Tips for Instructing a Learner Driver

Do you have what it Takes?

It can be almost as nerve-wracking teaching someone to drive as it is learning to drive yourself.  To help both you and your learner driver we have listed what the legal requirements are, as well as some tips for making the experience as smooth as possible.

The essentials you need as a supervisor:

·                  A current full Australian driver licence 

·                  A good understanding of the road rules

·                  Be a competent driver

·                  Can effectively communicate information and ideas clearly

·                  Have a blood alcohol content (BAC) of under 0.05

·                  Learner Driver Log Book – use this to record the student’s progress

Prepare yourself before you begin instruction

-       Read the latest edition of the Road Users Handbook and remind yourself of the rules of the road. Remember, things may have changed a lot since you learned to drive! http://www.transport.tas.gov.au/licensing/publications/tasmanian_road_rules

-       Review how you are driving – you are after all a role model for your student. Make sure you are driving safely, obeying all the rules of the road, checking blind spots, and behaving respectfully towards other drivers.

Tips for when you are supervising:

-       If either your student or yourself are tired or stressed reschedule your lesson.

-       Begin with very short and frequent sessions on quiet streets.

-       Start teaching the easiest tasks first and only move onto harder ones once your student has mastered them.

-       Get into the driver’s seat and show your student how to do something before asking them to do it.

-       Both you and your student should discuss what’s happening on the road and what they should during the lesson.

-       Stay calm and positive – don’t criticise mistakes but explain what went wrong and ask them to try again.

-       Always give praise, even when your student is trying hard but may not necessarily have mastered a particular task.

What you need to know about Buying a Car for your Teenager

Not so long ago, your child was just a toddler, reaching out their pudgy little hand for you to hold as they crossed the road. It seems that no time at all has gone by and now they’re suddenly old enough to not only cross the road by themselves, but to actually drive a car!

Our parental instincts stay with us regardless of the age of our children so when it comes to your teenager’s first car, it’s no wonder that safety is at the top of the list of priorities. If you’re buying a car for your child, here are the top considerations to ensure you make the right choice:

• What will the car be used for? Sounds like a silly question, but will they be driving younger siblings around? If so, consider suitability for car seats and for youngsters to safely get in and out of the car.

• Brand new or second hand? Cost will probably come into the equation for this one, but take into consideration the cost of any repairs on an older vehicle that may outweigh the upfront cost of having a new car warranty.

• Not all new cars are created equal! Be sure to research and compare safety ratings and features of new vehicles. Look closely at items such as airbags, brake systems, crash test results, reversing camera, electronic stability control.

• If buying a second hand car, have a professional mechanic do a pre-purchase inspection. Although it’s not a guarantee that the car is in perfect condition, it will point out any weaknesses that need to be addressed and give you a realistic view of the condition of the car.  You can come and see us at any of our service centres for a pre-purchase inspection.

• Once you’re happy with the car you’d like to purchase, make sure it is clear who is responsible for the upkeep. Who will pay for petrol, insurance, repairs, service and general maintenance?

In their eagerness to get on the road (and look cool), your teenager may be pushing for a little red vintage convertible, but when push comes to shove, you can always pull out the ‘parent card’ and remind them just who is paying for it. J

Free driving lessons for L-Platers

Tasmanian learner drivers are being encouraged to take part in the federally funded keys2drive program, a national driver safety campaign aimed at reducing the number of car accidents involving young drivers.

Road safety is such an important issue here in Tassie. If you're a parent of a learner driver you should really get involved with the program and get your kids off to the right start.

The program offers learner drivers a free lesson with a specially accredited instructor.

Soon there will be over 60 driving instructors in Tasmania who  have completed an accreditation course for the program. The program was trialled in Tasmania before being rolled out nationally in late 2008.

"Research has shown that learner drivers are some of the safest drivers on the road while they've got their L plates up," RACT accredited driver trainer Trevor Lewis said. "But the moment they've got their Ps, their risk of serious injury and death jumps dramatically. We're trying to teach them to think about being P-plate drivers while they're on their L plates."

At around $55 an hour, driving lessons are not cheap and so the free lessons have proven very popular. More than 107,000 learner drivers around Australia taking part in the program so far.

Keys2drive is the largest national learner-driver safety program ever undertaken in Australia and it's great to see that young drivers are taking part and improving their driving skills right at the outset.

For more details visit the website www.keys2drive.com.au