How to Practise Learning   to   drive   safely   takes   practice   -   lots   of   practice.      No   one   would   spend   a   session with   a   coach,   whether   arts   or   athletic,   and   then   not   practise.      It’s   the   same,   or   even   more for   driving   -   skipping   practice   on   a   piano   or   on   the   rink   is   not   as   dangerous   as   skipping practice in driving. Parents   /   Guardians   should   also   be   aware   that   Driving   Lessons   are   done   in   a   mid-size sedan,   and   while   it   is   certainly   advantageous   to   use   one   of   our   cars   for   the   Road   Test (the   Learner   Driver   is   familiar   with   the   car   and   the   Driver   Examiners   prefer   a   test   car with   two   sets   of   brake   pedals),   it   is   unwise   to   believe   that   a   Newly   Licensed   Driver   who has   only   driven   a   mid-size   sedan   can   now   safely   get   behind   the   wheel   of   a   massive   SUV, van   or   pick-up   truck   without   an   experienced   driver   to   help   them   learn   how   to   handle that vehicle. So where to begin?  First    is    planning     -    think    ahead    to    make    the    practice    session    safe    and    successful.      Remember   that   the   Learner   Driver   has   been   learning   in   a   mid-size   sedan   -   if   you   can arrange   for   them   to   practice   in   a   similar   sized   car   until   they   pass   their   Road   Test,   it   will be   very   helpful.      Decide   in   advance   where   you   are   going   and   what   you   are   going   to   do.     Also   decide   in   advance   how   you   are   going   to   get   to   the   practice   area   -   if   you   need   to pass    through    downtown    Halifax    in    order    to    get    to    a    quiet    subdivision,    then    the Supervising   Driver   should   drive   to   the   practice   area,   and   on   the   way   the   Supervising Driver   can   point   out   and   discuss   the   potential   hazards   and   situations   that   they   are monitoring while they drive. Second   is   communication    -   keep   it   simple and    calm.        Too    many    directions    from    the Supervising    Driver    will    only    frustrate    and confuse   the   Learner   Driver   -   sometimes   the best   practice   is   to   let   the   Learner   Driver   tell you   what   they   are   doing   and   what   they   are watching   for.         Encourage   the   Learner   Driver to   explain   to   you   what   they   learned   in   their last   driving   lesson;   this   will   not   only   help   the Learner   Driver   recall   and   focus   on   what   he or     she     has     learned,     it     will     help     the Supervising   Driver   understand   what   is   going on and what practice is required. Third   is   evaluation    -   how   will   you   know   when   the   Learner   Driver   has   mastered   a   skill,   or needs   more   practice   with   a   skill,   or   is   getting   frustrated   and   needs   to   return   to   practising that   skill   at   a   later   time?      Here   is   a   link   to   a   number   of   videos   about   planning,   practising with and evaluating a Learner Driver.