Tools for Parents of Beginning Driver Students (Part 4)

From Lloyd Hobbs, Vice-president of Programs, SafetyNL

The contents of these articles are suggestions. Do not attempt any maneuver that you or the student driver are uncomfortable attempting.

Up to now we have discussed the tools available to you, the parent, to control the vehicle while your beginning driver is behind the wheel and we have gone over an introduction to the vehicle itself. We have had the student begin driving on an empty lot and execute some basic maneuvers. Finally, we had them on the roadway in a low-density simple traffic flow. Next, we will increase the complexity slightly and introduce some other safety topics.

You may want to review what has already been covered as a starting point. If everyone is comfortable, let the student begin the lesson from home. Of course, if you live in a high traffic area, this is not advisable. Drive through some low traffic areas where you will experience other traffic, stop signs, maybe a three-way or four-way stop. The key is to always make eye contact with other drivers before leaving a stopped position. Remember the other driver may know less about driving through intersections than your beginner, so teach them early to look out for the actions of other drivers. The rule is, the first to a multi-way stop is the first to leave the stop. However, if all arrive at the stop at the same time, you must agree on who will leave first and then all other vehicles surrender the right of way to the vehicles on their right. If you are unsure of how this works, there are many great explanations online. Also insist that stop means stop, not slow down and look to see if the way is clear. That is a yield. Now is a time to discuss following distance and a cushion of safety around the vehicle. We use the three second rule for following distance because with this method the distance increases as the speed increases. Have the driver pick an object that the vehicle ahead of you passes. Count one one-thousand, two one-thousands, three one-thousands. Your vehicle should just be passing that object at the third count if you are following a safe distance. At highway speeds you should consider an even greater following distance.

For now, stay in areas with a 60km or lower speed limit. You can introduce the driver to multi-lane roadways. If you have two lanes going in your direction, have them begin driving in the right lane. When you think it is safe and you have discussed what follows, suggest they move to the left lane. To do

this they need to put on their left signal light, look in the rear view and left-side mirrors for other traffic and then do a quick left shoulder check to ensure nothing is in the blind spot before moving into the left lane. When you want to move back to the right lane do the same process for moving right. Put on the right signal light, check the rearview and right-side mirror, do a right shoulder check to ensure nothing is in the right blind spot and move to the right when safe. Practice this several times. Always remind the new driver to make sure the other lane is free of traffic before changing lanes. As the licensed driver overseeing a beginning driver you will always need to check the beginning driver’s judgement until you feel they are confident to make these decisions on their own. Even then be prepared to intervene. Reinforce the concept of blind spots and show where the blind spot is for other drivers and stay out of their blind spot by dropping behind them or staying slightly ahead of them. When you are stopped you can demonstrate blind spots by walking around the vehicle with the new driver behind the wheel and they will quickly realize how you can disappear from their view. Also discuss positioning the vehicle so you are not boxed in by other vehicles and you have a way out if something prevents the traffic ahead from moving.

You will likely encounter traffic lights by now. Talk about stale green lights. These are lights that were green when you first observed them so you don’t know when they may turn amber. Upon approaching these be prepared to stop should the light change. Keep a steady speed but if the light changes a decision must be made. Do I have enough time to safely stop the vehicle or am I too close to the intersection to stop? Most experienced drivers will check their rear-view mirror as they approach the intersection, so they know how fast and how close traffic is following them. They can sometimes assess if the driver behind is paying attention to the road, checking a phone or looking elsewhere. This should help the new driver decide how quickly they can stop safely. You may have to help a new driver make these decisions at the beginning by demonstrating it while you are behind the wheel and talking them through your thought process. This is a good time to discuss stopping behind other vehicles and the rule that you should see the rear wheels of the vehicle in front of you when stopped. If you don’t see them, you are too close to that other vehicle.

This has been a busy lesson. You have moved into the general flow of traffic, first on quiet streets and then on busier and multi-lane roadways. You have changed lanes and gone through various types of intersections. These are all fundamentals of driving. Practice these several times before attempting anything new. In our next chat we will discuss passing, moving into multi-lane roadways from another street and we will begin parking. Until then, stay safe!