So, you’ve obtained your G1 and can now drive, but driving through busy intersections immediately is daunting.
You understand that for your G2 test, you’ll need to practice, but where do you start?
In this article, we’ll discuss how, when, and where you should practice driving.
Let’s dive in!
Table of Contents
When is the best time to practice driving?
The best times to practice driving are when the roads aren’t very busy. Between 10 – 12 am and after evening rush hour traffic are good times. Most accidents occur between 4 – 7 PM so avoid driving during those times.
When the weather is nice, attempting to drive is a great opportunity. Stick to bright days as much as feasible since rain, snow, sleet, and hail may significantly change road conditions and visibility. Also avoid driving throughout sunrise and sunset when light might affect your vision, making it difficult to see pedestrians, cyclists, and other cars.
Best places to practice driving
There are several locations where you may safely drive depending on your situation. Here are some ideas to get you started:
Empty parking lots
There’s no better location to practice driving than a huge empty parking lot for your first time behind the wheel. You’ll be able to feel for driving while minimizing the danger of hitting anything. Take advantage of this break to polish your driving skills. Accelerating, braking, turning, and yes, parking are all important things to practice during this time.
College & university campuses, industrial parks and stadiums are all wonderful locations to practice; all you have to do is time your practice session when the parking lots will be vacant. In cities where parking garages are used rather than fields, the top levels of above-ground garages are frequently unoccupied.
Local roads
It’s time to get out of the testing bubble and into the real world! Local roads are a wonderful location to learn how to drive because you’ll be driving in real-world conditions without traffic and big streets. It’s also a good opportunity to learn your local traffic patterns. You may practice following posted speeds, using intersections, and changing lanes here.
Rural highways
Rural roads are a wonderful opportunity to learn how to drive faster. Because rural highways have less traffic, you may learn to share the road without being overwhelmed by other automobiles.
Rural routes offer more space and fewer cars than city streets, making them an ideal place to practice keeping your eyes on the road while passing slower vehicles and driving at night (where you can practice using your high beams).
City streets
If you live in a city, you’ll need to get used to driving around it. City driving might be stressful because of the amount of traffic, pedestrians and cyclists, narrow streets, and one-way streets. It’s a good idea to practice your driving in the city with a driving instructor in the passenger’s seat.
It’s never too early to start learning how to drive in the city. Even if you don’t live in a big metropolis, it’s worth taking a trip around that city on your own. Many drivers avoid driving through cities in rural areas, and with each passing year, the prospect of having to drive in a major metropolis becomes more daunting – you don’t to push it off until you forced to drive in a big city, trust me!
Highways
On a list of locations to drive, the freeway or interstate might not be your first choice, but it should still find its way on there. Interstates and freeways are excellent practice locations because you’ll almost certainly need to drive there at some time.
Once you’re able to handle driving on the busy primary roads, try to visit the location where your G2 road test will take place. This will allow you to become comfortable with the area and also see what potential hazards or problems may occur during your exam.
Can I practice driving in parking lots?
Parking lots are fantastic for new drivers. They provide a similar experience to driving on the road while being less hazardous than actual driving.
For those who have never driven before, empty lots should be used as a starting point for learning. It is preferable to avoid busy intersections, heavy traffic, or potentially dangerous road conditions until a person feels comfortable operating a moving vehicle if he or she is a young or adult novice driver.
Parking lots are excellent places to work on your braking, steering, and turning skills without the pressure of highway driving, following traffic lights, road signs, or other drivers. It’s important to develop a feel for a car before practicing in parking lots since they’re a safe place to do so.
Can you practice driving in a parking lot without a permit?
In Canada, it’s illegal to drive a motor vehicle without a valid license. If you’re looking to practice the basics of driving (ie. turning, parking, etc.) you’ll need to get your G1 license first. You can drive with someone in the car who has had their full license (G Class) for 5 years if you’ve written your G1 test.
Is it better to practice driving during the day or night?
It is usually considered preferable to drive during the day rather than at night because attention and caution on the road must be multiplied many times more at night. Even with headlights, seeing what is ahead on the highway before you in the evening is more difficult, especially in wet conditions. Also, since reaction time slows down at night, you should stick to daylight hours when practicing.
Where do you driving on your first driving lesson?
When you enroll in driving school, your driving lessons will usually consist of you driving on quiet local roads and occasionally slightly busier intersections. The idea is to help you gain confidence behind the wheel before tackling busy roads with other drivers.
