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Proper practice makes a good habit. That’s very true. Parents of new drivers often ask how they can keep their sanity while they sit in the passenger seat when the new driver is out practicing
their driving. It’s time to help all of the parents of new drivers and the new drivers themselves with coming up with a plan for proper practice.
The first thing to realize is the novice driver has limited experience. Their decision-making ability is weaker than most. Your job as a parent is not to teach them but to help them become
consistent and safe while they practice what their in-car instructor has taught them.
The first suggestion is to find a safe location to practice. The mall parking lot may not be the best place to practice, although it can be fine if you intend to allow them to get a feel for the
accelerator and brakes. Since there are often no curbs or typical corners in the parking lot, their perception of when to make their turns would be unrealistic. Instead of the mall, take them to a
quiet residential area. Scout out the best area for this on your own or speak with the instructor.
The other point to consider is the time of day. Take the novice driver out to practice when the roads are quieter. Rush hour may not be a good idea. Having fewer distractions is better for
their focus and concentration level. Heavy traffic can add fear to them because of the distractions.
Keep the occupants of the vehicle to just you and the novice driver. They typically don’t want someone in the backseat yelling comments toward them or attempting to involve them in conversation every few minutes. Avoid bringing the family along when your new driver is practicing. Make the practice session the only reason you and they are in the vehicle.
The common error many novice drivers make is going out to practice for two or three hours continuously. The problem that comes with this plan is the new driver may forget much of the
information after a while. The best solution is to go out to practice for 30 minutes at a time and do that 3 or 4 times a week. The repetition of practicing every 48 hours or so makes a big
difference in the retention of information.
Speak with their driving instructor to ask what should be practiced. It’s important to practice the same skills the same way they were taught so that novice drivers can build positive habits. If
you attempt to change what they were taught or how they were taught, it could easily confuse them. If you’re unsure, again speak with the driving instructor.
Think of it as a team. You, the novice driver and the instructor all working together. Sounds perfect, doesn’t it?