Teaching your teenager to drive? - page 2

04 June 2008

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2. Practice what they preach – the parent’s biggest contribution to the learner driver’s safety and effectiveness behind the wheel will be setting a good example. It is worth the parent tutor to read an updated version of the Highway Code and work together on the theory exam.

3. Plan sessions – decide where to go and what you are going to do before setting out. Take some care in selecting a suitable area and driving route. A large deserted car park is ideal for the initial sessions because it allows the beginner to concentrate fully on the feel of the controls and response of the car.

4. Always find the quietest roads – until the young driver has developed confidence, especially around traffic while with the professional instructor. The parent tutor should provide good feedback while the driver practices these procedures.

5. Try to avoid carrying passengers – this can distract the learner driver

6. Stay alert – Anticipate problems and always be ready to react. The young driver is not ready for all the challenges of the road so the tutor must be fully aware of these at all times. The learner may be concentrating on controls and may not notice the impending hazard.

7. Don’t get excited – this can cause both you and the young driver to panic. Shouting instruction is not effective where calm communication is better understood.

8. Discuss mistakes but at a safe stop – Be sparing with comments, don’t overload the learner driver with information, but identify the problems while still fresh in the memory. Confidence needs to be built first.

9. Always work with the professional tutor – find out how the learner is being taught and what techniques are being used to avoid clashing. Additional tuition should support the young driver in learning how to drive to be safe, secure, and confident on the roads once the test has been passed

10. Make learning an enjoyable time for both of you so the learner looks forward to the driving experience – not dreading it.

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