Feel confident
behind the wheel again.
Driving should give you freedom, not fill you with worry. Whether you've lost your confidence, avoid certain situations or simply want to feel more comfortable driving, we're here to help.With patient, supportive coaching, you can take things at your own pace and start enjoying driving again.
Does any of this sound familiar?
Losing confidence behind the wheel can happen to anyone. Sometimes it follows a difficult experience, while other times it develops gradually. You might have passed your test years ago but find that driving no longer feels comfortable.Whatever the reason, you're not alone.
You avoid certain journeys
You find yourself relying on others, taking longer routes or avoiding driving altogether because certain journeys feel overwhelming.
Some roads make you nervous
Motorways, roundabouts, dual carriageways, busy junctions or unfamiliar roads leave you feeling uncomfortable.
A previous experience has affected you
An accident, near miss or difficult experience has changed how you feel about getting behind the wheel.
You've not driven for a long time
Whether it's been months or years, the thought of returning to driving can feel daunting.
You constantly question yourself
You worry about making mistakes, holding up other road users or not knowing how to deal with unexpected situations.
Driving feels more stressful than enjoyable
Even familiar journeys can leave you feeling tense, worried or mentally exhausted.
What would you like to feel confident doing?
Confidence can mean different things to different people. You might want to tackle one particular situation or feel more comfortable with everyday driving. We'll focus on what matters most to you.
Motorway driving
Build confidence joining, driving on and leaving motorways, including managing speed, lane positioning and traffic.
Roundabouts and junctions
Develop a better understanding of approach, positioning, observation and decision-making at different types of junction.
Busy traffic and urban driving
Become more comfortable dealing with congestion, multiple road users, complex junctions and changing traffic conditions.
Parking and manoeuvres
Improve your confidence with parking, reversing, manoeuvring in tight spaces and dealing with unfamiliar car parks.
Night and adverse weather driving
Develop confidence driving in darkness, rain and other challenging weather conditions, with appropriate preparation and planning.
Unfamiliar routes and independent driving
Become more comfortable navigating unfamiliar places, planning journeys and making decisions without relying on someone else.
These are just examples. We won't expect you to tackle everything at once. Your coaching is built around your needs, your experiences and what you want to achieve.
A different approach to driving confidence.
Building confidence isn't about being pushed into situations that make you uncomfortable. It's about understanding what's holding you back, developing the skills you need and gradually building trust in your own ability.That's why every RoadSmart confidence session is shaped around the individual.
A little understanding. A clear plan. Progress at your pace.
Knowing what to expect can make taking that first step a little easier. Our approach is straightforward, supportive and centred around you.
We start by listening
We'll talk about your driving experiences, what you find difficult and what you'd like to feel more confident doing. There's no judgement and no expectation to prove anything.
We understand your needs
We'll look at your current driving experience, identify the situations you'd like to work on and agree some realistic goals together.
We work together
Through supportive coaching, we'll gradually work on your chosen situations, developing practical skills and confidence along the way.
We build your independence
As your confidence develops, we'll help you apply what you've learned to everyday journeys and make more decisions independently.
You don't have to arrive feeling confident. You don't even have to know where to begin. That's something we'll work out together.
Progress looks different for everyone.
Confidence isn't about suddenly being comfortable with every journey. It's about making progress at a pace that feels right for you, recognising what you can do and gradually building towards the things that feel more difficult.
Understanding what feels difficult
Identify the situations that cause worry, understand what's behind those feelings and begin to approach them with a clearer plan.
Feeling more comfortable
Practise specific skills and situations in a supportive environment, allowing time to become more familiar with things that currently feel challenging.
Making journeys independently
Develop your ability to plan, make decisions and deal with different situations, with the aim of becoming more comfortable driving independently.
You don't have to overcome everything in one day.
Sometimes progress starts with one junction, one parking manoeuvre or one journey you have been putting off. Every step forward matters.
