Tips for teaching teen to drive?

[Elephantsarenottheonlyfruit]

My DS has been having professional driving lessons and has reached the stage he is almost ready for test. I’d like to take him out to get some practice. Does anyone having tips on teaching teens to drive, test tips (it’s a long time since I sat mine and the things they test have changed now - like following sat nav!?!) or any pointers on insurance? We have bought a group 1 run around for him. Collecting it tomorrow!

I took DS out after he had done a significant number with instructor - best thing we did was not doing too long and breaking it up by doing parking practice. My son chose the routes normal the likely test one he had done with instructor. There were crossed words at times but was all worth it.

Ask the driving instructor if your child is ready to go out in their own car/your car. Go for a lesson with the instructor so you can see what the child is being taught and understand what has changed since you learnt. Keep in touch with instructor so you can help child practice any particular skill they need to brush up on, like a manoeuvre or observations. As pp have said, driving to more places and driving more often is a good way to learn to drive (as opposed to learning how to pass the test).

Surprised by the comments about not allowing your kids to drive outside of lessons - one of the advantages of learning to drive whilst still living with parents is the extra practice hours you can get in with ready access to one (or more) competent drivers over 21.

Not immediately - they need several lessons first to get the basics but once the instructor gives the go ahead, the more hours they have behind the wheel before their test the better. You will also be able to access their driving style / confidence and if necessary delay the test if you don't feel they'd be safe on the roads by themselves.

I agree. DD's instructor gave her the go ahead about 6 weeks before her booked test, so relatively late. But after a pootle round our local industrial estate to get the hang of a different car, we were off with our L plates. We had three sessions before DD's next lesson and the transformation was massive - it inspired her with confidence and that was the only thing missing.

This. DS only had 10 actual lessons with an instructor... And drove hundreds of miles with us, because we were adamant we didn't just want him to know how to pass a test, but to get real experience of lots of different situations on roads at all speeds.
I also spent lots of time with him in car parks and on quiet roads practicing all kinds of parking.

He passed his test 1st time and is a really good driver.

Nerves of steel help 😂
I spent 2/3 months teaching mine then he had 10 weeks of lessons, nearer his test we just kept going out on all the test drive routes and practicing manoeuvres. His instructor recommended getting as many hours behind the wheel as possible. He passed first time a few weeks ago and is making full use of his new found freedom, as am I, I've already had him pick me up from a couple of nights out 😁. It's very weird having your child drive you though!

DS is 17 and the parent (his dad) who would’ve been perfect to teach him died 10 years ago. I was able to save some life insurance for a block of intensive lessons which he’s just finished. He needs more road time and to pass the sodding theory test (ADHD and demand avoidance not helping him here, even though he wants to drive so much!) so I’m continuing to pay for two, two hour lessons a week.

I haven’t driven a manual since I passed my test plus we’d come to blows before we pulled off the driveway…

My daughter is learning to drive at the moment & has her test in 3 weeks. She has lessons weekly but I take her out in between. I don’t ‘teach’ her anything, that’s the driving instructors job. I have no idea how they learn now or what he teaches her. I just sit in the car & let her drive. Obviously, I watch for anything dangerous but largely I’m just there for supervision purposes or to meet the legal requirements of having someone with a license sitting with her.

I found it so bloody stressful - I think I nearly died several times. We had a rule - what happens in the car, stays in the car. I found myself shouting and screaming and I felt really bad about it afterwards I didn’t need teenager to make me feel worse - I don’t shout at them normally. I took them out one hour a day for about 3 months - it was hell but they both passed.

We took both our DS out a lot for practise. We always said listen to the instructor over us. We started somewhere quiet then once they were fairly competent they drove wherever we were going unless in a motorway. I think it’s really helpful for them. Just make sure you keep your eyes on what they are doing, stay calm and be patient.

When DS’s instructor said he was at a level I could take him out, I booked the Arnold Clark dual control hire cars. They were really reasonably priced and it helped me with the nerves knowing I could press the brakes at any time needed. We did 3 x 1.5hr lessons in those and now he uses my car. I have to say, I’m always on edge to begin with though!

