Tips for Teaching Someone How to Drive

If you decide to undertake the task of teaching another person to drive an automobile, do so with an open mind, a patient demeanor, and the willingness to grab the wheel without hesitation, should the situation require it. If you are teaching a new driving student in America, please, please, do the following: Promise to do your best to make them a better driver than most of those that are on the roadway now! I have spent about a year driving in Florida, and I am sure that the drivers are among the worst I have encountered. Teach your new student to be assured, informed, and polite. To follow the rules of the road and to exercise at least some common sense.

First, make sure that they understand the basic rules of the road. Include the obvious, like stop signs and what side of the road you are to drive on. And the less apparent too, like covering the brake when approaching an intersection without clear lines of sight or scanning down the roadway at least 10 seconds ahead of where you are at. Go over the book, then get in the car. There is no avoiding the initial jitters, the lurching movements when your new driver first tries to accelerate into a roadway.

This may seem obvious, but start on less traveled roadways, and build confidence before attempting the busiest street in town. Build up confidence, then tackle the cross town expressway. Corner and turn, corner and turn. There are far too many drivers out there that can’t properly make a turn. Teach your new driver to find that perfect middle, neither too far out or too close to the curb. Start out on clear, dry days. When your student has some more confidence, go out in the rain. Teach him or her to slow down and increase following space in bad weather. Teach them how to stop quickly when the roads are bad. And then take them out again. Don’t be satisfied with the absolute minimum to pass the test. Take the extra time to make your new driver stand out above the rest.

As they get better, start introducing distractions. Play the radio loudly. Talk on your cell phone. Get them involved in a conversation. Do you really think that your new driver will always drive around in a quiet car, with nothing to take their mind off their driving? Teach them to be polite, to share the road. Do this by example. If they see you yelling and screaming at the traffic, using your horn and finger more than your brain, then they might do the same.

And teach them to be defensive drivers. To watch out for the idiot on the road that shouldn’t be driving anything faster than a donkey. The person who will cut them off, tailgate, oversteer in front of them, brake without any cause or warning, drop their muffin in their lap and swerve into their lane. The hazards brought to them by other drivers are as much a concern as the weather and road hazards they might face. Remind them never to drink and drive.

And last but not least, relax. Sure, easier said than done. But try. Don’t let the panic show, just go to your happy place. And remember, it will all be over soon……..