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Original poster

Any tips for taking DD out to practice her driving?

43 replies

NewYearNewMinty · 24/02/2022 09:57

She been having lessons since mid December and is doing well. Theory test today.

It's going to be August before she can take her practical so to save money we're planning alternating lessons every other week with practice with me in between.

She's very capable, sensible and responsible but am still bricking it slightly tbh!

Any tips much appreciated!

OP posts:

JuergenSchwarzwald · 24/02/2022 10:16

What does she need the practice in more - road driving or manoeuvres? Maybe you could practice the manoeuvres with her in empty car parks eg take two cardboard boxes and get her to reverse between/behind them.

If she does something wrong, she can only hit a box/thin air.

She can do the road stuff with her instructor and dual controls.

Fivemoreminutes1 · 24/02/2022 10:19

Plan a route before you head out. Talk her through it first and point out any bits she needs to be particularly wary of.
If the route is completely new to her, it might help if you drive it first with your dd in the passenger seat.
Sunday mornings are obviously quietest.

negomi90 · 24/02/2022 10:20

Start in a supermarket car park on a Sunday when it's shut (and empty) and work up from there.

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Driving & parking

OchonAgusOchonOh · 24/02/2022 10:21

When mine were learning to drive, the instructor gave us guidance as to what we should be doing with them in between. He insisted on a parent in the car too for the first lesson (it was pre-covid though) so he could point out to the parent what they should be doing during practice.

I would suggest asking the instructor each lesson what she should be practising in between and focussing on that.

Wilma55 · 24/02/2022 10:23

Is there an industrial estate nearby? Often deserted at weekends

Noisyprat · 24/02/2022 10:26

Find out what the tests routes are and practice on them. Pay particular attention to tricky roundabouts, make sure she knows which lane and knows to follow the lane around. Practice approaching from different ways. This is a common fail point in tests ie drifting lanes whilst on a roundabout.

Go into big car parks and practice forward/reverse parking. (Find out the car parks they use for tests).

Practice on roads with thinks like schools and therefore speed changes. Look for speed changes esp around schools at peak times.

For general driving plan routes that include narrow bridges, lots of parked cars, basically things she is likely to come across in everyday driving. This builds confidence and she will handle the test better.

BluerThanRobinsEggs · 24/02/2022 10:28

The "oh god" handle is there for a reason.

Try putting a bag in your footwell so you can pretend brake. It won't work but it might make you feel better.

Flatandhappy · 24/02/2022 10:31

Here in Australia you have to have 120 hours of supervised driving before you can take a test, with some things proscribed like x hours night driving, x hours motorway driving etc. It is an absolute nightmare! Most kids have some lessons but obviously can’t do lessons for all those hours. I used to drive to school with DD to get her hours up, do an hour’s drive at the weekend, get her to drive if we needed to go somewhere etc. I am a nervous passenger and hated it tbh but it just had to be done. I ended up paying for lessons to tick off particular thing like the motorway merge and did the “easy” hours with her.

sixtiesbaby88 · 24/02/2022 10:31

@Wilma55

Is there an industrial estate nearby? Often deserted at weekends

This! we spent hours reversing round corners, 3 pt turns, parallel parking on an industrial estate. They are often deserted at the weekends... apart from other learner drivers and their parents

PiesNotGuys · 24/02/2022 10:43

Industrial estates are often deserted it is true but it’s hard to practice manoeuvres there. Being deserted means no parked cars to parallel park with. There are no bays to practice the bay park.

Turn in the road (3 point turn) and reversing round a corner, whilst useful, are not on the current driving test.

Many car parks will not allow learner drivers to practice, and/or have the cameras that track you and if you made a purchase. It’s hard for lots of instructors to find places for their students to practice as the cars are marked up with the driving school and will be asked to move on. Shop car parks can be tricky. If you have a city park and ride near you that can sometimes work.

If you do find a car park try to get one with full painted lines rather than just corners. Teach her how to pull over safely first so if you end up in a situation thats stressful she can pull over and then rejoin calmly.

As she progresses remember to go out at night and in busy traffic as well as just easy or quiet times/routes.

Original poster

NewYearNewMinty · 24/02/2022 10:46

Industrial estate is great call...there are a few reasonably nearby and a big supermarket just up the road for early Sunday practice. Also an area of field with just a couple of roads through which is basically only used by driving instructors!

The roundabout practice is a great call...I failed my test first time on drifting lanes (although in my defence it was the least round roundabout I've seen in nearly 30 years of driving!).

She's already done some fairly challenging drives with her instructor...big A roads, the huge light controlled roundabout near her college.

Will definitely ask her instructor for his opinion.

Handbag fake brake...😁...brilliant!

Thanks all!

