How Long Should a Beginner Drive Before Going on the Highway?

[LeAaliyah]

Typically, the novice period is one year. If a new driver who has held a license for less than one year wants to drive on the highway, they must be accompanied by an experienced driver with more than three years of driving experience. The following abilities are required to drive independently on the highway: 1. Fully master the basic skills of high-speed driving: When driving on the highway, it is essential to have a good grasp of basic driving skills, especially for manual transmission vehicles. This includes correctly performing operations such as starting, accelerating, upshifting, and downshifting. It is also important to develop the habit of checking the rearview mirror before changing lanes. 2. Fully understand traffic regulations, particularly those specific to highways, and be familiar with various highway signs. Many drivers, once on the highway, struggle to take appropriate measures due to their lack of knowledge or familiarity with high-speed traffic rules. This not only affects their own safety but also poses risks to other vehicles. Special attention should be paid to highway signs and road markings. 3. Have a good understanding of highway conditions and entry/exit points: Before entering the highway, drivers should have basic knowledge of the route, including entry and exit points and distances. This information helps enhance driving safety. For example, when passing highway entrances, drivers should be cautious of merging vehicles, and when approaching exits, they should change lanes and decelerate in advance to avoid sudden braking. 4. Possess strong psychological resilience: Many drivers lack experience with high-speed driving and may feel nervous when the car's speed increases. This nervousness can lead to a loss of precise control over the vehicle, which is a significant factor contributing to issues faced by first-time highway drivers. 5. Have a proper understanding of the performance of the vehicle being driven: Experienced drivers typically test a new car by pressing the accelerator and brakes a few times to get a general sense of its overall and braking performance. Based on this assessment, they maintain an appropriate following distance on the highway, allowing for early deceleration. 6. Choose the correct lane and maintain an appropriate speed—neither too slow nor too fast. Many new drivers believe that driving slower is safer, but this is incorrect. The safest speed on the highway is one that matches the flow of traffic. Driving too slowly increases the risk of being rear-ended, while driving too fast may lead to improper handling and potential rear-end collisions.