Tools for Parents of Beginning Driver Students (Part 8)

Welcome to the last segment in our chat about helping your child prepare for a driver’s license. It is quite a journey and if you have a typical relationship there have likely been moments when you were considering quitting or never speaking to each other again or leaving one of you on the curb and the other heading home. That’s all natural. And, that’s why there are driving schools.

For parents who have children enrolled in a Safety NL driving program that has been put on hold by the restrictions related to Covid-19, we want to reassure you that we are preparing to be ready to continue your child’s program as soon as we are allowed. We have been anticipating the new protocols for driving schools and in-class and in-car instruction and we have ordered personal protective equipment to protect both the students and the instructors. We have had discussions with Motor Registration Division and as soon as road tests resume, we will be using our assigned testing appointments to get our students through their programs. That should take the pressure off you. Another good reason why there are driving schools. There may be parents reading these articles that do not have their children enrolled in a graduated driver program. So, in this last article I will discuss some points that make their experience a little different from yours.

While we teach students to be good drivers in every situation, it is always good to be familiar with the general area where your child will be taken for the road test. We do not “teach for the test” but nobody wants surprises on test day. It would be a good idea to visit the area where the testing occurs and observe others completing their test and to become familiar with the road signs, the road configurations and the general flow of traffic in that area.

There are a few things that should be taken care of in advance of test day. First an appointment must be made at your local Motor Registration Driver Examining Office. If you are enrolled with a driving school, the school will usually have appointments which they will assign to your child. If you are not with a driving school, you will have to make that appointment yourself. There is a road test fee that all students must pay in advance of the road test. This can be done at Motor Registration Division or at a bank. Presently in Newfoundland and Labrador the fee is $78, and you will need that receipt plus the beginner’s permit to show the examiner prior to the test.

If you are with a driving school, the school will usually provide their car on test day. Otherwise you will have to provide your own vehicle and it must pass a vehicle inspection by the examiner. Ensure your

tires, signal and brake lights, the glass and all other safety features of your vehicle are in good working order and your vehicle registration and insurance are up to date. Otherwise the road test will not occur.

On test day the student should be as relaxed as they can be. Because this is an exam, there are certain things the examiner will be observing closely. These include: Did the student put on their seatbelt and adjust the seat and mirrors before beginning? Did the student signal and shoulder check before entering the flow of traffic? Did the student keep both hands on the wheel and use just one foot to control the brake and gas pedal? Did the student park within the poles without touching a pole and were they within a foot of the curb when parallel parking? Did the student stay in the correct lane and observe all traffic signs including making complete stops when needed? Did the student keep to the posted speed limit without going over? Did the student yield to other traffic and pedestrians when required? Did the student put the vehicle in park, turn it off and remove the keys at the end of the exam? Many of these seem like very basic things but some students do not pass on the first attempt. Usually this is because they were nervous. Should that happen, it is not the end of the world. They have lived almost seventeen years without a license and another few days of waiting won’t harm them. The biggest loss may be having to pay again for a second road test or the use of a driving school vehicle.

This has been an interesting experience for parents, children, driving school instructors and anyone else involved with your child getting a license. At Safety NL we always say “We wish you a lifetime of safe driving. Remember everything you learned in driving school and be safe at all times.”

There are many other articles related to safe driving and other topics on the Safety NL website. These include winter driving and roundabouts, two topics we did not cover in these chats. Please feel free to visit us and use the information. If at any time we can be of assistance, call us at 709 754 0210 or email info@safetyservicesnl.ca or lhobbs@safetyservicesnl.ca . We would really appreciate your feedback.