Communicating with a Beginning Driver
Please use the Play button in the lower left hand corner of the video screen.
No
one
is
going
to
suggest
that
there
are
easy
rules
for
communicating
with
a
teenager,
especially
when
you
are
doing
something
stressful
like
helping
them
learn
to
drive.
The
truth
is,
though,
that
the
way
parents/guardians
act
can
make
a
big
difference to the way teenagers respond.
Experienced
drivers
forget
just
how
scary
and
confusing
it
for
the
beginner
who
is
learning
to
drive.
Do
not
assume
that
the
learner
driver
understands
or
even
remembers
everything
they
were
taught
in
class
or
in
their
driving
lesson.
Start
off
in
a
safe
place
and
check
that
the
learner
knows
how
to
start,
stop
and
handle
the
car
safely.
Prepare
the
learner
for
some
of
the
hazards
they
will
meet
on
the
road:
pedestrians,
bicycles,
speeders,
tailgaters,
drivers
who
turn and change lanes without signaling.
Directions,
constructive
criticism
and
praise
are
all
good,
but
remember
that
the
learner
is
concentrating
hard
on
managing
the
vehicle.
Too
much
talking
is
distracting.
Keep
conversations about school, sports, and other current events for later.
Unexpected
events
will
happen
-
the
learner
will
make
a
mistake
or
another
driver
will
run
a
stop
sign
or
pull
out
in
front
without
leaving
enough
room.
Avoiding
collisions
in
these
situations
is
all
part
of
defensive
driving,
but
the
supervising
driver
is
now
defensively
driving
from
the
passenger’s
seat.
Be
ready
to
assist
when
a
dangerous
situation
occurs,
and
when
it
is
safe,
pull
over
to
the
side
of
the
road
and
take
a
deep
breath.
It
isn’t
easy,
but
as
much
as
possible,
avoid
yelling
and
lectures.
Discuss
the
situation
and
make
sure
you
get
the
learner
driver’s
point
of
view
about
how
to
avoid
mistakes
or
stay
safe
when
another
driver
makes
a
mistake - the learner will remember more that way.