Being able to drive gives you access to all the freedom you could want, and rather than relying on other people to give you lifts or having to use public transport (which may not run at the times you want, and could be unreliable, especially if you live in a rural area), you’ll be able to dictate when and where you go somewhere. 

However, in order to get to that stage, there are some skills you’ll need to consider so that you can pass your driving test and get your license. Driving without a license is illegal, and not only could you be fined, but you might also be banned from the road (so it would be too late to get a license then) or imprisoned, depending on whether or not you caused any injury or damage. So let’s take a look at the skills you need to pass your driving test so you can do it without any worries. 

Patience 

Perhaps one of the most important skills you’ll need if you want to pass your driving test is patience. You’re not going to instantly be able to drive once you get behind the wheel of a car for the first time, and even if you know the basics, you’ll still need to practice. The truth is, it just wouldn’t be safe to assume you’re great at driving from the start because the safest drivers are those who take their time to learn exactly what to do. 

Photo by Luke Miller

Even if it takes you longer than you would like, being completely sure you’re ready to take your test and being patient when it comes to learning – especially when it comes to learning from your mistakes – is vital. It really will make all the difference. 

Confidence 

Something else you’ll need to have if you want to pass your test and be a fully-fledged legal driver is confidence. Not too much confidence because that can lead to mistakes, which, when you’re driving, is potentially very dangerous indeed. However, a good level of confidence and abilities is vital – in fact, just as too much confidence can be dangerous, too little can be as well. 

Not having enough confidence to know you’re making the right choices behind the wheel can cause delays, and those delays could mean an accident – you need to have the courage of your convictions to pass your test and continue to drive safely from then on, otherwise you might as well stick to public transport. 

Memory

There is a lot about learning to drive that’s about instinct, but there’s also plenty that’s about memory, and being able to remember what road signs mean and all the different things included in your written test is vital – you can’t get your license unless you pass both parts. 

If you don’t have a good memory, you’ll need to get some help to ensure you’re able to remember enough to pass your test. That might mean getting friends to help you or working out some pneumonics to get things to stick in your mind. As the years go by, everything you’re struggling to remember now will become second nature, but remembering them early on will help you get through the test more easily. 

Driving licence

About the Author: John Loughran