Learning to Drive with Anxiety

The No Yelling instructor community prides itself on being specialised and experienced in helping students from a wide range of backgrounds and learning abilities. Our team knows how intimidating beginning the driving journey can be for some, but they also know how worth the journey will be in the end. We've interviewed No Yelling's most experienced instructors about their tips for helping combat anxiety when driving no matter the severity.

Tip 1 - Be open about your anxiety with your instructor

Driving instructors care, they really do care. They are passionate about helping students gain the driving experience needed to be both safe and confident on the road. The more open you are with your instructor, the easier it will be for them to help guide you through your lessons. Quite often if you are anxious, it also helps put you at ease knowing that there is no need to try and hide your fears and anxieties. Our instructors are very compassionate and understanding and will help you through your journey no matter the hiccups that happen along to way or adjustments needed for your success.

Unlike a lot of driving schools where you choose from a grid of faces, or simply get matched with whoever, No Yelling carefully selects each instructor based on the student's individual needs. We encourage you to share everything you would like us to know when booking which can be done by filling in a free student inquiry form, or even over the phone if that suits you better.

Tip 2 - Booking and preparing

The build-up beforehand can be half the battle. Help calm those nerves by ensuring that you know what to expect before the lesson. Take a look at this great blog which outlines everything that will happen in your first lesson.

It might also work best for you not to book your first lesson early in the morning or straight after school or work to ensure you have plenty of time to be well-rested and relaxed beforehand. It is also a good idea not to book your lesson for peak-hour traffic times if this is something that intimidates you.

Tip 3 - Lesson Tips

Our standard lesson times go for a 1-hour duration. We do also have special packages which include 1. 5-hour lessons instead. This is a great option if you are someone who is going to need to take breaks during the lesson or you want the extra time to really practice the skills and your confidence to prepare you for your practice in between your professional lessons.

All our instructors have their own cars fitted with dual controls. This gives them the ability to have complete control over their students making a mistake. They are also very patient, and calm and have amazing reflexes if you end up in a tricky spot. Our company has never had any accidents in any of our cars, your safety is their number one priority.

The Key to Confidence:
Confidence is something that is not going to come straight away and it will take time and practice. It's important to remember when learning new skills, you will make mistakes and you may have good days and bad days. It's important to remember this, and not be disheartened if you are not feeling great after a practice session. Learning to drive takes time, commitment, and regular practice so it's important to keep going. 

Tip 4 - Get extra practice

Your instructor will discuss how your lesson went and areas to practice between lessons. If you have someone eligible to drive with you outside of your professional lessons it's a great idea to do so. This article is also a great read for anyone supervising someone in their learning-to-drive journey. 

Tip 5 - Anxiety about the driving test

Anxiety about the test is 100% normal. Your instructor would not encourage you to book your test if they didn't think you were ready, so you are ready. A great way to ease your anxiety before the test is to have plenty of practice around your testing centre. Test packages are a very popular option to help with testing anxiety as it includes a 1-hour lesson beforehand around the testing area and use of your instructor's car for the test. This familiarity with both the vehicle and the area will help you breeze through the real thing.

Tip 6 - Extra lessons and driving independence preparation

It's not uncommon to be feeling overwhelmed once you have finally been granted your independence and freedom. Our top tips for this are don't be afraid to get more lessons if you need them or begin your driving with someone you feel comfortable with and places that you know.

It's a great idea to get a GPS, so you can set your destination beforehand and even view the roads you'll need to take before you start driving. Remember, when you're on your P1 licence, phones are completely prohibited even if being used hands-free or Bluetooth.

Another great option to make sure you are ready for independence on the road is to start your journey with one of our lesson packages. The Whale package is a great option to ensure you are confident and capable. It includes lessons, a test package, and even a defensive driving course. This course will teach you how to be prepared for any situation and techniques on how to get out of those tricky spots safely.

Conclusion

At the end of the day, learning to drive is a journey and it's a journey that will look very different for everybody. No matter how long it takes, how many lessons you need, or the amount of practice required, you are very capable of becoming a confident, safe and independent driver.