What habits are young drivers often guilty of adopting?

With the words of their instructor still ringing in their ears, young drivers who have recently passed their test will hopefully hang on to the good habits and techniques they’ve picked up during their lessons.However, without being given regular reminders, any driver is likely to soon pick up a few bad habits that can affect how safe they are on the roads. 

Did you know that one in five drivers will crash within the first year of passing their test? Being aware of any potential bad habits and understanding how they can impact your driving can go a long way to helping prevent any serious incidents occurring. Here are three things young drivers are often guilty of when first getting out on the road.

Speeding 

One of the most common habits young people can be guilty of adopting is disregarding speed limits and driving recklessly. Research shows that young drivers are more likely to push the limits compared to other road users. In fact, according to government statistics, speeding is one of the leading causes of accidents amongst young drivers, with careless driving being a factor in 18.8% of all incidents.

Whether they’re underestimating the risks associated with reckless driving, or they’re simply trying to show off in front of their peers, there are many reasons why new drivers can quickly adopt this bad habit. Taking your foot off the accelerator is one of the easiest things you can do to better protect yourself and other road users, so be sure to always stick to the limits and stay safe behind the wheel.

Poor parking

Parking is a crucial element to being able to drive safely, but it’s often overlooked during lessons and tests. As well as taking precautions to enter a bay safely and considerately, young drivers must also be aware of any signage regarding parking restrictions. This can often be misinterpreted by new drivers who aren’t sure what they should be looking for, or sometimes missed altogether.

It’s important to become familiar with the meanings of different on-street parking signs, as well as yellow and red lines. Not only can ignoring this signage result in costly penalties, but it can also create added inconvenience for other drivers. Take some time to get familiar with parking rules and regulations, and if there’s ever any doubt around whether or not you can park somewhere, it’s better to err on the side of caution and find another spot.

Missing potential hazards

As well as making proper use of your mirrors, it’s important to remain vigilant to any potential hazards that are in your vision. In Great Britain, drivers failing to look properly was a contributing factor to 37% of accidents on the road in 2019. This includes not looking when joining onto a motorway or dual carriageway, entering a roundabout, or looking too late when emerging from a junction. 

It’s important to look out for both moving and parked cars, since failing to spot either can cause an accident to happen. This is one of the most common reasons people fail their driving test, so it’s crucial to be aware of this bad habit many young drivers adopt.

These are just some of the many habits new drivers are commonly guilty of adopting. If you’re still a little anxious about getting behind the wheel after passing your test, ask a parent or older sibling to come on a few trips with you to help you feel comfortable on the roads. The more experience you gain, the safer you’re likely to feel, but cutting out any bad habits from the very start is important to helping you stay safe as you become more familiar with the roads.

This is a guest post by Leo Clarke, Content Producer and Researcher - email: leoclarke.consulting@gmail.com