Driving When Older

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At Gerrys A Star Driving Academy, we understand that driving later in life can feel more challenging than it once did. Confidence sometimes dips, but with the right guidance and a few sensible steps, there’s no reason you can’t continue to enjoy the independence that driving brings.

One of the most important things to keep on top of is your eyesight. Regular checks are vital, as vision can change gradually without us realising. Many older drivers find night driving harder due to glare from headlights, slower recovery from bright lights, and natural changes in how our eyes adjust in low light. By recognising these issues, you can make more informed decisions about when and where you drive.

Another helpful step is to have your driving assessed every couple of years. This isn’t a test—it’s a friendly review of your skills and habits. At Gerry’s A Star Driving Academy, we offer supportive refresher sessions tailored to older drivers. Independent organisations such as ROSPA (Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents) and the IAM (Institute of Advanced Motorists) also provide valuable assessments. These sessions often boost confidence and highlight simple adjustments that make driving feel easier and safer.

Finally, many older drivers benefit greatly from switching from manual to automatic cars. Automatics remove the stress of gear changes and clutch control, helping you focus more on the road and less on the mechanics of driving. This small change can transform driving into a far more relaxed and enjoyable experience.

Remember—driving is about freedom and independence, and with the right support, you can continue to drive safely and confidently for many years to come.

Feeling nervous about driving is far more common than many people realise. For some, the anxiety comes from being new to the road and still learning. For others, it arises after a break from driving, a previous negative experience, or simply because they are naturally more cautious. At Gerry’s A Star Driving Academy, we meet nervous drivers every week, and our job is not only to teach safe driving skills but also to help students build the confidence they need to drive comfortably and independently.

If you’ve ever felt your heart rate rise as you turn the ignition, your palms grow clammy as you approach a busy junction, or your thoughts spiral with worries about what other drivers are thinking, you’re certainly not alone. The good news is that nerves can be managed, and with the right mindset and strategies, they can often be turned into a strength rather than a weakness. After all, a cautious driver who learns to manage their worries often develops into a very safe and observant motorist.

Below, we’ll look at the most common causes of nervous driving and outline practical, proven strategies to help you cope.

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Why Do People Feel Nervous About Driving?

There are many reasons why nerves creep in when driving:

1. Fear of making mistakes – Learners often worry about stalling, missing a gear, or taking a wrong turn. Even experienced drivers sometimes panic about small errors, fearing others will judge them.

2. Worrying about other drivers – This is one of the most common triggers. People get so caught up in what the driver behind is thinking—“Am I too slow?” “Are they getting impatient?” “Will they overtake dangerously?”—that they lose focus on the road ahead.

3. Busy or unfamiliar roads – Heavy traffic, motorways, or unknown routes can feel overwhelming when confidence is low.

4. Previous bad experiences – A minor accident, harsh words from a past instructor, or a near-miss can stay in someone’s memory and create lingering anxiety.

5. Perfectionism and pressure – Some people put themselves under immense pressure to “get everything right” and forget that all drivers, no matter how experienced, make small mistakes.

At Gerry’s A Star Driving Academy, we always reassure our pupils that these feelings are normal. Nervous drivers are not weak drivers—they’re simply at a stage where reassurance and tailored strategies can help them move forward.

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Strategies for Coping with Driving Nerves

1. Shift Your Focus Forward, Not Behind

One of the biggest challenges for nervous drivers is worrying too much about the cars behind them. It’s natural to feel pressured if someone is close to your bumper or looks impatient. But here’s the truth: the more you focus on the driver behind, the less attention you give to what really matters—the road ahead.

By constantly checking your mirror, you risk missing hazards, traffic lights, or pedestrians crossing. A useful mantra to remember is:

“The driver behind is their responsibility. The road ahead is mine.”

Of course, it’s important to use your mirrors and be aware of your surroundings, but don’t give those behind you the power to control your decisions. Your job is to drive safely, at a speed suitable for the conditions, and to make calm, considered choices. If someone else is impatient, that’s on them, not you.

At Gerry’s A Star Driving Academy, we work on practical techniques to help nervous drivers balance mirror checks with forward observation. Over time, this shift in focus often reduces anxiety dramatically.

To all those that are learning to drive. It’s possibly one of the hardest skills you will ever learn, it can sometimes feel it’s a mountain your trying to climb, a good instructor will always be with you, ever step of the way, through the not so good times right through to the best of times and then that wonderful moment that it all comes together.

Hang in there, it will be worth it, have a good day and if you have a lesson, have a great one ❤️❤️

🚗💪 Learning to drive isn’t easy – some days it feels like climbing a mountain ⛰️. But every step you take gets you closer to that amazing moment when it all just clicks ⭐.

