Passed exams at the traffic police, received the cherished rights, and then - a matter of practice. However, for many novice car enthusiasts, this practice is full of fears, as evidenced by an online survey conducted by the AUTOSTAT agency and the Za Rulem publishing house.
Here are the top 10 most common newbie driving fears.
10. Fear of controlled intersections
This fear was admitted by 0.9% of the surveyed drivers. Regulated intersections are intersections with traffic lights or a traffic controller. And according to statistics, about 80% of urban accidents with injuries or deaths occur on them.
Usually, an accident occurs in the first 4 seconds after the signal change, therefore experienced drivers recommend not to break into the intersection as soon as the green light turns on. If the car drivers behind you get nervous during these 4 seconds, it is unpleasant, but not dangerous for your and their health.
9. Fear of breaking the car
One of the most common fears of a novice motorist is a car breakdown due to the driver's fault. It was reported by 4.9% of the respondents.
If you are afraid to crash your car, at first we recommend to ride with an experienced driver who will calmly prompt you to take action in a given traffic situation.
It is also advisable to choose as your first "iron horse" one of the the best-selling used cars on the Russian market, which, if anything, is not a pity to damage.
8. Fear of pedestrians
Among the ten strongest fears of motorists is the fear of pedestrians, reported by 5.3% of respondents. And this attitude on the part of drivers is quite justified, because the culture of pedestrian movement in Russia is at a low level.
Some pedestrians create emergency situations by literally "throwing themselves under the wheels" where there is no pedestrian crossing, or crossing the road in front of a nearby car. Only a good reaction will save the driver.
7. Fears that I am disturbing everyone
8.4% of the respondents admitted that they are afraid to interfere with other road users. What can you say here? Experienced drivers, be kinder to newbies, because you once sat behind the wheel for the first time, feeling trembling in your hands and knees.
6. Fear of parking and backing up
The need to master the subtle art of parking and reversing scares 9.3% of motorists.
To reduce this fear to nothing, or at least significantly reduce it, we recommend choosing good parking sensors or rear view camera.
5. Fear of unregulated intersections
More than a regulated intersection motorists are afraid only of an unregulated intersection. 11.1% of respondents are afraid of him.
It's good if there are priority signs at such an intersection. If they are not there, you just need to remember: you should always give in to the one on the right.
4. Fear of stalling
The possibility of being in a stalled car on the road scares 12.3% of newbie drivers. However, no one, even the most experienced driver, is insured against such a case. The reasons can be very different: from the trivial - out of fuel, to a serious one, like a malfunction in the electrical wiring.
We recommend that you always keep a towing rope in your car, so that in the event of a malfunction, friends or passing motorists can tow your “swallow” to the nearest service. If no one agrees to do this, try to pull over to the side of the road, turn on the emergency gang, put up an emergency stop sign and call a tow truck.
3. Phobia of DPS
While we know that the police, fire brigades and ambulances are ready to help us, many aspiring car owners suffer from nervousness at the mere thought of being stopped by a traffic police officer. Such fear was reported by 12.4% of the total number of drivers surveyed by AUTOSTAT and Za Rulem.
2. Fear of other cars
Worse than the pedestrian culture, things in Russia are only with the driving culture. Overtaking, undercutting, driving without a license and drunk are not uncommon in our country. That is why 16.6% of completely trustworthy, but not yet very experienced drivers are most afraid of other road users.
Curiously, fear of other drivers came out on top in a survey conducted for Ford Motor Co among young US motorists (ages 16-34). He overtook even the fear of public speaking and the fear of death.
1. Fear of starting up a hill
This is the most common fear of novice drivers (19%). When passing a driving test, if the car rolls back, moving up a hill, it means that it fails. And even "in free float" this subconscious fear of failure can get in the way of the driver.
In addition, it takes skill to learn how to move smoothly with the handbrake, and this only comes with practice.