Getting your license is a rite of passage that sixteen-year-olds across the country get excited about year after year. The truth is, getting to drive is amazing, it is a freeing ability that allows you more freedom, but it is also a huge responsibility that you need to take on seriously. Becoming a safe and qualified driver is a process, not something that happens immediately, and you need to make sure you are ready for your license before taking your drivers exam. Here are three things that you can do to prepare before you get your license.
Practice Driving
The first thing that you need to do to prepare before getting your license is to practice driving. You need to practice anything to become better at it, and driving is no exception to this rule. When you are first starting your driver’s school, you should practice with a parent in the car with you in a parking lot to help get the hang of things. Once you have received your learners permit, you can drive on the road with a parent and get practice in driving on the actual roads and highways.
Make Sure You Study
The next thing that you should do to prepare before getting your license is to study your driving textbooks. While many people worry the most about the driving portion of the driver’s exam, as this is the most stressful portion for many young drivers, the written portion can catch you off guard if you don’t study. You should know the traffic signs, such as the yield sign, which means you must wait for other vehicles to pass before proceeding. Make sure you know your stuff before you go take your driver’s test so that you are ready to ace that test.
Stay Calm
The final thing that you can do to prepare before getting your license is practicing staying calm under pressure. Many teens struggle on their driver’s exam, not because they don’t know what they are doing, but because they get nervous during the exam and make a silly mistake. Practice calming techniques, like managing your breath, and staying in the moment, to ensure that you don’t get in your head during the test and end up making mistakes that you don’t have to make.
There are few things as exciting about turning sixteen as finally getting that coveted driver license. But there is more to getting your license than just turning sixteen. Make sure that you do these three things to prepare yourself before getting your license so that you are ready the first time you take your exam.
Check out this article for tips on defensive driving!