Aug
31
Learning how to drive involves much more than grasping the basics of vehicle operation and understanding the rules of the road.
Remembering to slow down in a school zone and knowing how to move the gear lever to put the car in “Reverse” are indispensable, of course, to a new driver’s education, but so is developing a proper driving attitude.
Before taking a driving test a learner should be confident behind the steering wheel. Uncertain drivers can be a danger to themselves or other road users by being too aggressive or cautious.
Adults who offer to sit with learner drivers on practice drives play an important role in developing positive driving attitudes. That person – whether it is a parent, older sibling, friend or professional instructor – sets an example by his attitude and body language.
Here is how this mentor can help the learner become a confident and safe driver:
- Give clear, unambiguous instructions. Don’t bellow, “Turn here!” when the driver is practically right on top of the intersection. Instead, say, “Drive three blocks to Locust Lane. At the red light, turn right.”
- If the learner driver makes a mistake, gently point out what he did wrong. Give him the opportunity as soon as possible to repeat the procedure or drive at the same location to “get it right.”
- Give all your attention to the learner driver. Don’t make comments about the scenery, fiddle with the radio dials, talk on the cell phone or day-dream.
- Remain calm no matter what. If you yell, you might make a tense moment worse. The learner will be reluctant to continue driving.
- Don’t fidget. Nervousness is contagious. Instead of concentrating on driving, the learner driver will become concerned about making mistakes and perhaps even develop an irrational fear of driving in traffic.
- Always sit in the front passenger seat. It’s impossible to thoroughly observe the driver’s behaviour and monitor road and traffic conditions from the back seat.
Having passed the test obtaining affordable car insurance is often the next hurdle. Young driver car insurance premiums can seem ridiculously high due to the higher rick that young new drivers pose to the insurance companies.
A cheap option such as “Fronting”, when the parent insures their child’s car in their own name and adds their offspring as a named driver, is illegal and can result in crippling costs if an accident occurs. There are cheaper options however. Coverbox offer cheap car insurance for young drivers by tracking the driver using a GPS tracking device. If the driver avoids dangerous times, such as between 11pm-6am, then the premium is significantly reduced.