OP posts:

etulosba · 24/02/2022 10:46

My father used to let me drive on long journeys for holidays and to visit relatives. 200 miles or so. It did wonders for my confidence.

Original poster

NewYearNewMinty · 24/02/2022 10:49

Teach her how to pull over safely first so if you end up in a situation thats stressful she can pull over and then rejoin calmly.

Brilliant tip.

I think we'll just take it very slowly to start with.

She has mentioned stalling quite a few times and will be getting used to a different car (thankfully not mine!) so no point trying to run before she can walk.

OP posts:

Original poster

NewYearNewMinty · 24/02/2022 10:50

@etulosba

My father used to let me drive on long journeys for holidays and to visit relatives. 200 miles or so. It did wonders for my confidence.

That's amazing!

I passed my test and 18 and didn't drive long distance until I was 41!

OP posts:

bigbluebus · 24/02/2022 10:51

I'm sure the instructor will help you out here. When DS learned the instructor invited one of us to attend a lesson as a back seat passenger so we could see what was taught and how. Obviously Covid has put paid to that but I'm sure they'll still advise.

Freshprincess · 24/02/2022 11:02

I started on an industrial estate on a Sunday afternoon so it was empty. It might take a while to get used to your car if she’s only ever had lessons in one car.
Then just keep driving around the test centre, test routes etc. If I need to nip to the shops, DS drives me. Let the instructor teach the manoeuvres and then practice when she’s confident. If you have some tricky junctions or roundabouts practice them when it’s quiet.
Also praise the good bits, smooth starting and braking etc. Otherwise it just sounds like you’re criticising and issue instructions constantly.

I was quite surprised at how good both of mine were. Didn’t stop me jumping out of my seat quite a bit 😂

Mosaic123 · 24/02/2022 11:05

Don't say, like my friend did to her daughter, 'go right round the roundabout'.

The daughter turned right to drive anti clockwise around the roundabout. Luckily there were no other cars around.

sashh · 24/02/2022 11:10

If you say 'stop' you mean stop, not steer and think about stopping.

It is NEVER NEVER acceptable to 'just go for it'

I learned this teaching a friend. She couldn't see out of a junction so instead of backing up, looking for reflections etc she just pulled out turning right, it was a near miss.

If you are not used to being a passenger you feel like you are too far to the left, you are not in the gutter, even if it feels like it.

Have her follow a sat nav.

watcherintherye · 24/02/2022 11:14

Try to keep your fear hidden! I am prone to nervous eyebrow raising, barely audible (I thought) gasps and muttering “that’s a bit close!”, which is not helpful, I know, but I can’t seem to stop myself. 2 have passed, 2nd time and 1st time, with minimal help from me (by mutual agreement!), only one to go

LondonQueen · 24/02/2022 11:22

Start in an empty car park to get used to the controls, if there is an industrial estate nearby that can be perfect as there are junctions etc.

VanCleefArpels · 24/02/2022 11:25

Every small trip you make - school, supermarket, petrol station, visit to granny SHE drives. Different times of day and places. Just everyday driving

And learn to disguise your death grip on the side of the passenger seat as you feel her drift towards the curb 😉🤣

MostlyNormalSometimesOdd · 24/02/2022 11:43

DS has had weekly lessons with an instructor since first week of January. I started taking him out in-between to mirror and practice what he'd done with his instructor. Now that his instructor's taking him out on busy roads etc we just get DS to drive whenever he would have had a lift in the past, rugby, gym, friends or GF's house etc.
Speak to your DDs instructor and ask him what she should be focussing on.

Also make sure you're sitting down when you ask your insurance company for a quote.

Original poster

NewYearNewMinty · 24/02/2022 11:52

I've managed to insure her car with me as the main and her as the named driver for now which has been surprisingly affordable. Ordered her L plates...all going well today I'm going to surprise her tomorrow afternoon and take her out Saturday.

I will have to work on my face not saying things my mouth manages not to.

Tbh I was hoping her dad (XH) would do the honours as he was always highly critical of my driving, but he's abdicated responsibility for this like he has virtually everything else so it's on me.

OP posts:

VanCleefArpels · 24/02/2022 12:51

OP make sure you actually drive the car from time to time - insurance companies very hot on parents being the so called main driver for the car the kids’ use.

OchonAgusOchonOh · 24/02/2022 13:23

@NewYearNewMinty

I will have to work on my face not saying things my mouth manages not to.

Tbh I was hoping her dad (XH) would do the honours as he was always highly critical of my driving, but he's abdicated responsibility for this like he has virtually everything else so it's on me.

I've managed to insure her car with me as the main and her as the named driver for now which has been surprisingly affordable.

Don't know what the story is where you live but that is illegal where I live (Ireland) and she would not actually be insured. It's called fronting. I would suggest checking out whether that is illegal where you live as you really want to ensure she is insured properly.

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