Navigating younger drivers: parents guide
A lot of new drivers may not feel comfortable with asking you to take them out for a drive. Some learner drivers are driving only because you want them to have their licence, others have never had the freedom to get into a car and go to where they need to go. Sometimes the learner driver needs a place to drive to. In giving them a place to drive, it validates what they are doing as important and will continue to increase their confidence and ability.
No one learns effectively when they don't want to be there. Supervisory Drivers, especially ones that are doing it for the first time don't hide being anxious very well. The learner driver will pick this up pretty quickly, are respond accordingly. Try to respond calmly to actions and instead of being reactive, try being proactive. As something is occurring around the learner driver, make them aware of it and ask them how they would or should get out of it. If they are unsure ask them how you would get out of the same situation. If the learner driver has seen it before they might be able to find a solution. If you need their focus to be on a sign, before you pass it, draw their attention and ask them to explain what it means to them. Even an "I don't know" will at the very least give you a talking point and something to work on. At least if the learner knows you will work with them as the co-pilot, things should get easier. If things are still worrying, change the situation until both you and the driver can manage the situation. If there are still concerns enlist the services of a driving instructor.
While working through the required 75 hours including 15 hours of night driving is good for a supervisory driver sometimes there needs to be some outside perspective. Driving instruction should be laced through the required time as a way of keeping the learner driver on track with the ultimate goal, gaining their provisional licence through safe driving and executing well thought out plans. Many supervisory drivers are unaware of changes in laws or even if they are doing things the way they need to be carried out in a test or training. To put things into perspective the Vehicle on Road Test requires minimum a pass mark of 90%. Teaching someone for 75 hours is a lot of time, especially, if something has been taught incorrectly.
A driving instructor will help to track the driver’s progress. ASM Driver Intuition will always sign student’s log book, when provided, at the end of every lesson, and guide a student through how much training they need. Supervisory drivers will always be able to tangibly track how a student is faring as they learn to drive and can discuss with an instructor how to progress to meet the driver’s goals.