Yep same as you, my DC started with a pro instructor then DH took them out and made them drive through town to sixth form every day that he could take them. It taught them so much and both passed in their own car having not had lessons with the instructor for weeks! The latest one passed first time with zero minors!

If you use your on car OP, make sure you get an extra stick on rear view mirror in case your DC wants to use your car for their test.

I take DD out. Her test is in a few weeks.
I get her to narrate as she drives. I ask her open questions " what can you see ahead that might be an issue".
Currently we are focusing on roundabouts. "Who do you need to give way to? Etc"

Thanks everyone. His car arrived today. Used Veygo and took him for a spin this evening. He was very good thankfully! Only once did I grab the door handle which is less than I would as a passenger with DH! I got a stick on mirror and a plug in reversing camera. I hope we can get him through his test end of August, as the next one he can book is December

Also had him narrate what he could see as some of you suggested which was a great tactic

I taught my DD this drive and she passed first time in her own car.. just do series of roundabouts and pulling into and out of spaces and just regular driving really .. if you have an idea of routes they use for tests, have a crack at them but I think more practice. And as for bad habits I have loads but it's just a matter of so t do what I do just do what I say 😬 most eole, if they are confident drivers can teach their own children to drive.

Blimey that must have cost a fortune! Lessons are so expensive now private practice seems sensible!

We never had arguments with our children driving, in fact they look back on it really fondly and enjoyed driving whenever they could. I’m guessing some people don’t have the relationship to do it with their children but if you do it can be really lovely!

My 19yo passed his test last year and we took him out for at least 20 hours private practice as well as 50 hours driving lessons with an instructor. He passed his test in his own car. He reminded me if I was teaching him wrong because his driving instructor said it has to be done x way these days and that's fine. I will be taking 16yo out next summer when he turns 17 too.

Yes it's hard work but worth it. DS19 has helped us out numerous times with his car since he passed his test. It's worth investing in the time to help them.

Take him out for practice by all means but I’d really not be giving any tips, no matter what you think as the driving instructor does have the most up to date information and you don’t want to cause a fail.
For example, I questioned why such a huge gap was left between us and the vehicle in front when in a queue for the traffic lights - I was told they have to be able to see the rear wheels of the vehicle in front. I was always told to put the car in neutral and apply the handbrake when the car was stationary for periods of time - they are told not to do this now.

I agree too. DS had to also learn early on to get used to his instructor's car and his own and switch between the two regularly which can only be a good thing learning to adapt quickly to new situations in different cars.

My DD sat her first test and failed on one incident on a roundabout where she got in the wrong lane. She was so annoyed with herself as she admitted it was a silly mistake so she got straight on and booked another test. However, the next test date was when he instructor was on holiday. She didn't want to wait so I began to take her out in her car (it was DH's old one). I had to watch A LOT of YouTube videos from driving instructors to brush up on how to do the various manoeuvres in the correct way and she had to get used to doing them in a different car with different reference points. We did A LOT of parallel parking practise! We crossed words a few times but it was better than I could have imagined and she passed that test - and even had to do a parallel park as one of her manoeuvres!

By the time I was taking her out, she was a competent driver, albeit nervous, but it was about building her confidence and knowledge in a different vehicle. I learned to be quiet when she was driving along a normal road and only give advice in specific circumstances!

Edited to add that I always assumed DH would be better at taking her out than I was because he is generally calmer and better at instructions but he is still more nervous as her passenger and she is still a more nervous driver when he is in the car even now!

DH and I took equal turns in helping DS learn to drive in his car. It was a great experience. There was a couple of nervous moments but keeping calm is important and help build their confidence.

A good halfway house is to take them to practise the manoeuvres somewhere very quiet - you can sit there while they reverse park, parallel park, etc. Then leave the driving on the road with traffic and other moving cars etc to the instructor, at least until they are a confident driver and you know you can sit quietly and provide moral support - not “backseat drive”.