Is it mean to impose restrictions on our nanny now she's passed her driving test?

[headfairy]

She's only passed a couple of days ago. Would it be really mean for me to ask that she only stay in the local area (within a couple of miles, the park, town centre for example) until she's more experienced. She's worked for us for 18months but only just learnt to drive this year. I feel having three under 5s in the car when you're a new driver is so distracting.... she had been talking about taking them to the coast, an hours drive away.

LookBehindYou

I was referring to this;

'If you think she's responsible enough to look after your kids you can probably trust her in a car'

There is no link between being responsible enough to look after kids and a good driver. I don't understand why you think if the OP can trust her to look after her children she must also trust her driving?! They're two completely different skill sets. It's why you almost never hear' Sweaty Tony is a bloody good driver, I wonder if he could babysit the kids?'

It comes down to how much experience she's had on the road (yes she's had her license for 2 days but she's driven before that).
I've had a mum who just wanted to go out with me driving for the first month or so, so she'd feel more comfortable and I've been told by my agency to simply not drive the children (in a nice way, obvs) for the first year so I can gain experience. 3 five year olds will not be great for a new driver.

HolyCameraConfusionBatman

BAHAHA! "Sweaty Tony" sounds like he'd be awesome with the kids. "Just get in the back of the van love, hold onto the ladder and you won't fall over. I need to stop off at the off-license first..."
LOL

PMSL at Sweaty Tony! :o

She's been learning to drive on and off for about a year, but I don't think she's done a massive amount of practice in that time. She cancelled a test a few weeks ago as she didn't feel confident of her ability to pass. The day before her test she had a 3 hour test which she said went well so that might have given her the boost to pass her test. She said in the test she made 9 mistakes (you're allowed to make up to 17 apparently - all news to me, they had none of this when I took my test)

The test is essentially a marked judgement on whether she is deemed safe to drive by the examiner.

She can't be nearly as bad as a guy who I went to school with who failed with 8 majors, one of which being "nearly killing a horse", if that makes you feel any better.

Myself, I'm an excellent driver, never once have I - for example - been accused of nearly killing livestock, but with my driving test this coming week, I question my ability to pass.

Driving tests are really quite difficult, the government want to make money make sure everyone is safe. I bet 90% of drivers would fail if they had to retake their test as the standard is very high. If she was unsafe, she wouldn't pass.

That being said, an hour long, un-supervised trip to the beach may be a little much too soon.

I would not be happy with an unexperienced driver with young children. As you know, small children get bored very quickly and keep asking, "Are we there yet?"

Suppose the children were to start arguing. She would get distracted from traffic hazards around her and possibly have a collision.

On top of all that she is going to need three suitable carseats for the children.

Just to add: It would be highly unlikely that she has motorway experience as it is illegal to go on a motorway without a full license. So unless she has been in the last two days...