Nervous Driver – 10-Day Lesson Plan

Day 1: Introduction & Building Comfort

• Objective: Reduce first-day anxiety and build familiarity with the car.

• Activities:

  • Meet & greet, discuss driving fears and goals.

  • Seating adjustment, mirror setting, dashboard overview.

  • Engine start/stop practice, smooth use of pedals.

  • Steering wheel control at very low speed in a parking lot.

  • Breathing and grounding exercises.

• Duration: 1.5–2 hours

• Outcome: Student feels safe and in control of the vehicle at rest and during basic movement.

Day 2: Low-Speed Control & Parking Lot Practice

• Objective: Improve car handling and confidence with basic controls.

• Activities:

  • Driving in straight lines, smooth acceleration & braking.

  • Simple turns, figure-8 practice in parking lot.

  • Introduction to mirror checks.

  • Stopping smoothly at specific markers.

• Duration: 1.5 hours

• Outcome: Better coordination with pedals and steering, improved confidence with low-speed maneuvering.

Day 3: Residential Area Driving

• Objective: Introduce real road experience with low pressure.

• Activities:

  • Driving on quiet streets.

  • Practice stop signs, right-of-way rules.

  • Spotting pedestrians, cyclists, parked cars.

  • Review calm self-talk while driving.

• Duration: 1.5–2 hours

• Outcome: Student handles low-traffic areas with instructor support.

Day 4: Lane Discipline & Traffic Awareness

• Objective: Improve road awareness and safe positioning.

• Activities:

  • Correct lane positioning and centering.

  • Safe following distance (2–3 second rule).

  • Frequent mirror checks and shoulder checks.

  • Practice anticipating other drivers’ actions.

• Duration: 2 hours

• Outcome: More confident handling mild traffic and maintaining safe distance.

Day 5: Light Traffic Driving

• Objective: Transition to busier roads safely.

• Activities:

  • Turning at traffic lights.

  • Handling multi-lane roads (with guidance).

  • Smooth lane changing practice.

  • Dealing with mild pressure from following traffic.

• Duration: 2 hours

• Outcome: Student navigates small city roads with instructor guidance.

Day 6: Parking Mastery

• Objective: Reduce stress around parking situations.

• Activities:

  • Parallel parking (step-by-step breakdown).

  • Reverse parking into bays.

  • 3-point turns and U-turns.

  • Controlling nerves when other cars are around.

• Duration: 2 hours

• Outcome: Increased parking confidence and control in tight spaces.

Day 7: Highway Preparation & Introduction

• Objective: Prepare nervous drivers for higher speeds and merging.

• Activities:

  • Acceleration lane practice on quiet roads.

  • Controlled merging with instructor guidance.

  • Lane discipline on faster roads.

  • Exiting highway safely.

• Duration: 2 hours

• Outcome: Student experiences highway driving in a safe, supportive environment.

Day 8: Moderate Traffic & City Driving

• Objective: Handle busier conditions calmly.

• Activities:

  • Driving on main roads with steady traffic.

  • Practicing lane changes under traffic flow.

  • Managing stop-and-go traffic.

  • Using defensive driving techniques.

• Duration: 2 hours

• Outcome: Improved comfort in moderate traffic, developing calm focus.

Day 9: Complex Driving Scenarios

• Objective: Build confidence with challenging road situations.

• Activities:

  • Roundabouts, 4-way stops, and left turns at busy intersections.

  • Practice handling aggressive or impatient drivers calmly.

  • Distraction management (radio, pedestrians, cyclists).

• Duration: 2 hours

• Outcome: Student shows ability to adapt to challenging scenarios with guidance.

Day 10: Mock Test & Confidence Coaching

• Objective: Simulate a real driving test and prepare for independent driving.

• Activities:

  • Full mock driving session covering parking, residential, main roads, and highway.

  • Feedback and discussion on strengths/areas for improvement.

  • Strategies for reducing stress on test day (breathing, positive mindset).

• Duration: 2–2.5 hours

• Outcome: Student demonstrates readiness for solo driving or road test.

Extra Support Elements (All 10 Days):

• 5 minutes relaxation exercise before each lesson.

• Reflection journal: after every lesson, student writes 2 wins + 1 improvement.

• Encouragement to practice short drives independently (if possible) between lessons..