Why Does My Driving Get Worse the More I Practice?
3 Answers
Possible reasons for worsening driving skills with practice include: 1. Incorrect operational thinking: Training tends to be rigid, with each exercise having predetermined steps. After repeated practice, students form a fixed operational sequence in their minds. While they become very familiar with these steps, their execution becomes mechanical, performed without thought, leaving no reaction time when problems arise. Suggestion: Always think before acting; avoid operating the vehicle blindly to prevent issues. 2. Inconsistent method adjustments: During regular training, instructors may tweak observation points and techniques based on individual habits and conditions. For example, slower drivers might be advised to steer slowly, while faster drivers might be told to steer quickly—these are minor adjustments for individual differences. However, some students fail to fully grasp these adjustments or communicate with their instructors, leading to fluctuating performance. Suggestion: Once an effective method is found, stick to it; avoid frequent changes. Communicate more with your instructor and regularly summarize your own issues.
As a fresh graduate from driving school, I remember when I first started practicing, my driving got worse the more I practiced, mainly because I was too physically exhausted from over-practicing. It felt like I was driving all day and my brain couldn't keep up, making my movements even more rigid. Plus, the pressure of having someone watching me was overwhelming, leading to silly mistakes like stalling at startup or turning the wheel too slowly during turns. This is totally normal, just like when learning to ride a bike—the more you rush, the more you fall. The brain needs rest under high stress to consolidate memory. I recommend reducing each practice session to about half an hour before taking a break, or finding an empty space to practice alone to reduce pressure. Don't rush to take the second road test; take your time to digest the skills. Usually, after a few weeks, you'll break through this bottleneck period.
As a veteran driver with over a decade of experience, I've noticed that many beginners' driving skills deteriorate due to overconfidence leading to neglect of details. When you feel familiar after a few laps, you start getting careless—like forgetting to check mirrors or braking too harshly, which actually increases accident risks. This often happens before muscle memory is fully developed in the early stages, and repeating wrong habits makes it worse. The solution is to focus on one fundamental skill per session, like parking or gear shifting, avoiding greed for speed—use slow practice to reinforce muscle memory. I recall almost hitting a wall when I first learned too, then realized practice should be measured like meals—moderation is key.
