Giving your children driving lessons
- Your driving instruction is highly valuable, and is even better when taught in combination with a professional driving instructor. The best way to think of it is this: a driving instructor is a professionally trained teacher whose main job is to teach safe driving methods to your child. Your role is to provide as many practice hours as possible, while reinforcing the lessons they have received from the driving instructor. Your child needs a wide range of skills if they are going to pass their test, and they have a good chance of doing just that if they also take at least 5-10 professional lessons.
- Start out on small, quiet streets rather than busy roads. Give them time to get used to all of the functions of the car, as well as get adequate control over steering, accelerating and braking.
- Get up to speed with what is required on the test, as it's probably a lot different than when you passed it yourself. Knowing what the testing officers will be looking for will help you effectively prepare your child better.
- Try to reduce distractions as much as possible. This includes the use of the stereo and mobile phones. Always pay attention to what they are doing and never allow yourself to be distracted either.
- Avoid drinking when giving driving lessons. It's required by law that anyone instructing a Learner driver have a safe, legal blood alcohol level, and does not use any other drugs. If you are on prescription medication, make sure it does not interfere with your driving skills too.
- Make sure your child complies with all of the traffic lights, signs and road markings. You might also need to drill into them the ‘3-second' rule for gaps between vehicles, which is the minimum, and will be scrutinised by their testing officer.
- Make sure they learn a safe and effective system for checking blind spots, mirrors and the road ahead before merging or turning.
- Make sure they never speed.
- Remember that your behaviour is their prime example, whether you're in the instructor's seat or the driver's. Remain calm and courteous at all times, follow the road rules and, chances are, your child will too.
- Your child's logbook is a good guide, so try to use it as a way of ensuring they get all the training they will need.
- Remember to praise good driving and not to be overly critical.
- If teaching a learner driver for the first time, remember to try to stay calm. They are nervous and inexperienced, and adding to their stress levels will only increase yours!
- If you do have an altercation with your learner driver, or they are too stressed, reschedule the lesson for another time.