Dear Experiences Drivers

Dear Experienced Drivers from a Newly Passed Learner,

Before getting on the road, I had no idea of what to expect from you. Would you be understanding? Considerate? Impatient? Intimidating? I quickly discovered that the answer was all of the above.

I started driving when I was 17 years old and was terrified. The idea of being in control of a vehicle is scary. I did not need you honking at me to get a move on just because you have been driving for forty years and can pull out of a junction with a two second gap between you and the next car. You don't know whether this is our first lesson or our fiftieth. Either way, we are going to be much more cautious than you might be. You honking at us will not make us pull out any quicker, but instead stress us out and perhaps cause us to make mistakes such as stalling or wheel spinning which will in fact mean we take longer to get out of the junction than if you'd just had an inch of patience.

The speed limit is a big thing when you're learning to drive. My driving instructor used to put a huge emphasis on the words 'only if it's safe to' when regarding the speed limit. 'Drive at the speed limit, only if it's safe to.' 'Pick your speed up, if it's safe to.' You overtaking me when I'm driving at the speed limit does not help me, Karen. You are being totally irresponsible and dangerous by overtaking me at 80mph on a 60mph road. I don't want to die just because you want to get home for your Friday fish and chips. I would understand you overtaking me if I was driving at 30mph on a 60mph road, but I'm not. Please be a bit more considerate and safe, if not for yourself then for everyone else on the road. Also, only overtake when it's safe. Emphasis again on 'when it's safe.' Don't overtake me in between two bollards or on a bend - I nearly crashed, thanks to you. 

Driving when it's getting dark is hard enough as it is. It's more difficult to see, my depth perception is completely screwed and I'm relying on headlights and street lamps to light the way. I hated driving in the dark. It made learning hard, because I had other obstacles to compete with than just controlling a car. One of those was inconsiderate experienced drivers like you leaving your headlights on full beam as you drive towards me. It is general courtesy, experienced driver or not, to dip your headlights as you drive towards another driver. But you, no, you just happily blinded me with your lights as you drove past without a care in the world. Being blinded and being unable to see for even two seconds when you're driving is terrifying and dangerous. So for crying out loud, just dip your headlights driving towards anyone but especially a learner driver - it makes the world of difference to us.

Another really irritating thing that you did when I was learning and still do now I've passed is tailgating. I noticed an increasing number of people would be so close that if I slammed my brakes on, you would slam right into the back of me within seconds, causing a massive pile up of people having to force their brakes behind you. I hated and still hate people tailgating me because there is no need. You're not going to get where you're going any quicker and you're not going to encourage me to go any quicker either. In fact, I'll probably slow down to force you to drop back - it's more self sabotage rather than gratification. You aren't helping anybody in the end, not yourself and especially not me. Just have an ounce of patience and respect. You wouldn't get all up in my face if we passed on the street so why do you decide an appropriate time to get all up in my grill is when you're driving? It's not and if you could get that in your head, the road would be a much safer place and a lot less cars would be written off.

I know this letter to you has been very negative, but I do want to stress that not all of you experienced drivers are bad. Thank you to the good drivers, the kind drivers, the patient drivers. Thank you to the ones who would stop to let me pull out of a junction while the other drivers were honking behind me. Also, thank you to those who would move over on the A1 so that I could get on without having to stop on the slip road (which isn't fun, by the way.) Thank you to the people who left plenty of room behind me to keep us both safe in the case of an emergency stop. Thank you to those who are patient and forgiving, when I make mistakes or take that bit of extra caution on a road that everyone else would speed down. It means a lot to know that not all drivers are bad words. 

Finally, next time you're on the road and you see a car with an L plate or a P plate on the back, think back to when you were a learner and how you felt. We were all learners once and it's important to treat other learners how you would have wanted to be treated.

• Kenzie x