For many aspiring drivers, the final driving test can be an anxiety-inducing experience, causing nerves to take the wheel during this crucial assessment of skill! But for others, they breeze by seemingly fine. If you’re nervous for your driving test, then just know that this is completely normal. The important thing is you don’t let these nerves take over and disrupt your test. If you’re worried that this may be the case for you, then keep reading. We’re here to share with you some tricks and tips that may help you feel cool, calm, and collected during your test.

Prepare and practice 

When it comes to your driving test, the more prepared you are, the more confident you’ll feel. Preparation is key to combating the nerves and feeling confident in your abilities. You should practise driving outside of your lessons, with a licensed driver surprising you and guiding you through. This extra practice can really set you up for success and allow you to feel much more calm when taking your driving test.

Arrive early

When you’re feeling nervous for a driving test, exam, presentation, or anything along these lines, it’s always best to arrive early. Showing up early gives you a little time before your driving test to take some deep breaths and mentally prepare yourself. You don’t want the unnecessary stress of being late to add to your nerves!

Take some deep breaths

Before your test you should practise some deep breathing techniques to help calm you down before you start. Deep breaths can help calm your nerves, reduce anxiety, and regulate your breathing. Feeling calm before you get behind the wheel is important.

Think positively 

Another important thing to do before your driving test is to think positively and replace your negative thoughts with swift positive affirmations.You should remind yourself of how hard you’ve practised, your driving skills and capabilities, and that you can pass your test if you put your mind to it!

Remember that it’s okay to be nervous 

As mentioned before, nerves are a normal and natural part of your driving test. Understanding that you’re nervous and accepting this can help you manage those feelings much better. 

Remembering these tips before you start your test should help you remain calm and set you up for success. Remember, if you do not pass the first time, take it as a learning curve and stay positive. You can do this, good luck!

Starting your driving lessons is an incredibly exciting time in a young person’s life. If you’re on the younger side of life and haven’t yet started your lessons, but you’re thinking about it, keep reading. This blog post is about the benefits of starting your driving lessons the younger you are in age. Although there is no upper age limit on driving, we encourage everyone to learn this valuable skill, however, here is why starting earlier is very beneficial. 

Here are 3 reasons as to why you should start your driving lessons now if driving is a goal of yours that you want to accomplish.

1. There’s no time like the present 

Now really is the best time to begin your driving journey. The younger you are (provided you are at least 17 of course), the bigger advantage you have in picking up this skill quickly and easily. This is because younger people are usually less fearful of getting behind the wheel, and typically have much more confidence than their older counterparts.

Like learning a language, picking up a skill like driving is increasingly easier the younger you are! So there really is no time like the present to start learning how to drive. Our team of experienced driving instructors are located around parts of Greater Manchester to help teach you everything you need to know to pass your driving test. 

2. Have a skill for life 

Starting to drive earlier also means you gain valuable experience from a young age, meaning you only become better over time. Being an excellent driver is a very valuable life skill that will serve you well into the future. It’s a skill you will have and benefit from, for life!

The earlier you learn to drive, the sooner you can take yourself to new places, take your friends and family out or drive them to where they need to be. Starting your driving lessons early means you gain a new sense of confidence and freedom from a young age. And this brings us on to our final point…

3. Gain a new sense of freedom earlier 

There’s no doubt that learning to drive at any age gives a lot more freedom. You suddenly aren’t restricted to relying on public transport or taxi services. You can drive wherever you want at any hour of the day/night. As a younger person, this new skill can bring you freedom like you’ve never known it before! 

If you’re interested in beginning your driving lessons then contact our friendly team today, who can help you achieve this goal.

One of the more frequent questions we get asked here at Beverly Slater is how old is too old to start learning how to drive? The answer is, you’re never too old! That’s right, anyone in the UK can start learning to drive no matter what age you are. Although, if you do have a driving licence, then you will have to renew it every 3 years once you get to the age of 70. Other than that, there aren’t many upper age limits on driving. 

In this blog post, we will be discussing what you need to know about being an older learner driver, and addressing the issues surrounding it. 

Why do people learn to drive when they’re older? 

There are a variety of reasons as to why older people decide to learn how to drive. Some of the main reasons why not everyone learns to drive at 17 is because of the cost, the time, and the anxiety. Some people are very nervous in their late teens/early twenties, and they feel as though they should wait before they take the leap into starting their driving lessons. Other people can’t afford driving lessons and buying a car just yet. And for others, it simply isn’t a priority in their life right now, until one day it is.  

When you’re older, you make more life changing decisions which result in needing to change how you do things. If you move to a more rural area, or start a new job, then you may need to start driving.

Is it more difficult for older people to learn to drive? 

Unfortunately, yes. It is a little harder for older people to pass their driving test than their younger counterparts. However, this shouldn’t put you off trying. Here at Beverly Slater, our professional and friendly team of driving instructors are dedicated to teaching you what you need to know to pass your test, and will help you every step along the way. We teach students of all ages, varying from 17, 20s, 30s, 40s, and beyond.  

If you’re passionate about learning to drive, and you’re of an older age, we can help you. We teach in a number of South Greater Manchester locations such as Didsbury, Cheadle Hulme, Wilmslow, Knutsford, and more. If you’re interested in learning to drive no matter what your age, contact our team today. 

An automatic car is a type of car with a different gearbox than a manual car. The key difference is that an automatic car does not require the driver to manually change gears, which comes with a range of benefits. If you’re someone that struggles to drive a manual car, then driving an automatic may be a complete game changer for you, and make you fall in love with driving. 

Here at Beverly Slater, we offer automatic driving lessons for those who want to start driving an automatic car.

Easy to use 

It’s no secret that many people find automatic cars a lot easier to drive. This is because you don’t have to worry about changing gears all the time, you only have to focus on whether you’re going forward, reversing, or coming to a stop. This makes the mechanics of driving a lot more simple and easier, which is a massive advantage. 

Driving an automatic car is also much easier to use whilst driving in heavy traffic, and hilly areas. As you don’t have to worry about switching gears, it becomes a much more straightforward affair in what would otherwise be a stressful situation.

Reduces worrying 

Following on from the previous point, as driving an automatic car is easier it actually saves a lot of stress on the road. One great example of this is removing the fear of stalling. Stalling happens when you release the clutch too quickly, which impacts the engine’s ability to function normally. Since you don’t have to worry about the clutch in an automatic car, this allows you to drive knowing your car won’t stall when you stop. Stalling can be very anxiety-inducing, as you don’t know where it will happen, and those behind you may not be too patient! Driving an automatic reduces these fears and can make driving a more pleasant experience for you.

If you’re someone that worries a lot and already has driving anxiety, then driving an automatic may be the best option for you. Additionally, if certain aspects of driving scares you, then sign up to our pass plus course that we offer. We can teach you how to navigate the roads during anxiety-inducing conditions. 

Easier to control

Removing the need to change gears constantly allows drivers to focus and concentrate on the road ahead. This makes automatic cars easier to use and control, which is a great benefit to have.

If you’re interested in automatic driving lessons, contact our team today.