Before you start to drive or teach someone you should look over the logbook. It's a useful tool in starting out, and filling it out correctly from the start saves so much worry later. For more information on the logbook check out my post here >INSERT POST<
Many people don't start their lesson correctly, they may start in the wrong area, or skip the basics. Firstly, start in a correct area; a nice suburban space with not too many cars, simple bends and simple corners.
Many people don't start their lesson correctly, they may start in the wrong area, or skip the basics. Firstly, start in a correct area; a nice suburban space with not too many cars, simple bends and simple corners.
Once you understand the logbook, or don't have one, you can begin.
The RMS page for getting a learner licence is a good place to start if unsure:
Your Role & Responsibilities
As a supervisor or instructor you should be responsible for the learner, especially at the start. This means managing the legal, practical, and emotional aspects of their driving and aiming to guide them towards being a competent driver.
The learner must be taught the skills needed to drive on their own, this should always be the goal when teaching someone to drive.
You must have a full licence when instructing a learner, this means red and green P Plate licences cannot teach driving. You must also be under the 0.05 alcohol limit and not be under the influence of drugs, just as if you were driving normally (source).
Supervisors should act as a role model, when supervising you need to know the road rules and follow them. You also need to demonstrate how to be a polite driver, which means not holding up traffic or cutting others off.
As a learner you are responsible for the car, while the supervisor does have some responsibility you are the driver. Once in the drivers seat you take responsibility, which means driving safely and sensibly.
Learners should listen to the instructor, the instructor should be more experienced and qualified, thus the instructor should know better.They are learning to drive, a serious act that could kill or injury people through tiny mistakes.
If the student is unable to be respectful and act responsibly, then they are not responsible enough to drive. Put it this way, if they cannot act properly on a lesson, how will they act on their own? How will they act if they mess up or have an accident?
As a driver (even as a learner) you must be responsible for everyone inside and outside the car. For example, you must make sure all passengers have to be sitting correctly and wearing seat belts.
As a driver (even as a learner) you must be responsible for everyone inside and outside the car. For example, you must make sure all passengers have to be sitting correctly and wearing seat belts.
Getting Comfortable & Sitting Correctly
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| Dash warning lights Click image to enlarge |
- Are you the right distance from the steering wheel?
Your arm should be straight at the elbow and your shoulder should be firmly (not tightly) pressed into the seat. When holding the middle of the wheel your elbow should have a slight bend to it.
- Can you press the pedals lightly and heavily?
As a driver you will need to be able to both lightly press the pedals and hit them heavily as needed. So can you reach them? Test this with the brake, press it lightly and press it heavily into the floor as far as it goes. Can you do both relatively easily?
- Can you see out the mirrors?
One of the biggest issues (especially when maneuvering like on a reverse park) is people not adjusting their mirrors. The center rear mirror should see out the back window directly behind the car. The side mirrors should show the slight back corner of the car and have equal amount of road and sky.
- Are you comfortable?
This is important, an uncomfortable driver is a distracted driver. Plus it makes learning to drive less fun! Make sure everything is in reach and everything is comfortable. You will have o sit like this for an hour or two.
Starting the Car & Understanding the Controls
The instructor should explain the controls to the learner, how to set the mirrors, how to use the indicator and wipers, what all the lights on the dash mean, and anything else of importance.
As drivers we take it for granted, we know all this stuff and who doesn't? Well a learner who has literally never been a driver. As silly as it seems to you, start as basic as possible and go over everything.
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| Do you know all the controls and displays on a standard dash? |
1. Start by putting our foot on the brake; the very first thing you should do as a driver is foot on the brake. This is a safety thing, many modern cars won't unlock the gears without the brake pedal being pressed.
2. Turn on the car; foot is on the brake, now put in the key and turn on the car. Do this by turning the key forward. Some cars are different, but a trick is turn the key in the direction you want to go. So turn it towards the front to start and drive. Turn it towards the back to end and shut off the engine.
