When teenagers drive it can be nerve-wracking… especially for parents and supervisors! Some parents find it daunting that their child is behind the wheel of a machine that can potentially cause harm if not driven in a controlled and confident way. Teaching your teen to drive can be a positive experience though, if done skill by skill and with patience, that can make them a safe, competent driver.

A few simple tips can make it easier for you both and ensure a calm learning environment that will make the process rewarding and enjoyable.

Five things you need to do are:

Check out current road rules

Rules change over time and even a knowledgeable driver should read the Road Users Handbook from the RMS in order to teach the road rules properly. This is the same one your teen is learning from.

Important rule changes a supervisor may not know about include that it is illegal for a passenger to have their mobile phone screen in use and in view of a driver. So, a learner driver may get fined if their parent is using their phone beside them with the screen visible to them.

Another change is that drivers only had to signal (or use their ‘blinker’) when they entered a roundabout prior to 2012. Now they must also indicate when exiting, if practical, by indicating a left-turn.

Find a good place to learn

If your teen has never been behind the wheel before then their first lesson should be in a quiet, local street or an expanse of area like an empty parking lot. As their skills grow, and confidence improves, other elements such as different roads and light traffic can be added according to the learner’s ability.

Once a learner driver is comfortable in traffic they need to experience driving frequently in many different areas and driving conditions so they can gain experience and learn to make decisions while driving.

Start slow and build up

Keep the first few lessons short to help increase your teen’s confidence if they are nervous. Lessons that are 15 to 20 minutes long are good to begin with and it’s important to remember that frequent driving is better than lessons that are occasional marathons.

Begin in daylight and good weather before introducing more complex elements such as driving at night and in rain. Also, allow plenty of time for lessons, especially in the beginning, so your teen doesn’t feel pressured.

Let the learner get good at the basics first by spending a lot of time on starting, stopping and turning. After becoming proficient in these skills, they can build on their repertoire by gradually adding other ones such as reversing and parking.

Talk and listen

A calm, encouraging atmosphere in the car will help your learner achieve their goals. Avoid getting upset over minor incidences and try not to ‘talk down’ to them which you may do without realising. Another tip is to be careful when giving directions. For example, instead of saying “Turn left now”, anticipate this move and give plenty of time by saying “Turn left at the next intersection”.

Give positive reinforcement to help make good habits stick. You might say things like “I like how you keep checking your mirrors” or “Nice lane change”.

Correct by asking questions. Instead of saying “Slow down or you’ll get a speeding ticket” ask your teen “What is the speed here?” to make them aware of their surroundings.

Ask your teen why they made specific decisions, and if they feel it was the best decision, then talk about their answers. A good driver learns to self-assess, show initiative, and understand problems on the road.

Plan your lessons

Decide what you want to teach in each lesson before you go out. A checklist of skills might help you keep track of what has been learnt and what still needs to be mastered.

By approaching lessons in an organised way, you won’t accidently omit important skills. You might decide to have a lesson that includes roundabouts and lane changes to practice indicating, as well as safe turning, if it fits in with your learner’s requirements.

Remember to set a good example in your own driving. If you rush to beat a yellow light, or break the speed limit occasionally, your teen will most likely do these things as well.