Your journey to calmer driving.
Additional support to help you reflect, prepare and keep developing your confidence behind the wheel.
INCLUDED
Confidence doesn't have to stop when the lesson ends.
Building confidence can involve more than practising behind the wheel. Having time to reflect, prepare and understand your own responses to driving situations can also be valuable.
That's why the full-day Driving Confidence programme includes three months' access to the Confident Drivers Calming Kit. It gives you additional resources to support your confidence development alongside your practical coaching.
The Calming Kit is an additional learning resource. It complements practical coaching but does not replace individual support or guarantee a particular outcome.
Frequently asked questions.
It's completely understandable to have questions before arranging confidence coaching. Here are some of the things people often want to know.
Do I have to be a nervous driver to have confidence coaching?
Not at all. Confidence coaching is for anyone who would like to feel more comfortable, capable or relaxed behind the wheel.
You might avoid certain roads, feel uneasy about particular manoeuvres or simply want to improve your confidence in everyday driving.
Do I need to have passed my driving test?
RoadSmart Driving Confidence coaching is designed for qualified drivers who hold a full driving licence. If you're still learning to drive, our standard driving lessons may be more suitable.
Can I use my own car?
Yes. You can use your own car for confidence coaching, which can be particularly helpful if you want to become more comfortable driving the vehicle you use every day.
Alternatively, you can use the RoadSmart car. We'll discuss the most suitable option when you make your enquiry.
How many sessions will I need?
This depends entirely on you, your experience and what you would like to work towards.
Some drivers want help with one particular situation, while others prefer ongoing support as they gradually build confidence. We'll talk about your needs before recommending an approach.
There is no expectation to book a set number of sessions.
Where do confidence sessions take place?
Coaching is available across Newcastle upon Tyne and the surrounding areas covered by RoadSmart. We'll discuss the locations and types of journeys that are most relevant to your goals.
What happens during the full-day Driving Confidence programme?
The programme is a single, complete six-hour day of personalised coaching. We'll start by discussing your concerns and agreeing what you'd like to work towards.
The day is then planned around your needs, with practical driving, lunch and regular breaks. It is not six hours that can be divided between separate days or sessions.
Can I use an automatic car?
Yes. You can use your own automatic car. If you don't have access to an automatic car and would like to use the RoadSmart automatic car for the full-day programme, an additional £200 charge applies.
Please mention this when making your enquiry so we can discuss the arrangements.
Is the Confident Drivers Calming Kit included?
Yes. Three months' access to the Confident Drivers Calming Kit is included with the full-day Driving Confidence programme.
It provides additional resources to complement your practical coaching and support your confidence development between sessions.
What if I'm embarrassed about my lack of confidence?
You don't need to feel embarrassed. Everyone has different experiences and confidence levels. There is no judgement and no pressure to do anything before you're ready.
The first step is simply having a conversation about what you'd like help with.
Still have a question?
If there's something you'd like to discuss before booking, get in touch. We'll be happy to talk through your situation.
Ask us a question"I started my lessons with Les after losing my confidence in driving and having failed a test a couple of years prior with another instructor. Before I started with Les I didn't have any faith in my ability to drive, I didn't enjoy driving, and I was even questioning whether or not my brain was even equipped for it!"
"From the first moment I sat in the car, Les had complete faith in my mind and my ability to drive, his focus on the mental aspects of driving and his understanding of the anxieties and stress that come with learning to drive put me at ease and made me start to gain confidence again."
"Les was always calm and patient throughout my entire time with him. ... Six months later and I am now a fully fledged legal driver, and I love driving, it feels like second nature now."
You deserve to feel more comfortable behind the wheel.
Whether there's one particular journey you've been avoiding or you simply want to feel more at ease when driving, let's talk about how we can help.There's no pressure to book and no need to have everything figured out before you get in touch.
RoadSmart Driver Coaching & Development
Developing Thinking Drivers