Is it normal for beginners to have car accidents?
3 Answers
It is normal for beginners to have car accidents. Tips for beginner drivers: Stay calm mentally, find someone to boost confidence, and be well-prepared. Precautions for new drivers: Adjust the seat position and rearview mirror before driving, fasten the seat belt, turn on the ignition key without starting the engine, wait for the computer self-check to complete (about three to four seconds), then start the engine, check if all instruments are normal, warm up the engine at idle for about half a minute before driving, ensure the handbrake is released before driving, keep the heel on the floor when pressing the pedal, release the clutch slowly and press the accelerator gently when starting. Before setting off, carefully check all four tires, preferably adjusting the tire pressure at a professional repair shop. Especially, do not forget to check the spare tire to ensure it is intact and properly inflated.
I've been driving for 20 years, and when I first got my license, I scraped walls and hit trees. New drivers don't intentionally crash; driving relies on muscle memory. It takes hundreds of hours of practice to coordinate your eyes, hands, and feet to avoid mistakes, especially since slow reactions in emergencies are common. The right-angle turns taught in driving school aren't enough for actual narrow roads, and with all the lane-cutting and sudden lane changes on the streets today, it's normal for beginners to panic. The key is to stay calm and analyze every scrape: Did you mix up the gas and brake? Or misjudge the car's width? Remember, statistics show 60% of new drivers have an accident in their first year. My old Ford didn't truly become an extension of me until I'd driven it over 8,000 kilometers.
Having been a driving instructor for 11 years, I've taught no fewer than eight hundred students. To be honest, car accidents are an inevitable phase for beginners. It takes about 1,500 kilometers of driving for the human body to develop an accurate perception of speed. In the first three months, the probability of scraping walls while reversing exceeds 75%. Last time, a student hit the curb three times in a row while parallel parking—it turned out the seat was adjusted too high, affecting visibility. My advice for beginners: keep speeds below 15 km/h in residential areas, roll down windows and check wheel clearance in narrow lanes, and practice driving at night in spacious industrial zones first. Installing a reversing camera can reduce accident rates by 70%, but the key is to break dangerous habits like steering with one hand or checking phones while driving.
