Attention deficit is a reality and can become an obstacle to driving, the key is patience and therefore, we give you some recommendations.
Everyone is distracted and this is normally the cause of many car accidents, so it is a constant. However, a large number of people have attention deficit disorder and must go about their normal lives and learn various things, one of which is driving. Do not worry, since the most important thing is to be patient.
People who have attention deficits do have the skills to be able to drive, it is just a matter of preparing and guiding them for some issues that could arise on the journey.
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1. What is attention deficit?
Attention deficit is a disorder that is distinguished by generating difficulties for the person to pay attention, this has no cure, but it can be mitigated a little with special medications. In case you have various doubts, we recommend that you go with a specialist.
Some symptoms of attention deficit may include difficulty paying attention, carelessness in activities, not following instructions, poor organization, easily distracted, excessive talking, low tolerance for waiting, nervous movements, and interrupting other people or conversations.
If you think you have attention deficit , it is best that you go to a doctor to treat this and they give you a treatment right there, either with emotional control therapies as well as the prescription of various medications.
As we mentioned previously, it is essential to learn to drive, since sometimes emergencies could arise and also, adapt a little better to everyday life.
In itself, learning to drive is a somewhat complicated task that requires practice, for that reason, we recommend that if you wish, you can opt for a driving school, this so that specialists can teach you. On the other hand, you can also tell a person you trust who knows how to drive and, more than anything, be patient and calm.
2. Learn to drive
Normally, learning to drive is quite an experience, which can result in a great combination of thoughts, whether it be worry, a little excitement, and constant alertness. This happens to everyone, but if you have attention deficit, all this could be intensified.
For that reason, it is best that you learn to drive in a place that is large, there is not too much traffic and right there you start with the essentials such as understanding the manual transmission, clutch, handbrake, etc. If it is a car with a manual transmission, this will be easier.
Another issue to consider is practicing parking maneuvers, all in a calm environment. Later we recommend that when you finally go out on the street, you drive with great caution, try not to be distracted by other elements such as loud music, too many passengers inside the vehicle or that there is not a challenging climate.
Something very important is the issue of risk, since while driving it is essential to be attentive at all times, if you feel pressured or very worried, we recommend that you stop in a safe place and calm down as much as possible. On the other hand, take into account the speed limits, remember this so that you do not have a big fine and it is a worse experience.
The most important thing when learning to drive is to practice, if you want, with the instructor or the person you trust or just if you feel a little more confident. By achieving this and doing it constantly, you will also gain experience and know what to do in the face of problems, which may arise.
Accidents can happen at any time, we understand that a blow can have a great emotional impact, although within what is possible, it is best that you do an exercise to calm down and not panic. Also, it eliminates distractions like the phone if it is not essential like GPS for the road.
3. Other considerations
Having attention deficit is a strong factor for accidents, however, if you are attentive, calm and confident, everything will be fine. It is best to learn with patience, you will not gain the skill immediately, but with practice you will adapt to any situation. Remember to have fun, since driving is about that too, of course, being careful.
On the other hand, if you are going to teach someone, we recommend that you do not make the other person nervous or pressure them, be patient and also, if they practice constantly, driving will be mastered in a matter of time.
Bonus : 8 More best tips for learning to drive
At the driving school we teach to recognize each of the controls and we will set the guidelines to be able to drive a manual or automatic car, and pass the practical exam for the B license as easily as possible.
However, there is still a long way to go and learning should not end when you get your driving license. We have to perfect our driving. That is why we give you a series of tricks to learn to drive well and control your car in any situation.
1. Know the vehicle you are going to drive well during the test
You may or may not like cars, but what is clear is that there are some elements that you have to be clear about where they are before facing the practical driving test, either because the examiner is going to ask you about it or because you may need it in your day to day. What you need to know about the car before the driving test:
- Lights.
- How to open the hood.
- Check oil levels, brake fluid, brakes, steering, coolant and windshield wiper.
- Activate the horn.
- Location of the reflective vest and warning triangles.
- Battery identification. Location of vehicle documentation.
- Know how to unlock the steering wheel when starting (normally it is enough to move it slightly).
2. Get familiar with different routes, surfaces and conditions
Under normal conditions, the driving test will take place on the roads near the driving school , and although the driver may have become familiar with them, unforeseen events may occur, such as adverse weather conditions. If all the practices have been done in dry conditions and the final exam is done in the wet, this can be a handicap. Consequently, it is best to practice on all surfaces and conditions before taking the exam, in order to have the best possible preparation.
3. Examine yourself when you are ready, not before
There are many students who wonder how many practical classes it takes to learn to drive. ” A good teacher is the one who tells you when you are ready ,” said the former director of the DGT, Gregorio Serrano. To tell the truth, taking the exam hastily and without having properly assimilated all the contents is one of the most frequent mistakes among applicants for a driver’s license. There is also no specific number of practical lessons, so students must respect their particular learning curve, without trying to force it.
