FIRST TIME BEHIND THE WHEEL
Two weeks after my seventeenth birthday I entered the car behind the wheel for the first time. Like a cake of nerves coated in a thick layer of excitement I strapped myself in ready for years of to be anticipation over. However, it would not be as smooth as I imaged.
Once my instructor had given me a quick, but thorough, debriefing on the mirrors, pedals and stirring I began. Although, surprised and wary of how swiftly I was given the wheel I took the challenge securely knowing that I would need to be sensibly confident to succeed as a driver. Despite being on quiet back rounds with next to no one I felt immense pressure driving past Land Drovers and BMWs and Jaguars and other expensive cars. Furthermore, the consistent fear of embarrassing my self not only in front of my instructor but also the many passers-by weighed down on me like a tone of bricks. However, this endless fear was easily conquered by the pure excitement of being on the road for the first time.
Dread, however, was not my only or biggest problem. By the time of my first lesson darkness was falling early and had completely wrapped my car, other than the flicker of my dashboard. The night’s dangerous grip on me not only made it near impossible to see the gearstick and peddles but also the turnings. Often I found myself making fast and unthought out spins due to not my sack of vision preventing from seeing where my instructor wanted me to go – a dangerous task for a new driver.
So, what advice can I give to those about to get into the driver’s seat for the first time? Make sure that you bring confidence as fear will only serve to distract you from the road. Furthermore, do not worry about crashing. Many a time I would have hit cars or been hit but the instructor has much more control than you realise and can easily prevent accidents. And don’t drive at night.
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