Teaching a Teenager to Drive 

Learning to drive is an interesting challenge for teenagers. Many teenagers would be eager and count down the days to get their provisional licence. As fun and exciting, it can be, there are many details which need to be considered such as; who will teach you? Does the individual have the knowledge of driving? Driving lessons, expense, tests.

Driving as a Learner – The Law

There is no law which defines how you can learn how to drive. You can be taught by a driving instructor, mum, dad even family and friends. However, the law does state, to be able to teach someone to drive,  the supervisor must be over the ages of 21 and have Full Valid driving licence for at least 3 years for the vehicle you are going to use. It is a criminal offence for any person to take payment in return for driving lessons unless registered with the DVSA.

Cost of Learning To Drive

Learning to drive can also be expensive with lessons fees and test fees. Learners on average can be paying out hundreds of pounds before even taking a driving test. Taking driving lessons with parents is an easy way of saving costs.  However, there are still many points which need to be considered. Teaching someone how to drive comes with great reasonability. Ensure when giving driving lessons are providing them with the correct knowledge and advice. Practice would make perfection. However, giving the wrong advice would only lead to bad habits. This could cost loads more to correct. 

Teaching a teenager requires many qualities. When teaching someone to drive, the teaching not only involves how to drive a car but also to teach the rules and regulations. Teaching someone to drive requires to the teacher have a significant amount of patience, understanding, knowledge and be able to be responsive.

Teaching a Teenager – Patience

when teaching a teen how to drive it does involve a lot of patience. Teenagers are eager to learn. However, they are often of the risks involved and the likelihood of them making a mistake is high. It is the supervisor’s reasonability to take this into consideration. They must be prepared for the learner driver to make mistakes. They must safeguard the learner and the public at all times.

Teaching a Teenager to Drive – Understanding

Everyone learns on different levels. Some people may learn a task within a few lessons whereas others will take much more time. The same person may learn one task within minutes but a different task may take hours. If you find the learner is repeating the same mistake, regardless of your effort to explain, consider a different approach.

Teaching a Teenager – Knowledge

It is very important when teaching a learner how to drive, you to have the knowledge on driving and road safety. You are not only teaching a learn how to drive but also need to teach the rules and regulations of the road. Reading the Highway Code is a good start.

Teaching a Teenager – Being Responsive

When teaching someone how to drive, you must be able to anticipate hazards which may come on your way. You must be fully alert and aware of the surrounding. The safety of your learner and other road users is your responsibility. You need to consider all possible mistakes the learner may make and be able to respond quick safe way.  

Choosing Between Mum and Dad

A learner overcomes many challenges when trying to learn how to drive. Being taught by mum or dad can help reduce costs.  However, experts consider being taught by parents may not always be the best way to learn how to drive. This is mainly based on comfortability children tend to have with their parent. Parents can also be just as nervous when teaching their child how to drive. The learner would need to decide and try to think who would be able to teach better. Try not to consider who you have the best relationship with or who has the most driving experience but choose who you’ll be able to focus with more.  

When you are teaching your child how to drive, there are high chances which you can get aggravated, irritated and even start raising your voice. Remember your child is trying to learn, being irritated would only tense up the learner and instead of learning to drive, they would be a concern if any mistake would annoy you. Mistakes are bound to happen especially for a beginner learner, a beginner learns generally would need around 40-50 hours before there are anywhere near test standard ready. If you find your child is struggling to consider a different teaching technique approach or the other parent.

Learning to Drive with an Instructor

Driving instructors will have the training and experience to teach a learner driver confidently and safely. It is best to choose an ADI (Approved driving instructor). A list of all approve instructors are available on Gov.UK