4. Observe the environment during the exam
It never hurts to do a preliminary reconnaissance of the areas where you can be examined , so that you can locate the essential dangers or “traps” that your examiner can make you face. Either before the practical driving test or during it, you must take into account:
- Look both ways at all intersections and when maneuvering, and avoid blind spots before performing a manoeuvre.
- When you brake, look in the inside rearview mirror to see if anyone is coming from behind.
- Be very attentive to traffic signals and pedestrian crossings, so they don’t play tricks on you. We’ll talk about it later.
- Be careful with cyclists and with buses that can be incorporated into circulation.
- Just because the examiner asks you to do a maneuver doesn’t mean you can do it. Pay particular attention to streets with a prohibited direction, non-existent or prohibited exits from roundabouts, FORDS or prohibition signs when parking, loading and unloading areas…
- Always turn on the low beams when entering tunnels and underpasses, whether they are more or less long, it is always better to activate them than not to do so.
- Do not constantly look at the gear lever to know what gear you are in and, of course, do not go with one hand on the gear lever, it is dangerous and harmful to the vehicle.
- He strains his eyes a little in the rear-view mirrors.
It is recommended that when looking in the rearview mirrors you do so clearly, but naturally, without exaggerating excessively. The examiner sits behind the passenger seat, he will see you well.
5. Before starting the march and the exam
Let’s not start off on the wrong foot. When the examiner gets into the car, greet him politely and proceed to carry out the basic checks. Later, he/she may make you check some of the elements we talked about in the first point, but these basic checks are, in order of action:
- Adjust the seat.
- Adjust the mirrors.
- Buckle up.
- Release the handbrake!
- Start the vehicle.
6. Road signs and markings
It is important to know and respect all the traffic signs , as well as the road markings that may appear in our path, but for this it is vital that you be aware of your surroundings and go calmly so that you do not overlook any of them. Some tips in these cases are:
- Come to a complete stop at the STOPs. If you don’t have good visibility, move forward a bit and make a second stop, but be careful not to put the nose of the vehicle too far, obstructing oncoming vehicles.
- ‘Give way’ are not STOPs, you only have to completely stop the vehicle if you have poor visibility or other vehicles are coming, not always.
- Pedestrian crossings are sacred, always respect them. If there are pedestrians and they don’t want to pass, let them tell you, but stop whenever you see them.
- Pay particular attention to the amber pedestrian traffic lights, as these turn red as soon as a passerby presses the button.
- Always stop at amber traffic lights.
- Look at the speed signs and adapt to them, there are people who fail for driving too slowly. Also, don’t speed up to the speed limit either, but be reasonable.
- Always respect the signs to the letter
- Demonstrate security. In the acceleration lanes, remember to step on the accelerator with energy, you have to leave them at 80 km/h or more. Likewise, you must enter the deceleration lanes at a reasonable speed that is normally indicated on a sign, they are made so that you brake inside them, not on the highway.
7. Learn to control your nerves
In a significant percentage of the failures, the problem was not the applicant’s lack of skill or knowledge, but their inability to control their nerves. Complaints like “I’m bad at driving” or “I’ve had 100 car practices and I can’t get results” can actually hide a serious confidence problem behind the wheel. In this sense, you may be interested in knowing these tips on how to overcome nerves on the driving test:
- psych yourself up. To prevent nervousness from increasing as the test approaches, it is important to take a deep breath and clear your mind of all worries.
- Consume medicinal plants. The calming and relaxing properties of the Valerian, the Ginseng, the Hierbaluisa, the Pasiflora, the Hypericum or the Tila are notorious. Although they are not miraculous, consuming them in pills or infusions, and always in moderate amounts, will help you control your nerves.
- Be positive. Learning to drive is not a litmus test. Contrary to what you think, this experience can be wonderful. It’s understandable to be somewhat insecure on the first day, but it won’t take long for you to enjoy putting the concepts you’ve learned into practice.
- Take advantage of relaxation techniques. As important as the body is the mind, and a good way to prepare it is by putting into practice some of the existing relaxation methods.
- Sleep 9-10 hours before the exam. Resting, one of the allies that you cannot miss on vacation, is essential to keep our attention span in optimal condition, improve memory and reduce stress.
8. Regarding the examiner
Although there are people who get up every morning on the wrong foot, you should not fear the examiner, usually not someone who has something personal against you, but someone who will evaluate you objectively:
- If you skip any indication from the examiner, don’t worry or get nervous, nothing happens, they already have it. The important thing is that you don’t do it repeatedly.
- If you have doubts about what the examiner has told you or you have not heard him correctly, ask him, he does not bite.
- As long as the examiner doesn’t tell you anything, you go straight. If you can’t go straight, ask him which direction you should go.