One day they are in nappies, the next they have got their L-plates. The time goes quickly, when you have kids doesn’t it?
Well, the act of learning to drive can be a bit intimidating for a teenager, so it is a good idea to give them all the support they need.
But what are the best tactics to adopt when your teenager is learning to drive?
Outlined below are five ways you can assist them.
If you embrace any, or all, of these strategies, you’ll go a long way towards helping them to pass their test.
-
Find them a good driving instructor
The best way to help your teen is to find them a good driving instructor. There are several ways you can do this, including through word of mouth and reading Google reviews.
However, perhaps the best is to compare driving instructors on EZLicence. On this platform, you can choose from thousands of qualified instructors who have been police checked and are the best driving instructor for your needs.
You can also read reviews about each instructor from their past students and book lessons with any of them within five minutes.
-
Educate them on the Australian road rules
Before they can have their first lesson, your teen will need to pass a written examination of the Australian road rules. If they are successful, they will then be able to apply for their learner’s permit.
In order to pass, the child will need to show a good understanding and awareness of aspects like indicating prior to turning, right of way and speed limits.
Encouraging them to learn the Australian road rules is a good start. However, you should also test them on various road signs randomly when they are driving in the car with you.
-
Add your teen onto your car insurance
After they have had their first couple of lessons with a driving instructor, it is a good idea to allow your teen to practice driving in your vehicle. However, if you are going to do this, you will need to add them to your car insurance policy.
Legally, your teenager will not be able to drive your vehicle if your insurance policy does not cover them to do so. Moreover, if your teen was caught behind the wheel of your car, even if you are present with them, you could be issued with a fine or even a conviction for knowingly allowing them to do so.
Another reason why you should insure them is that you will be covered should they have an accident. Invariably, your premium will increase if you add them to it as a learner driver – especially if you drive a vehicle like the GWM Haval 6.
Subsequently, you might want to get a few quotes from various insurance companies.
-
Get your teen to familiarise themselves with your car
You probably would have driven them in your car thousands of times. But if they are a typical teenager there is a good chance they would not have been paying attention!
Therefore, before you allow them to drive it, you should make sure they are fully familiarised with its various functions and features.
This should include everything from positioning the driver’s seat and mirrors to their liking to understanding which pedals perform what functions.
It is also worth making sure they are aware of where your indicators are, and which direction to flick them, as well as how to turn the ignition on, engage the handbrake and put on the hazard lights.
At the end of the day, the more familiar they are with the car, the easier they will find it to drive.
-
Start them in a deserted space
When you deem your teen ready to practice driving in your car, it is a good idea to start them off in a deserted space, such as the top level of a shopping centre car park – particularly early in the morning before it opens.
Initially you can get them to circle the car park, but once they get more confident, they can go down and up the ramps to other levels and also practice manoeuvres like accelerating, braking and reversing.
During this time, it is very important to remain calm and try not to raise your voice or panic should they make a mistake. Doing this could shatter their confidence and make them more nervous.
-
Venture onto the main road
If you can, try to take your teen out for practice sessions a couple of times a week, as this will help to keep them in the groove.
Once you feel they are more capable behind the wheel, you can take them to an industrial business area to further brush up their skills – on a weekend, these areas are like ghost towns.
You will need to put the L-plates on your car, before they take the wheel and again you should remain calm, supportive and relaxed. Make sure you also praise them when they do something good – although try not to be too lavish with your compliments, so as to seem fake or condescending.
As they get more accomplished behind the wheel, and they demonstrate a consistent performance you should allow them to drive on main roads. Doing this will improve their overall reading of the road, which will hold them in good stead when it comes to taking their test.
