Photo courtesy of Flickr, under creative commons license
In the days running up to your driving test, it’s completely normal to feel at least a little bit nervous. After all, taking the driving test does not come cheap, and after all the practice that you’ve had with your driving instructor and perhaps with a friend or family member, you’re surely deserving of a pass. Fear of failing the driving test is not uncommon amongst students, especially those who have failed in the past and desperately want to get that coveted pink driving license. However, nerves can get in the way of your performance and could even lead to disaster. So, we’ve put together some top tips to help you get rid of driving test nerves and stay calm and in control.
Tip #1. Practice
Whilst nerves can get in the way, it’s also important to make sure that you’re not overconfident. This could mean that you end up slacking when it comes to putting the practice in, which in turn, could cause you to become more nervous when you realize that you could have prepared more. Make sure that you jump at every opportunity to get some extra driving practice, and try to drive in as many different conditions as you can. After all, you don’t know what the weather or the traffic is going to be like on the day of your test. It can help to pay for insurance on a friend or family member’s car so that you can drive that under their supervision outside of your professional lessons. Don’t forget to keep your theory up to scratch, too – you will find more information and practice theory tests here.
Tip #2. Promote Relaxation
Photo courtesy of Flickr, under creative commons license
In the days prior to your driving test, taking part in activities that will help promote relaxation and help you to de-stress is a good way to get rid of your nerves. For example, you can find many videos and audio files online that contain guided meditation with the main focus on combatting driving test nerves; these can be very useful for helping you stay calm and collected. Try to stay away from stressful situations whenever possible; getting overly stressed about something else could impact your driving test nerves and make them worse. Short-term solutions could include taking a warm bath or shower, listening to some relaxing music, watching a funny movie, or even using calming essential oils such as lavender or chamomile.
Tip #3. Believe in Yourself
Lastly, many driving test nerves are caused by simply doubting your own abilities. This is especially true if you have failed a driving test in the past where you may be even more worried that you’ll have to go through that experience again. However, on the positive side, if you’re returning to take your driving test for a second or even third time, you’ll know exactly what to expect. Remember that the driving instructor is a professional and he/she would not allow you to take your test if they didn’t believe that you could pass!
Did these tips help? Let us know in the comments.
