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Original poster

Getting over driving mistakes

17 replies

Riotousassembly · 27/02/2024 14:57

I’m a relatively new driver and still feel anxious driving on unfamiliar routes (anxious person generally). I made a stupid mistake at a roundabout today when changing lanes, no harm done but the driver behind was rightly very cross with me - entirely my fault and I will learn from it 😞I know I am going to dwell on this for days, I can’t help beating myself up for being so stupid. Does anyone have any tips on how to move on from making driving mistakes?

OP posts:
BritishDesiGirl · 27/02/2024 15:00

I'm the same OP l let my driving mistakes eat away at me. Every mistake l see as a chance to learn and try and improve. The MOST important thing is too not stop driving as this just makes you more anxious when you do get back on the road

Mischance · 27/02/2024 15:00

Changing lanes on roundabouts is hard, particularly at the bigger multi-lane onex. I don't think anyone finds them a piece of cake.

WeirdPookah · 27/02/2024 15:01

I think time is all that will help that feeling.

Something I find useful as a driver, is using Google maps to look over the new route first, identify places to note to find the way, or look at unusual lanes or junctions etc

It's really helpful. Perhaps looking at where you made the mistake will help you understand what happened and how to avoid it in future.

Original poster
Riotousassembly · 27/02/2024 15:04

Thanks all, yes I guess the positive is I will definitely learn from it- it feels like it is burned into my brain at the moment! I wish I could stop dwelling on every little thing, it’s exhausting.

OP posts:
Original poster
Riotousassembly · 27/02/2024 15:06

WeirdPookah · 27/02/2024 15:01

I think time is all that will help that feeling.

Something I find useful as a driver, is using Google maps to look over the new route first, identify places to note to find the way, or look at unusual lanes or junctions etc

It's really helpful. Perhaps looking at where you made the mistake will help you understand what happened and how to avoid it in future.

Good advice, thanks. Thank goodness for google maps and sat nav

OP posts:
Teasie123 · 27/02/2024 15:07

@Riotousassembly , I only learnt to drive when I was 40. It tooke at least 40 lessons and a lot of patience! The only thing that helped me was time. Believe me, I actually drew out places I had drove and why I'd done the wrong thing. Lol, it'll just take time
🤗🤗

BigJeanette · 27/02/2024 15:28

Aaah OP, we all make mistakes whether we've been driving 4 weeks or 40 years!
Life is one big learning curve, as long as you take something away from this, see it as a positive.

TheYoungestSibling · 27/02/2024 15:31

Im not sure you need advice on getting over driving mistakes. But it sounds like you need some help with a pattern of overthinking that will control you unless you control it.

FaceMaker · 27/02/2024 15:41

Mischance · 27/02/2024 15:00

Changing lanes on roundabouts is hard, particularly at the bigger multi-lane onex. I don't think anyone finds them a piece of cake.

The only people who find them a piece of cake are usually men, and usually driving either a performance vehicle or a van -and the reason that they find them a piece of cake is because they don't give a toss about anybody else.

Original poster
Riotousassembly · 27/02/2024 15:51

TheYoungestSibling · 27/02/2024 15:31

Im not sure you need advice on getting over driving mistakes. But it sounds like you need some help with a pattern of overthinking that will control you unless you control it.

There is some truth in this! I find driving is a particular issue as there are so many potential horrible consequences of making a mistake. It’s hard not to dwell on the worst case scenario.

OP posts:
Hereyoume · 27/02/2024 16:34

OP, go out a buy a good quality dash-cam.

Not only is it good for insurance situations, but, more importantly, it will allow you to literally replay any mistakes you make so that you can see exactly where you went wrong and understand your error, if you did make any.

Sometimes it's the other driver that is at fault, but you might blame yourself, a dash-cam would let you see who was really in the wrong.

It's also anxiety saving for those

"Shit, I can't remember if I just drove through that red light",

or the classic

"Fuck, how fast was I going before I noticed that speed van"

Get a dash-cam.

Loopytiles · 27/02/2024 16:58

keep driving!

Loopytiles · 27/02/2024 16:58

This helped me as a newer driver and still does.

Original poster
Riotousassembly · 27/02/2024 18:05

Thanks all- it is good to hear some encouraging words! I will just need to get back out there and not let it put me off.

OP posts:
JustFrustrated · 27/02/2024 18:09

FaceMaker · 27/02/2024 15:41

The only people who find them a piece of cake are usually men, and usually driving either a performance vehicle or a van -and the reason that they find them a piece of cake is because they don't give a toss about anybody else.

Show quote history

Let's not give out false reassurance now.

IfYouDontAsk · 27/02/2024 18:23

The other driver was probably frightened as well as feeling cross. I don’t say that you make you feel bad, I mean that their reaction was probably more “ah you scared me!” than feeling really mad at you. Because we all make mistakes when driving. And more often than not it’s a case of thinking thank goodness the mistake didn’t cause an accident and you’ll try extra hard not to make the same mistake again.

I get most annoyed at drivers who make mistakes because they’re on their phone/speeding/doing something else wilfully dangerous. Not someone who’s messed up a lane change. Don’t fret. Everyone came out of it alive and well 🙂

FabFebHalfTerm · 27/02/2024 18:29

@Riotousassembly

people make mistakes, lots of people do things incorrectly when driving & just don't care.

if you'll learn from it, you're doing 100% better than most!!

roundabouts are an absolute nightmare.

one thing that I've learnt over the million years I've been driving is to go with the safest option/the road if you find yourself in the wrong lane or with someone being obnoxious (or whatever) it doesn't matter if it's not the way you intended to go, just be SAFE. You can always turn around or take a different route, you can't undo an accident.

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