3. Hand Brake; the car is on, your foot is on the floor brake, so release the hand brake to unlock the rear tires. To release the hand brake press the button, lift the leaver a little, then lower it the whole way. Make sure it is completely lowered. There should be a red or orange light on the dash whenever the hand brake is applied. It should be off before you move to the next step.
4. Gear Stick; now put it into Drive (or D) for an automatic or first for a manual. Make sure you keep your foot on the brake so you don't roll. Many modern cars will lock the gear stick if the foot brake is not properly pressed. If the gears won't change make sure you try step 1.
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| Click image to enlarge |
5. Wheel; finally, it's time to drive off. If you did this correctly you don't need to worry, the car is on, the hand brake is off, and the car is in the correct gear. You can steer out and go (after checking).
To end the drive and park the car follow this procedure in reverse. So steer into the space, put it into Park (or P) for automatic, pull up the hand brake, turn off the car, then finally take your foot off the brake.
The First Lesson
The first lesson should be focused on getting to know the car, understanding how it feels and how to control it. To do this focus on steering, look for places with a few left corners and bends, do these over and over until it's easy. Then go the other way, now practicing the same turns but going right.
Start with lefts, they are harder than rights yet safer. The instructor has more control as they are closer to the kerb and can see it, if the learner hits the kerb the instructor is at fault. Yet a left turn is more difficult (even when learning on motorbikes), so it develops deeper and stronger skills quicker while practicing in a more controlled way.
Repetition is the key to the first lesson or two, do the same things over and over and over. Vary it up a bit to keep it interesting, but learning to drive takes practice, so practice the same or similar things until it becomes easier.
Pedals
Now, the first thing before driving around is to understand the pedals. Many beginners will jam the pedal completely, and suddenly. Resulting in uneven and uncomfortable braking or accelerating.
To learn the pedals start on a straight road, make sure it's relatively flat. To start the learner should press the brake, easing into it gently. Feeling how it is spongy and soft at first, then tougher and has a bite as pressed further. Next the accelerator, with the car on but stopped, the learner should press and hold the accelerator. Gently revving the engine, increasing the revs gently then holding them.
Now, put the car into gear and roll forward under the cars own power, after rolling a little press the brake and stop the car. Do this at least twice, practicing a gently and soft stop as much as needed.
Once they can stop smoothly, practice stopping at a specific point. So let the car roll then stop at a goal (like before a specific drive way or next to a specific tree). When they can stop smoothly and where they want it's time to accelerate. Simply accelerate the car slightly, hold a set slow speed, then stop at a specific point again.
Steering & Cornering
This is by far the most important skill when driving. Good steering can prevent or correct so many mistakes later, and it makes driving easy and fun. If you cannot steer correctly and easily, then you need to go back to basics. Learning to steer and corner correctly can take some people hours, it is an unconscious skill we develop and improve only with time and practice. Mistakes are fine, everyone makes them to start.
Bad steering habits are very easy to learn, and very hard to break. As experienced drivers we develop bad steering habits, we have the skills and experience meaning this is not an issue, and we are not about to be tested on our ability to drive correctly.
Learners must learn good steering techniques right from day one. If you doubt your ability to teach correct steering, get professional lessons to start with.
That's It
The first lesson might take a few minutes, or hours. To know you are past the first lesson can you:
- Explain the controls of the car (including wipers, indicators, seating)?
- Set the mirrors so you can see next to you and behind you?
- Turn on the car correctly and turn off the car correctly?
- Have a solid feel for the pedals, can you brake or accelerate smoothly?
- Steer and go around corners and bends safely and easily?
Once the student has this under control they can move on to more advanced lessons, such as road rules, blind spots, traffic, etc. But start at the basics, and stick to the basics until skilled enough to move on. Some people take longer than others, and there's no issue or shame with that.
Above all, have fun. Learning to drive and teaching driving should be an enjoyable and rewarding experience.
Above all, have fun. Learning to drive and teaching driving should be an enjoyable and rewarding experience.