Driving Instructor Strategies For Beginner Drivers
If you’re an older driver who has their full licence under the NSW graduated licensing scheme, you can be a supervising driver to a younger learner driver, such as a child or another younger friend or relative.
But how can you help learner drivers pass the test, and learn the safe driving skills they need to develop good driving habits? In this blog, we’ll discuss some strategies from driving instructors that you can use during driver training. Follow these tips to help your learner driver build their driving skills as they fill out their logbook.
1. Start Slow – Very Slow!
Your learner driver should start driving in an empty car park, and they should stay there until they can operate all of the different parts of the vehicle (indicators, lights, windshield wipers, etc.), and understand the basics of accelerating, braking, and parking.
Then, progress slowly to rural roads or light industrial areas on the weekend. Learners need to be introduced gradually to driving concepts – taking them into the middle of a central business district after they have 10 hours of driving experience is sure to result in a disaster!
2. Stay Calm And Be Positive
Yes, it may be hard to do this if you feel nervous when a learner is behind the wheel. But your attitude rubs off on the learner. If you’re calm and positive, they will feel the same way, and will be less prone to errors, and will have a more enjoyable experience.
3. Ask Questions
Asking questions about what your learner driver is seeing is a good way to gauge their ability to drive and react to road situations. Always remember that things that seem obvious to a fully licenced driver may not be clear to a new driver.
4. Correct Mistakes Gently
Be constructive and talk about how your learner driver could have done things differently – and how to avoid these mistakes in the future. Always be positive instead of negative and critical, and your learner driver will be more likely to respond to your feedback.
5. Be Clear And Specific When Giving Instructions
Don’t just say “turn here,” when you’re 20 metres from a turn – be proactive and say “you’ll need to turn left in about 200 metres, at this next light.” The more precise and specific you are with your instructions, the more easily your learner can respond to them properly.
Driving Instructors Are The Best Choice For People Who Are Learning To Drive!
Drivers with a learner permit need to learn the basics of driving to be a safe, competent road user. And while supervised instruction as they fill out their logbook is helpful, driving lessons are an even better choice for those who are learning to drive.
Professional lessons from a driving school like LTrent Driving School will help learners become familiar with road rules, identify areas of weakness, and learn about defensive driving techniques that will help them operate motor vehicles more safely – and pass their driving test with ease.
If you know a learner driver who could benefit from professional lessons or the Safer Drivers Course, contact LTrent Driving School online or call us at (02) 8748 4500 to schedule lessons with an experienced driving instructor today.