I'm about to take DS2 for driving practice

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He's had a handful of lessons and I said I'd take him to the industrial estate for a bit of practice.

Can't say I'm relishing the idea. Does anyone have any helpful tips?

Stay calm, if he makes a mistake, remain calm. Talk to him before hand that you will need to correct him if he's doing something wrong, so he shouldn't get cross with you. Have fun! You'll be fine.

Be prepared for him to take both hands off the wheel if faced with something he feels he can't deal with. I did this to my Dad. He grabbed the wheel and danger was averted. The good news is that after lessons with an instructor I passed first time.

I remember it well. I can't say I ever 'enjoyed' it as such but got used to it.
Try not to speak, at all. Unless you have to alert him to an imminent danger. Try not to say 'there's a cyclist ahead' or 'watch out for where the road narrows up here' etc.

I didn't 'teach' DSs anything. I let them drive me about to get practice at just driving, the way the instructor taught them. Which had changed a bit from what I could gather, from when I learned.

Good luck.

Be prepared to say "slow down" and "stop please" a lot...

Be prepared for them to think you know how to teach them!!

It was stressful 😬

I'm about to start this with my eldest. Yikes!

They can't see if you are just firmly pressing your feet into the carpet in the footwell of the passenger sea while clenching your teeth, but they will if you stamp it noisily while wincing.

Also, I was not used to sitting in the passenger seat of my own car and couldn't make out whether they were driving too close to the kerb or it just felt like it.

I'm currently letting DD practice in between lessons in my car.

We agreed she has to drive carefully and as if I was testing her. I told her if I didn't feel safe we would stop the lesson.

We also do “hazard”. If I see a potential issue I say “hazard” and she has to tell me what it is - person approaching zebra crossing etc etc.

It's been 2 months now (she failed her 1st test last week) I've not raised my voice, grabbed the wheel or had to stop mid practice, lots of patience and wine for after.

Practice in the dark and during rain as well.

Good luck! I enjoy it much more than I thought I would.

Don't grab the door handle until your knuckles go white, it's really off-putting!

My DM is not a good passenger.

Don't do what my mum did which was shout and panic

I passed many moons ago, by the way. She still doesn't really like me driving her.

I did like a bit of input/feedback though. My DF used to just stay silent, which was also unnerving. Or would say "you decide" if I asked where we should go. My grandad was by far the best — he was relaxed, but would give directions and helpful comments.

I regularly got elbowed by DD 😂 I gripped the seat sides. She had only had 2 lessons prior to first lock down and did not lack confidence.

Considering she is dyspraxic she did amazingly well and passed in October after only a few more lessons. I think her parking skills still need some work as there have been a few bollard incidents. Very glad it's her car!

I would respond if asked , but otherwise stayed quiet and just watched the road etc. We would have a full debrief at the end.

Both of them said that the way I was taught to drive was not like the way they were being so I din't want to confuse matters.

I still much prefer being the driver over being driven but that extends to everyone not just the DSs.

Yes, definitely how it suits them is the best approach.

I just liked a bit of reassurance that I was doing it right. And early on, I found trying to drive well, and "make up" a route at the same time quite hard — having a pathfinder helped!

We didn't do very long. It was OK but we both decided to quit while we were winning.

He needs a lot more lessons but we were calm so I'm taking that as a win.