You just got your license a week ago, and you're soaring. This is the key to independence, after all: you can finally drive wherever you want, whenever you want. But then you get out onto the main road, just you and your shiny new license, and it feels like you've forgotten everything you were taught. How many seconds should you leave between you and the car in front of you? How do you determine when it's safe to turn?
As it turns out, you're not alone. Many new drivers, despite the newfound freedom, feel the pressure get the best of them. It can make them more prone to mistakes, and that can make them feel even more nervous, leading to a vicious loop. But why does this happen—and can you avoid it?
Driving Hasn't Become a Muscle Memory Yet
When you're still new on the road, driving hasn't yet become muscle memory. Think of the first time you learned to ride a bike; even after you got the motions down, you were likely still shaky and had to think through your every move. It's the same behind the wheel. The maneuvers you do aren't yet ingrained in your head, and every step still requires conscious thinking.
But this isn't inherently a bad thing. After all, you probably wouldn't want your brain to immediately automate driving, especially when it's a skill that's still so new to you. You should want to remind yourself to shoulder check, scan your mirrors, and regularly assess your surroundings. In fact, you should want to do all of this even after you've become a seasoned driver.
The Pressure of Making a Mistake
When you're new to driving, you may also feel that everyone on the road is watching your every move. This can make you more susceptible to making mistakes because you're afraid of the consequences you might face. And ironically, the more you actively avoid messing up, the more likely you are to mess up.
For some new drivers, it might not be nerves or the fear of being watched or judged that messes them up. Instead, they may deal with perfectionism—the need to do everything right and to do well immediately. This mindset can put immense pressure on them because they leave little room for error or space to learn and grow.
Remember That This Is Likely Just a Phase
The good thing is that, as much as new drivers may overthink now, as they become more comfortable with driving, this phase will pass. Later on, they'll get behind the wheel with confidence, and they won't care so much about being scrutinized by other road users; they'll care more about simply driving safely.
Repeated maneuvers and actions eventually turn into muscle memory, which means, over time, you won't be micromanaging your every move behind the wheel. If there's one thing you should keep in mind, it's that overthinking isn't a negative thing, and it certainly doesn't make you a bad driver. It just means you need to take time building your skill before driving becomes second nature.
