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Having just successfully graduated my eldest daughter from a learner driver to a P-plater, first go I might add, I feel suitably qualified to give advice on the topic of learning to drive.
If you can afford it, my tip is to get a professional driving instructor to teach them from the get go. If not, prepare yourself to have a few more grey hairs by the end of the experience.
Most people have hysterical stories to tell about how they learnt to drive and they usually involve lots of raised voices and tense parents gripping seats and jamming the invisible brakes on in the passenger side of the car.
During my daughter's first night drive, we had a kangaroo bound out in front of us. It proceeded to hop along the white lines for several kilometres oblivious to the hysterical learner driver (and her mother) trying to overtake it. Meanwhile, the younger siblings laughed their heads off in the back while filming the entire incident for social media.
But on a more serious note, it is not unusual for kids to be taught the basics by their parents while getting their hours up and then moving on to the professionals for a more polished approach before sitting the test for their Ps.
And a great place to start before you hit the road is the website Keys2drive, which is an Australian Government-funded program providing learner drivers and their parents/supervisors a free driving lesson with an accredited professional driving instructor.
It also offers some great advice for supervisors and learner drivers.
"Statistically, learner drivers are the safest drivers on the road," according to a spokesperson for Keys2drive. "But the moment they begin solo driving, their risk increases significantly."
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The Keys2drive program aims to improve driver safety by helping P platers drive for six months without hurting themselves or others and building a foundation for a life of safe driving.
The Keys2drive coaching approach is designed to provide a learning experience that is more real, more thorough and more attuned to the reality of licensed driving.
Before you start driving Keys2drive recommends:
Practicing road rules from the passenger seat
- Get the road rules book for your State or Territory, and keep it in the car.
- Choose a section of the book each time you're in the car and memorise a few rules that will match where you are going to drive (e.g. study up on parking or traffic lights for inner city driving).
- When you are in the car, notice what your driver and other drivers are doing. Are they obeying the rules? Learn from other people's mistakes.
- Talk to your parent/supervisor about what you notice and ask them to explain anything you don't understand.
- If your parent/supervisor agrees to it, trying guiding them to drive correctly. For example, you could say "At this intersection you will have to give way to..." or "You can park here but only until four o'clock'.
Drive on your Ls as long as possible
Most people will want to get their Ps as soon as possible, but is the freedom to drive really more important than your safety and the safety of others?
According to Keys2drive, staying longer on your Ls is the simplest and most reliable tactic for safe solo driving. Give yourself time to work on weak spots and difficulties until you have overcome them.
The website suggests making a list of the major skills you know you need and practice them until they feel natural and automatic, in varied conditions and situations.
Some safety margins
- Keep your maximum speed slightly under the speed limit.
- Follow at least three seconds from the car in front (preferably more).
- Pull over or change lanes if you are being followed very closely.
- Ease up on the accelerator when you see brake lights on any of the five cars in front of you or to the sides.
- Drive little by little, not lots immediately, and gradually widen your experience.
The Keys2drive program comprises three central initiatives:
1. The free lesson - Keys2drive provides a free lesson, introducing its innovative approach, for learner drivers in Australia.
2. Accreditation of driving instructors - Keys2drive is a professional development and accreditation program for the driving instruction industry.
3. Online Support - the Keys2drive website is a rich central portal of information and advice. It is designed to guide learner drivers, parents/supervisors and driving instructors through the learning experience.
So before you hit the road visit www.keys2drive.com.au for great tips and advice on all aspects of learning to drive.