As parents we will all get to the time when we hear those words from our 16 year-old: “Can I get my driver’s licence?”
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TEACHING TIPS: Parents can learn something from driving instructors when it comes to helping our teenagers on their L-plates. Photo: Craig Abraham.
Sue Tyler
It is a double-edged sword: the excitement of growing up and becoming an adult, yet the parents’ fear of the dangers of driving.
As the new year begins many young people will get their learner licence and embark on 120 hours over 12 months of driver training.
To ensure our young people are safe, educated drivers there are a few things you can do to prepare to be a good supervisor.
These include:
- Refresh your knowledge of the road rules
- Work out the best training process to achieve positive outcomes
- Collect a copy of the ‘Guide to the driving test’ free of charge at your local RMS or downloadable.
- Purchase or download the NSW Road Users guide which goes through the road rules
- The other way of checking your knowledge of the road rules is to sit the computer practice test on the RMS web page called the DKT or Driver Knowledge test
- Register for the free keys2drive lesson so you can sit in the car with a driving instructor to learn a coaching method: www.keys2drive.com.au
- Book in at the council for the Graduate Licensing Scheme (GLS) workshop free of charge to go through “where to begin”
- Stay calm and start the training off in a quiet area
- Don’t rush the learner, remember they are just as worried as the supervisor.
The NRMA makes these further suggestions:
- Choose an appropriate time: If you’re rushed or stressed, you will make your learner stressed too.
- Praise good driving: Reinforcing good driving practices and providing constructive criticism will reduce conflict and help your learner develop safe habits. Talking forward is a teaching technique that’s part of the driver training approach at the NRMA. For example: “We will be turning right at the next set of lights. What do you need to do to prepare for this?”
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