7 professional tips for new drivers by CMSC Driving School

Here Are 7 Main Tips for New Drivers from Professionals

1. Familiarize Yourself with Your Car

If you have purchased a new or used car after passing the road test, it might be a little different to drive. The buttons and dashboard indicators may be in different places. The speed may not be as obvious. Car controls like gear change, clutch, headlights, hazards, brakes and parking brake may differ too. CMSC Driving School offers additional practice sessions with different car models. This helps you get comfortable with any new vehicle features and controls including ADAS or Advanced Driver Assistance Systems like adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking and lane departure warning.

Here are a few vehicle adjustment tips for new drivers to remember.

Vehicle Adjustment

• Adjust your seat for visibility, comfort and alertness
• Set side and rearview mirrors for optimal rear views
• Position the headrest to prevent neck injuries

Hand Positioning

• Keep hands at 9 and 3 on the steering wheel
• Avoid the outdated 10-and-2 position due to airbag risks
• Ensure a clear view of all your dashboard lights and indicators

Understanding Your Blindspot

Take time to familiarize yourself with the vehicle. Learn how to use its features and controls by sitting in it while it’s parked. Make sure you understand its blindspots. Ask a friend to stand 10 feet behind the car to the left and right and take steps toward and away from the car. When your friend is out of view in your side mirrors, that is your blindspot. It could be a truck or a kid on a bike. You need to quickly turn your head before leaving a parking spot or merging onto a highway. After that, you can drive around town for a little while to get a feel for how the car handles.

2. Take It Slow and Steady

The most important tip as a new driver is to take it slow and steady. Drive at the speed you feel comfortable at within the law. Remember that speed limitations are just that, not a target. Driving 5 miles beneath the speed limit gives you enough time to react to a car cutting you off or a ball rolling into the street.

CMSC Driving School teaches new drivers defensive driving techniques and situational awareness. This builds confidence at their own pace. Road rage is a choice. You always have a choice not to engage with an aggressive driver. If another driver is really aggressive and following you, you can always drive to a fire or police station.

Understanding the Right of Way

• Know when you have the right of way and when others have it, such as oncoming traffic when taking an unprotected left
• Expect others to stop but be calmly aware and ready if they don’t
• Don’t feel rushed
• Be aware of your surroundings, painted lane markings, traffic lights and signs

Navigating Different Scenarios

• Always stop when a pedestrian enters the street. Think of them as walking stop signs
• Go slower on crowded streets or in tight spaces
• Reduce your speed when it’s raining, sleeting or snowing
• Follow speed limits and the rules of the road
• Observe other drivers without feeling nervous
• Trust your training and ability to react if necessary
• Take CMSC Driving School’s SKIDZ advanced driver training to learn how to safely navigate a skid while avoiding pedestrians and obstacles

Making Safe Decisions

• Always wait for safe opportunities to turn left, or enter traffic to the right
• It might feel like a long time but it’s only a minute or two, so be patient
• Never feel bad about making others wait for safety
• Everyone was a new driver once; learning takes time and lots of experiences

Choosing the Right Lane

• On the highway, the right lane is for slower pace or entering and exiting on or off ramps. The middle lane is the travel lane. The left lane is for passing
• Don’t feel discouraged by faster drivers. Let them go on their dangerous way
• If someone is tailgating you, safely merge into the right lane and let them pass
• Remember, speed kills. Always maintain a safe driving speed that gives you time to react

Do not feel pressure to go faster from your passengers or other drivers on the road. For your sake and theirs, you always have the right to protect yourself by not speeding. Let those drivers pass and go on their way.

3. Don’t Be Overconfident

It’s very important not to be overconfident. After passing your test, you might feel like the greatest driver in the world. However, overconfidence can lead to speeding, bad driving, taking unnecessary risks and lack of awareness.

Stay Safe, Calm and Aware

• Follow the traffic rules and be ready to anticipate other people’s bad driving
• Be alert to pedestrians stepping into the road at an intersection
• Don’t speed from one stoplight to the next
• Be calm and confident in your safe driving practices

Even after getting your driving license, there are lots of things to learn. Different weather, different kinds of traffic and car controls all take experience. Drive sensibly and never feel rushed or take unnecessary risks. For more tips on building driving confidence, check out our blog on how CMSC Driving School helps teens take the fear out of driving.

4. Junior Operator License (JOL) Rules in Massachusetts

In Massachusetts, the Junior Operator License comes with several restrictions. These restrictions promote safe driving habits among new, young drivers.

Key JOL Restrictions to Know

• Passenger Restriction: For the first six months after obtaining the JOL, a junior operator cannot have any passengers under 18 in the vehicle, except immediate family members, unless a licensed driver at least 21 years old sits with them
• Night Driving Restriction: A junior operator cannot drive between 12:30 a.m. and 5:00 a.m. unless accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. This restriction applies regardless of the reason for driving
• Cell Phone Use: Junior operators cannot use any mobile device, including hands-free devices, while driving. This includes making calls, texting, or using any mobile applications
• Seat Belt Requirement: All occupants in a vehicle driven by a junior operator must wear seat belts at all times
• Suspension for Violations: Speeding, driving negligently or recklessly, or violating passenger or night driving restrictions can result in license suspension

Why JOL Rules Matter

These restrictions are designed to help new drivers gain experience. They reduce the likelihood of accidents during the initial period of licensure. CMSC Driving School advises all new drivers to follow the JOL law closely. Doing so keeps you safe, reduces distraction, and allows you to build driving confidence over time. Learn more about CMSC’s teen driver’s education program and how it prepares students for all JOL requirements.

