It’s difficult to say which is more stressful: driving with a passenger for the first time, or riding with a beginner driver. It’s tempting for more experienced drivers to try and manage the way a new driver takes to the road. After all, if someone has more experience, they should naturally take charge of an unbalanced situation, right?
Not always. While it’s true that new drivers – and especially teenagers – are less likely to recognise themselves as lacking in driving experience, it’s not the job of a passenger to assign a driving style to them. Instead, new drivers need to have their first passenger-toting experience made as comfortable as possible.
What does it look like to ride with an inexperienced driver? If you want to be a companionable – and repeat – passenger, try to keep the following in mind.
Keep your drives to the daytime
Because UK driving tests require fewer night hours on a driver’s record than day hours, new drivers are going to have more experience operating a vehicle during the day than they are at night. Keep that in mind when requesting a ride.
If you ask a new driver to take you somewhere during the daytime, they’ll likely be more comfortable and confident getting you from Point A to Point B.
This point also stands for driving in different types of weather. While you can’t always control when you want (or need) to go somewhere, try and hit the road only when the pavement is dry.
New drivers will eventually be able to confidently drive in all weather, but if you’re exposing them to the distraction that is a passenger, you want to make the rest of their driving experience as stress-free as possible.
Remove a driver’s distractions
Speaking of distractions: do what you can to limit the number of stressors your new driver has to encounter while behind the wheel. This doesn’t mean refusing to talk to your friend or child, of course. Instead, make sure you keep the driver’s phone in your lap, in case they get a text or call.
You should also volunteer to handle any navigation that your trip might require. In short, if there’s something your driver needs to do but can’t, be polite and help them out. Not only will your trip be more pleasant, but you’ll be able to keep your driver calm and steady on the road.
Keep the mood (and music) upbeat
Some drivers also feel more confident on the road when they’re able to listen to fun music in the car. If you’re a passenger with a new driver, control of the music should – for safety’s sake – fall to you. Put on light, upbeat music that your driver likes to listen to and watch how it calms their nerves.
Do be warned, though. Music with a faster beat or with pointed lyrics may encourage your new driver to change the way they’re operating on the road. Music readily impacts everyone’s emotions, after all.
You want to promote a chill driving atmosphere instead of one that would inspire Speed Racer. Forgo the rock’n’roll in favour of the Top 40 – at least while your driver is still getting comfortable behind the wheel.
Plan the trip in advance
Your driver will likely also appreciate your presence in their vehicle more if you help them plan your trip in advance. It doesn’t matter whether you’re going ten minutes down the road or on your first road trip together.
Take the time to familiarise yourself and your driver with the roads they’ll have to take. When drivers feel they can anticipate where they’ll need to turn ahead of time, there’ll be less of a need for abrupt lane changes or swerving in traffic.
Model good driving habits
You should also make an effort to model good driving habits for new drivers. While you can’t always do this as a passenger, you can apply the same ideas to your time not spent behind the wheel. The challenge is to do so without backseat driving.
For example, if your new driving is driving in the rain for the first time, don’t automatically tense up every time they bring the car to a stop. Instead, chat about the first time you were behind the wheel and how you learned to avoid aquaplaning.
Alternatively, talk about how you’ve introduced green driving techniques to your own time on the road. These case study lessons will help you bond with your friend and will allow you to impart driving lessons without taking over the driving experience.
You can also use VR to bolster a new driver’s skill on the road. Learning from VR car games lets both you and your friend have fun manoeuvring on some of the world’s most famous roadways without either of you putting yourselves at risk. Why not use some of your gaming time to model good driving habits for a new driver?
There are as many different driving styles in the world as there are people. That said, new drivers are still in the process of finding theirs. If you’re riding with a new driver, do your best to help them stay calm while on the road. With your help, they’ll grow more confident in their ability every day.