. So instead of thinking about the whole picture, thinking about small steps at a time can ease learner drivers mind.

Keeping calm when you are learning any new skill is the best way to learn. It can be easy to get flustered and not take the information in. When the driver feels like this, the lesson could be wasted as they cannot learn the technique needed to progress with their lesson. There are many skills and techniques you could use to focus your mind and I will share some of these with you know.

If I ever feel anxious or worried about something, thinking about it will not make it go away. One of the best ways to relax your mind and your heart rate is through deep breathing. This technique has been used for generations and everybody from sports stars to yoga instructors and even monks when they are meditating use this to quiet their mind and feel relaxed. Doing this before you get into the car with your instructor, in my opinion, is the best way to get ready to learn. Also, tell yourself that learning how to drive is easy for you and tell yourself you are confident works too. Always go into your lessons knowing you can do it and it is easy for you.

Another way to give yourself the best possible experience is being prepared. Being early for your lesson is the best way to be prepared. When you are late and you might have rushed to your lesson, your brain is working on overdrive and you are busy thinking about being late rather than focusing on the lesson ahead. Sometimes, this can’t be helped and arranging your lessons when you have free time is the best. When booking a lesson, it is wise to give yourself time after work. If you finish at 5 and book your lesson at 5:30 and you live 30 minutes away from where the lesson is taking place, that is a big rush and concentration will be extremely low. Always give yourself plenty of time to organise your thoughts.

Sometimes there can be personal problems and you cannot give your full attention. It is always wise to call ahead and maybe reschedule your lesson as trying to learn when there is something on your mind is very difficult. As your driving instructor, we want the best experience for you and usually, we can accommodate you. Always give as much notice as you can so we can fit another student in on that particular day.

Another way is to relax. We are here to help you. Don’t feel like you’re going to say the wrong thing as there are no wrong answers. You are here to learn and the more relaxed you are the more fun the learning experience.

Practice what you learned in previous lessons and keep the information relevant in your head and learning how to drive will be a fun experience for you.