Trust the journey, trust your instructor, and most of all, trust yourself. You’ve got this 🙌❤️

#DrivingLessons #KeepGoing #YouCanDoIt #AStarDrivingAcademy

Re: Driving Test Waiting Times – Practical Solutions

Dear Mr Timothy

I am writing to you as a constituent and as a driving school owner who has seen first-hand the impact of long driving test waiting times. Across the country, learners are facing delays of many months, which not only causes frustration but also adds considerable financial and emotional strain.

I would like to suggest some constructive reforms that could help reduce waiting times, whilst maintaining road safety standards:

1. Eyesight Certification – At present, examiners spend part of the test checking a candidate’s eyesight. This could instead be confirmed prior to the test by a certificate issued by an optician or GP, verifying that the candidate meets the legal standard.

2. Instructor-Signed Manoeuvres – Many manoeuvres, such as parallel parking, bay parking, and the emergency stop, could be signed off by an Approved Driving Instructor (ADI) before the test. Instructors already have a duty of care and professional responsibility, and could confirm competence in writing.

3. Random Manoeuvre Spot-Checks – To maintain integrity, examiners could still require a manoeuvre at random, ensuring candidates remain test-ready in all areas. However, removing the requirement to assess every manoeuvre would significantly reduce test time.

4. Test Structure Simplification – Currently, examiners must cover a wide range of skills within a 40-minute test. By shifting certain elements (eyesight, manoeuvres, vehicle safety questions) to be pre-certified by instructors, examiners could focus on assessing core driving competence, but also free up time to  conduct one or two extra tests a day.

• Hazard perception in real traffic

• Safe use of speed and road positioning

• Decision making at junctions and roundabouts

• Awareness of vulnerable road users

• Independent driving (sat nav or signs)

This would allow examiners to concentrate on the key elements of safe, independent driving while reducing their workload per candidate, thereby helping to increase test availability.

In summary, the aim is not to lower standards, but to make the process more efficient and practical. A system of shared responsibility between instructors and examiners could help clear the current backlog and get more safe, competent drivers on the road.

I would be grateful if you could raise this matter with the Department for Transport and the DVSA, and I look forward to hearing your thoughts on these proposals

For many learners, the driving test feels like the final hurdle standing between them and independence. It’s natural to want to get it done as soon as possible, especially with today’s long waiting lists. But the big question every learner should ask themselves is: “Am I truly ready for my test?”

The temptation to “chance it” can be strong — especially if you’ve already booked your test months in advance. Yet, chancing it often leads to disappointment, wasted money, and unnecessary stress.

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Why “Chancing It” Rarely Pays Off

Some learners take their test hoping for a bit of luck — perhaps telling themselves, “I’ll be fine if I get an easy route.” But the reality is:

• Every test is designed to challenge you. Examiners can and will take you through busy junctions, tricky roundabouts, or awkward meeting situations.

• Nerves hit harder if you’re underprepared. Even a confident driver can crumble when the pressure is on.

• Failing sets you back months. With waiting lists in some areas stretching to 6 months or more, failing once doesn’t just cost you the test fee — it could delay your licence until well into next year.

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The Risks of Testing Too Early

• Financial cost: Test fees, extra lessons, and rescheduling all add up.

• Confidence knock: Failing when you weren’t ready can dent your belief in yourself, making the next attempt even tougher.

• Risk to safety: If you scrape through underprepared, the real danger begins after the test. Independent driving without full skills and confidence can put you, your passengers, and others at risk.

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Signs You’re Truly Ready

You’re probably ready for your test if you can honestly say “yes” to most of the following:

• I can drive independently, without prompts from my instructor.

• I can handle different types of roads — town centres, country lanes, dual carriageways.

• I can deal with roundabouts, junctions, meeting traffic, and pedestrians calmly.

• I recover from mistakes safely, without panicking.

• I know the “Show Me, Tell Me” questions and have practised independent driving with sat nav or road signs.

• I feel confident, not just hopeful.

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Why Passing First Time Matters Now More Than Ever

Before COVID, a failed test might only mean a 6–8 week wait for another slot. Today, demand is so high that waiting times can be half a year. That means if you go in underprepared and fail, you could lose months of freedom, independence, and opportunities.

Getting it right first time saves:

• Time (no 6-month wait for another chance)

• Money (no repeat fees and extra lessons)

• Stress (no need to start the whole process again)

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The Bottom Line

Passing your driving test isn’t about luck — it’s about preparation. If you’re still unsure, ask yourself: “Would I feel confident driving alone tomorrow?”If the answer is no, then it’s better to take a little more time now than to risk a failed test and months of waiting.

At Gerry’s A Star Driving Academy, we don’t just teach learners to scrape through a test — we give them the skills and confidence to drive safely for life. That way, when test day arrives, you’re not just hoping for a pass — you’re ready for it.