How long do you need a driving coach after getting your license?
4 Answers
From the perspective of ordinary driving students, after undergoing a week of training, they can basically master common driving skills, and it should be no problem to drive on the road at this point. When choosing a driving coach, try to select those with a coach certificate and experienced veteran drivers, as they may sometimes teach the driver some additional driving experience or techniques. After mastering driving skills within a week, there are still some precautions for beginners on the road: 1. Pay attention to following distance: Especially when driving in front of or behind large trucks, maintain a sufficiently long safe distance, as their braking distance is often longer, making it difficult to avoid sudden situations. 2. Pay attention to gear and speed matching: Shift to the appropriate gear based on the current speed. Generally, first gear is around 10km/h, second gear around 20km/h, third gear 20-40km/h, fourth gear 40-60km/h, and fifth gear above 60km/h. 3. Develop good driving habits: Avoid slamming on the brakes/accelerator. When encountering situations that may pose safety hazards, brake in advance. Additionally, necessary civilized yielding is also very important.
I think beginners should have at least 10 hours of supervised practice before driving alone. It's best to start with an experienced driver sitting in the passenger seat to guide you through a few sessions, practicing basic skills like lane changes, parking, and observing road conditions on less crowded roads. During supervised practice, gradually challenge yourself with different road conditions, such as urban streets during rush hour and suburban expressways, to experience real driving pressure. Practice in rainy conditions and at night is also crucial, as these environments can significantly improve emergency response skills. Only when you can handle unexpected situations calmly under guidance should you attempt to drive independently. Remember, safety is always more important than saving time, and most minor accidents involving beginners occur within the first three months.
As someone who has been through this stage, I recommend that beginners prepare at least 12-15 hours of accompanied practice. Focus on honing your anticipation skills and hazard perception, which are more important than pure driving techniques. Find an experienced driver to guide you through different routes, starting with familiarizing yourself with narrow residential roads before tackling shopping mall roundabouts. Limit each practice session to two hours maximum, as fatigue-induced mistakes become more likely beyond that. Highway practice is absolutely essential - you need to adapt to that sense of speed beforehand. When you can navigate complex intersections five times consecutively without needing prompts from your coach, you're basically ready. Also practice reverse parking frequently - I've seen many new drivers get scratches in parking lots.
The duration of practice varies from person to person, but 20 hours is a safe estimate. I used this amount of time to become proficient in navigating city rush hours and confusing interchanges. The first week was spent practicing basic control on suburban roads, the second week focused on lane changes on ring roads, and the final week tackled complex traffic conditions in commercial districts. The key is to develop three habits: slowing down in advance at intersections, frequently checking rearview mirrors, and maintaining a safe following distance. Practice until you can engage the clutch instinctively during emergency braking. Before ending the practice sessions, have the instructor simulate distractions like sudden passenger conversations to test real-world reaction skills. New drivers should avoid driving independently in severe weather conditions like rainy nights.
