Managing different situations 

keys2drive encourages beginner drivers to get wide experience. Wide experience includes having many different experiences but it also means learning how to prepare for and manage different situations. We call these skills tactics for handling difference.

They include:

  • Proactive tactics - for when you know you are going somewhere different
  • Responsive tactics - for when you meet with difference and have time to think
  • Reactive tactics - for when you meet with difference and have little time to think

Tactics for managing different situations engage mental skills. Just like physical skills you only learn them through purposeful practice. You have to give it a go, find any weaknesses, solve the learning problem, then do more practice. Will you do it? You will if you really want six months on P plates with zero harm.

Proactive tactics

  • Plan and think through where you’re going and the best route. Unsure? Ask.
  • Match the route to your ability. Learn difficult skills in easier situations first.
  • Use navigation technology if you can and if it helps.
  • Avoid complex situations or difficult right turns (unless you have someone to coach you).
  • Have someone in the know go with you; ask a passenger to help you navigate.
  • Give yourself more time, and go at the safest time. Leave early.
  • Practice in your mind how you will manage difficult situations before you get to them.
  • Make sure you have a clean windscreen and that your seat and all your mirrors are perfectly adjusted. Put your headlights on low beam.
  • Eliminate or at least reduce distractions in the car.
  • If you make an error, use the reactive tactics described below.

Responsive tactics

  • You get time to be responsive when you get good at looking ahead as far as you can comfortably see while still monitoring the area immediately around your vehicle.
  • Notice early, situations that look a bit different to what you’ve done before.
  • Rehearse in your mind how you will manage the situation. Your actions should look similar to what most other drivers do. If not, you will confuse other road users, e.g. by slowing down when merging.
  • Nearer the situation, respond earlier than normal—usually this means ease up on the accelerator.
  • Make yourself breathe slowly and deeply, relax your neck, shoulders and arms: it will help you think more clearly and drive more smoothly as you near the different situation.
  • Keep more space between you and the car in front.
  • Stick to your plan; aim to be self-confident. Say, ‘I know what to do. I can do this.’
  • If you begin to feel confused or under a lot of pressure, use the reactive tactics described below.

Reactive tactics

  • Keep driving with the flow of traffic.
  • Tell passengers to quieten.
  • Avoid if possible sudden use of the brake, accelerator, or steering.
  • Ease up a bit on the accelerator if it’s OK.
  • Breathe deeply and slowly if you can remember to.
  • Look for a safe place to pull over to stop
  • Before pulling over look behind, and signal for at least two seconds.
  • Having stopped and all is safe…breathe deeply and slowly, relax your neck and shoulders, think through what happened and more importantly why it happened. The answer to the last point will help you work out the problem that you have to fix.

And keep practicing: