Driving Test Nerves - Tips For Keeping Calm During Your Driving Test

Staying calm during your driving test isn't easy!

Even the most confident driver can get nervous during a driving test and stress and anxiety can easily have an adverse effect on the result.

So how can you keep calm during your driving test?

Here are some tips for reducing driving test nerves;

1) Try and work out EXACTLY what you're worrying about. Are you worried about what others might say if you fail? Do you lack confidence in your driving ability? Do you simply not like to fail at anything? Once you know why you're worrying, anxiety is easier to deal with.

2) If you're worrying about what other people might say or think, then don't tell them when your test is! That way, if you pass you've got a nice surprise for them and if you fail, they need never know...

3) If you've been taught to drive by a professional driving instructor and they have told you that you are ready to take your driving test, then you have no need to doubt your own driving ability. Driving instructors know the standard required to pass the practical test and if your instructor thinks you can drive to that standard you can trust their judgement! If you have doubts, talk things through with your instructor.

4) Take your driving test when there's no additional stress in your life. Exams, coursework deadlines, problems at work, relationship difficulties etc are stressful enough by themselves. A driving test looming on the horizon will just make things worse.

5) It sounds obvious, but before you go to your test appointment, make sure you have all the documents the examiner will need to see and you've had something to eat, you've been to the toilet and that you're wearing comfortable clothes and sensible shoes!

6) Don't underestimate the power of positive thinking. If you go into your test in a negative frame of mind, it's likely to be a self-fulfilling prophecy.

7) During the test itself, try and keep focused only on what the examiner is asking you to do. Forget everything else, just concentrate.

8) If you think you've made a mistake, don't dwell on it - it may not be as serious as you think, so put it behind you and focus only on what else you're asked to do!

9) If you fail your driving test it's certainly disappointing, but it's not the end of the world! Try again, believe in yourself and you'll achieve your goal!

10) For in depth help and advice on how to cope with driving test nerves including self-help, drugs and medication, hypnosis, relaxation and other techniques and ways to deal with driving test nerves, see How To Overcome Driving Test Nerves