5. Avoid Distraction

While reducing passengers to a minimum can help prevent distractions, it’s important to take extra precautions. Keep your attention on the road at all times. Reduce the volume of your music. Turn off and remove anything in the car that is preoccupying you or reducing visibility. Remove or relocate anything that may block your line of sight. This includes EZ toll passes, cameras, air fresheners or car stickers.

6. Parking Techniques

CMSC Driving School offers specialized parking classes. These teach step-by-step parking techniques for beginner drivers. The classes cover both backing into and parallel parking.

Backing Into a Parking Space

While backing into a parking space, turn on your directional signal and look for oncoming vehicles. Put your right arm over the back of the front passenger seat and look out the rear window. Always look in the direction the car is moving. You can use your rearview mirror and camera assist. However, it’s safer to look out the rear window the majority of the time.

When everything is clear, put your car in reverse, turn the steering wheel, and slowly back up. Then straighten the wheel to align your rear wheels. Keep checking your side mirrors to avoid hitting any other vehicle next to you. Once you are lined up, straighten the wheel and back up until the front of your car is in line with other cars.

Parallel Parking Step by Step

The next parking technique is parallel parking, which is tricky but gets easier with practice.

The best way to learn parallel parking is to practice driving in reverse. This is done in a safe, open space or on a secure driving track. In parallel parking, make sure the spot you want to park is big enough. It should be 1.5 times the car’s length.

Here are the three steps to follow:

1. Position Your Car: Align your car parallel to the car in front of the parking space, leaving about 2-3 feet between the two cars. Ensure your rear bumpers are roughly aligned.
2. Reverse and Turn: Begin reversing slowly while turning the steering wheel sharply toward the curb. Continue until your car is at a 45-degree angle to the curb and the front of your car is clear of the car in front.
3. Straighten and Align: Straighten the steering wheel and continue reversing slowly until your car is fully in the space. Then turn the steering wheel away from the curb to straighten the car and center it within the space.

For more detailed guidance and hands-on practice, join CMSC’s Parallel Parking Bootcamp to master the parallel parking technique with a pass guarantee.

7. Know How to Drive in Massachusetts Weather and Road Conditions

Massachusetts presents new drivers with road conditions that drivers in most other states never encounter. Understanding these conditions before you meet them on the road is one of the most important tips for new drivers that generic driving guides consistently skip.

Winter Driving in Massachusetts

Massachusetts winters produce black ice, snow-covered roads, limited visibility, and road surfaces that respond to braking differently than dry pavement. New drivers who have only practiced in warm months often experience their first real loss of vehicle control in winter conditions. CMSC’s SKIDZ advanced driver training program specifically teaches skid recovery and emergency vehicle control on a closed course. That training is directly applicable to black ice and wet-surface situations on Massachusetts roads.

For winter driving, reduce your speed below the posted limit on snow or ice. Increase your following distance to at least double the standard safe distance. Brake earlier and more gently than you would on dry pavement. Give yourself extra time for every journey so you never feel rushed by weather conditions.

Rotary Navigation in Massachusetts

Massachusetts has one of the highest concentrations of rotaries in the United States. The rule is clear: yield to vehicles already circulating in the rotary before entering. Do not stop inside the rotary unless traffic forces you to. Activate your exit signal before leaving the rotary. This communicates your intention to other drivers.

Thickly Settled Areas and Speed Limits

Massachusetts law sets a default speed limit of 30 mph in thickly settled areas even when no speed limit sign is posted. Many residential streets across Worcester County fall under this rule. New drivers who assume that no sign means no limit are wrong under Massachusetts law. When a street looks residential and has no posted speed limit, treat it as 30 mph maximum.

Road Test Preparation for Massachusetts Conditions

The Massachusetts road test evaluates driving on real local roads, including rotaries, thickly settled areas, and conditions specific to each test location. CMSC’s road test preparation and sponsorship service includes a warmup lesson on the morning of the exam. This covers the specific roads and conditions the examiner will use. This preparation is particularly valuable for new drivers who have not yet driven the area near their test location.

Final Thoughts

Driving safely means always being aware of your surroundings, knowing your vehicle, preserving the safety zone around it, and following all traffic rules. CMSC Driving School has helped over 100,000 new drivers feel more prepared and confident by offering comprehensive lessons on driving safety and techniques.

With these tips and guidance, you will be better prepared for driving. Respect the rules of the road and never drive too fast. Be a safe driver by observing all road markings and signs. For those looking to become the safest licensed driver possible, enroll in CMSC’s award-winning teen driver’s education program. If you want to take your driving skills to the next level, sign up for the state-certified SKIDZ advanced driver training program, which is included free with full driver’s education tuition.