Understanding the Emotions of First-Time Drivers

 

Driving is one of the most exhilarating parts of life and for first-time drivers, it brings a variety of emotions. However, driving is an activity that requires focus, skills, good judgment, and quick decision-making skills. Hence, it’s important for drivers, even novices, to control their emotions and stay calm while driving.

Instructors face the tough job of teaching their students emotional control along with driving skills and moral duties.

Driving instructor courses teach the instructors the right ways to help their students become skilled and responsible drivers. These courses also help the instructors understand the emotions of first-time drivers and learn to deal with them in the best possible manner.

In this post, we will discuss the different emotions that first-time drivers feel and learn how instructors can help them manage their emotions to achieve a stable emotional state when driving.

Feelings Every New Driver Faces:

So, what are the different emotions that first-time drivers face? And how do driving instructors teach them to handle these emotions? Let’s find out:

Tension and Anxiety:

Driving is not just a fun activity. The driving license brings with it the responsibility to maintain road safety and follow traffic rules and regulations. So, it’s quite natural for first-time drivers to feel anxious. However, their instructors should understand their apprehensions and try to calm and reassure them. They should try to give drivers a safe and reassuring environment so they don’t feel stressed or pressured.

Excitement and Overconfidence:

Another emotion that new drivers strongly feel is the excitement of driving. And in their excitement, they often get overconfident and start feeling that simply learning driving skills is enough to drive on the road. Driving instructors should teach them the difference between knowing and mastering a skill. They should teach the students the importance of staying alert on the road and the possible consequences of losing focus for a few seconds. While it’s good to encourage their excitement, instructors should also teach students caution and emphasise developing safe driving habits.

Frustration and Self-Doubt:

For those new to driving, remembering the different steps involved in a driving technique can be challenging. New drivers might make mistakes while turning, parking, or even changing gears, making them feel frustrated and disappointed. And if they’re making mistakes repeatedly, it might even make them doubt their capabilities. In such cases, instructors should try to be sympathetic and understanding. They should try to break down complex techniques into simple manageable steps. They should also try to encourage students and give positive feedback and advice to correct their mistakes.

Fear of Failure:

It is common for new drivers to be scared of forgetting crucial steps, missing important signs and rules, or failing the tests. However, instructors should make them realize that failures are just chances to improve and succeed again. They should teach the students to control their fear and focus on small and gradual improvements rather than striving for perfection from the get-go.

Reluctance to Take Control:

Many novice drivers find driving stressful and challenging, making them reluctant to take control of the wheel. They often rely on their instructors for guidance and feel lost when asked to take initiative without their teacher’s input. Driving instructor courses like TLI41222 teach instructors various techniques to help them make driving easier for their students. They teach instructors to break down complex techniques into small steps and teach them to master them one step at a time. This will help develop their confidence and make them feel comfortable taking more control when driving.

Joy and Accomplishment:

While learning driving skills can be challenging, the feeling of satisfaction after learning a new skill is unparalleled. Instructors should understand the role of these small achievements in developing the driver’s confidence. They should learn to celebrate small successes to boost the student’s confidence. But, they should also remind the students of their weaknesses and areas that need improvement and encourage them to stay motivated to succeed again.

Managing Different Emotions of Students:

Every student is different and their emotions and reactions also differ from each other a lot. Hence, it’s the instructors’ duty to understand the individual needs of their students and adjust their teaching style accordingly. They should try to gauge students' emotional state and react appropriately to ensure they stay motivated to learn more and perform better. Moreover, they should also teach the students different techniques like mindfulness, meditation, breathing techniques, etc. to reduce their stress, manage their emotions, and stay calm while driving. Driving instructor courses aim to prepare instructors for handling the different emotional and intellectual capabilities of their students and make them responsible drivers. A reputed institution like the Academy of Road Safety can help you become a professional and expert driving instructor through various accredited and non-accredited courses. Join our course and become the driving force that makes our future drivers more responsible and our roads safer!

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