Learning to drive involves mastering a range of skills, from basic vehicle control to complex manoeuvres and handling tricky road conditions. While some people find certain aspects of driving relatively easy, others may struggle with particular skills. So, what is the hardest driving skill to learn? The answer depends on the individual, but there are a few skills that many learners find especially challenging.
In this guide, we’ll explore the driving skills that are most commonly difficult to master and offer tips for improving them. Whether you’re learning to drive in Bristol or anywhere else, this advice will help you overcome the hardest aspects of driving and become a confident driver.
1. Clutch Control and Hill Starts
For learners driving manual cars, clutch control is often considered one of the hardest skills to master. It requires careful coordination between your feet to find the “biting point” of the clutch and apply the right amount of pressure on the accelerator. Poor clutch control can lead to stalling, especially in situations like hill starts or stop-start traffic.
Why It’s Hard:
Clutch control is tricky because it demands precise timing and coordination. When you’re on a hill, the added pressure of preventing the car from rolling backwards makes it even more challenging.
How to Improve:
- Practise Finding the Biting Point: Spend time with your instructor practising clutch control in a quiet area. Get used to finding the biting point without moving the car, then practise moving off smoothly.
- Master Hill Starts: Practise hill starts on slight inclines first, and gradually work your way up to steeper hills. Areas like Earlsdon or Allesley in Bristol provide good places to practise, as they have a mix of flat roads and hilly areas.
2. Parallel Parking
Parallel parking is another skill that many learners find difficult. It involves reversing your car into a parking space between two vehicles, which requires precise steering, control, and judgement of space.
Why It’s Hard:
Parallel parking can be stressful because it requires reversing into a tight space while maintaining control of the vehicle and being aware of your surroundings. Many learners struggle with judging distances and positioning the car correctly.
How to Improve:
- Break It Down into Steps: Ask your instructor to break parallel parking down into simple steps. Practise each step until you feel comfortable with the process.
- Use Reference Points: Use reference points, such as the position of the other cars or the kerb, to guide you as you reverse. With time and practice, it will become second nature.
- Find Quiet Areas to Practise: Practise parallel parking in quieter areas, such as residential streets in Finham or Coundon, before trying it in busier city centre locations.
3. Judging Speed and Distance
Many learners also find it hard to judge the speed and distance of other vehicles, especially when approaching junctions, roundabouts, or when overtaking on dual carriageways. Misjudging speed or distance can lead to hesitation or unsafe manoeuvres.
Why It’s Hard:
Judging speed and distance requires experience and awareness of your surroundings. You need to be able to assess whether there is enough time and space to safely make a manoeuvre, which can be daunting for new drivers.
How to Improve:
- Practise on Roundabouts and Junctions: Spend time with your instructor practising at busy junctions and roundabouts, such as those near London Road or Foleshill Road in Bristol. Your instructor can help you learn to judge gaps in traffic safely.
- Use Landmarks: Use stationary landmarks (such as lampposts) to judge the speed of approaching vehicles. As a vehicle passes the landmark, compare its speed to your own, and over time, this skill will become more natural.
4. Multi-Lane Roundabouts
Multi-lane roundabouts, especially those found in cities like Bristol, can be confusing for learners. They require you to position your car correctly, signal properly, and make lane changes while navigating around the roundabout.
Why It’s Hard:
The complexity of multi-lane roundabouts, with multiple exits and lane choices, can make them intimidating for learners. It’s easy to lose track of which lane to be in, especially if the roundabout is busy.
How to Improve:
- Familiarise Yourself with Local Roundabouts: Spend time driving through the roundabouts you’ll likely encounter on your driving test, such as the Bristol Ring Road or Holyhead Road
- Use Clear Signalling and Lane Discipline: Stay calm, use your mirrors, signal early, and make sure you’re in the correct lane for your exit. Practising with your instructor will help you build confidence.
5. Reversing Around a Corner
Reversing around a corner is another manoeuvre that many learners find challenging. It requires reversing the car while keeping it close to the kerb, which demands precise steering and spatial awareness.
Why It’s Hard:
Reversing in general can be tricky, but doing so around a corner makes it harder to judge the car’s position. The manoeuvre also requires good control of the vehicle at low speeds.
How to Improve:
- Practise with an Instructor: Ask your instructor to guide you through reversing around corners at quiet junctions. Practising in low-traffic areas like Tile Hill can help you build confidence without pressure.
- Use Mirrors and Reference Points: Use your mirrors and reference points to help guide your car, and practise reversing at a slow, controlled speed.
Final Thoughts
While some driving skills, like clutch control or parallel parking, may take longer to master than others, regular practice and patience will help you improve over time. If you’re struggling with a specific skill, work closely with your instructor and ask for extra practice in the areas where you need the most support.
At Driving Lessons Bristol, we understand that every learner has different strengths and challenges. Our experienced instructors will work with you to help you overcome the hardest driving skills and become a confident, capable driver.
