5 Common Mistakes Learners Make

For new drivers, making mistakes is almost inevitable. It's not because they're bad drivers, but because they lack sufficient practical experience behind the wheel. Through observing, repairing cars, and advising many people, I've identified five common mistakes that new drivers repeatedly make – and if not corrected early, the consequences are not only difficulty driving but also damage to the vehicle.

1. Accelerating and braking too abruptly due to stress.

New drivers are often very afraid of collisions, so they react aggressively with the accelerator and brake pedals. As a result, the car jerks and stalls constantly, especially in crowded city streets. Over time, this habit causes rapid wear of the brake pads, rough gearbox operation, and makes the car very difficult to control.

Experience shows that you should practice maintaining a steady throttle, braking early and gently, and not waiting until you're "too close" to press the brake pedal.

2. Confusing the accelerator pedal and the brake pedal.

This is the most dangerous mistake and has actually caused many unfortunate accidents. New drivers, especially when panicking, easily mistake the accelerator for the brake.

Experience: Use onlyright legPractice both acceleration and braking, developing slow, steady reflexes without being startled.

3. Shifting gears at the wrong time.

With manual transmissions, learner drivers often let the engine rev too low or too high before shifting gears. With automatic transmissions, they often shift to neutral (N) when stopped at traffic lights or switch to reverse (R) or drive (D) before the car has come to a complete stop. These are mistakes that cause the transmission to deteriorate quickly.

Experience shows that with automatic cars, just leave it in D – use the brake for short stops, no need for excessive intervention.

4. Make a sharp turn, then return the steering wheel slowly.

New drivers often turn the steering wheel too quickly when cornering but return it to its original position slowly once the car is straight. This causes the car to drift out of its lane, lose balance, and makes it very difficult to handle in tight spaces.

Experience: steer slowly, look beyond the front of the car, and practice returning the steering wheel to the car's inertia.

5. Forgetting to check the car before driving.

Many people learning to drive just get in the car and start driving, forgetting to adjust the mirrors, check the handbrake, or even look at the warning lights. This is a small mistake, but it can easily lead to a big accident.

Experience shows that it's a habit to spend 30 seconds checking your car before driving – mirrors, seats, parking brake, warning lights.

Conclude

Learners don't need to drive fast or perform complex maneuvers. The most important thing is...Drive correctly, steadily, and calmly.The sooner you fix these 5 problems, the more durable your car will be, the more confident you'll feel, and the safer you'll be.