What do you do when your child is old enough to learn how to drive? The most important thing you can do is provide them with calm, clear instruction and give them as much time behind the wheel as possible. Research has shown the safety of novice drivers increases with the amount of supervised practice they receive. So every hour of supervised practice you provide can help make your child a better and safer driver for the future.

If you choose the role of instructor, remember you are a mentor, guide and expert, so you need to know the road rules. The Traffic Handbook is available from your local road authority, as well as from most newsagents. It’s easy to read and has very clear diagrams, so it’s a great resource. Remember the road rules you grew up with may have changed.

Many parents choose to engage a professional driving instructor for the first few lessons to get the basics right.  Ask the instructor if you can accompany your child on their first few driving lessons. Sitting in on these early lessons with a professional instructor will help you to be familiar with the methods the professionals use and allow you to encourage similar driving behaviours in your own driving lessons with your child. Time spent with your child should be less stressful and progress more smoothly if the coaching you provide is consistent with that of their professional driving instructor.

It also helps to familiarise your child with the car they’ll be using to learn to drive. While in a stationary position, make sure the car is in neutral or park and the handbrake is firmly applied.

Next, get them to practice using all the controls, including:

• starting the engine
• using the indicators and wipers
• adjusting the seat so they can comfortably reach the pedals and steering wheel
• setting the mirrors to minimise blind spots
• turning lights on and using the high beam.

The more familiar they are with the controls inside the car, the easier and safer those early practice sessions will be.

The 9 o’clock – 3 o’clock position is the correct way to hold the steering wheel. Today’s newer cars are equipped with airbags, so the traditional 10 to 2 position is no longer the preferred option. This is because, in the event of a crash, the deployment of the airbag can cause burns to the arms. Also, because it opens so fast, it can cause your hand to whip back and hit you. By using the 9 to 3 position, you give the airbag more space to open which should reduce the chance of injury.

When your mirrors are positioned correctly, you should be able to see the cars behind you in your central rear vision mirror. If cars are passing you to the left or right, they should appear in your side mirrors as they leave your vision in the central mirror. However, blind spots can still exist, particularly on the left side, so make sure you always do a head check before merging or changing lanes.

The best place to begin driving lessons is in an empty car park or a quiet local street where there’s minimal traffic. Make sure you choose fine weather to begin with too. Get your learner driver to practice starting and stopping, using gentle acceleration and braking, and smooth steering and gear control. As your leaner becomes more comfortable and confident with these basic manoeuvres, you can gradually increase the length of the drives - with trips to the shops, school and friends’ homes. Then you can progress to main roads, freeways and the CBD - day and night, at peak hour, and in all weather conditions.

• Keep a safe distance from the car in front, even further back than you might normally travel. Your learner will be slower to react to sudden traffic changes than you.
• Give instructions and directions clearly and in plenty of time, avoiding last second commands. If your learner looks like missing a turn, don’t worry – simply take the next one.
• Expect the unexpected, and watch for motorbikes and bicycles. Choose the right speed for the conditions – if in doubt, slower is always best.
• Indicate early and take care merging into the next lane.
• Be patient. Overtake only when the road is clear. If in doubt – don’t.
• Trucks take longer to brake than cars. Don’t move into the space they have in front of them.
• If either of you are feeling tired, take a break.

What should you do if you’re confronted with an impatient or aggressive driver while out driving with your learner? Generally the best advice is to do nothing. If you stay calm, your learner is also likely to remain calm. Most importantly, don’t retaliate, as this will only inflame the situation further and put your learner under greater stress. Tell them to continue on in a steady manner until they are able to smoothly move out of the way, but only when it is safe to do so. People sometimes forget they were once learners too.

Did you know that if you travel at 80kph in a 60kph zone, you’re up to 32 times more likely to have a serious accident than if you drove at the speed limit?

Did you know that if you double your speed, your stopping distance will be 4 times longer?

Here are some approximate speeds and stopping distances for a car with good brakes and tyres on a dry road:

50 km/h – 35 metres

60 km/h – 45 metres

80 km/h – 70 metres

For young people, more than one passenger in the car greatly increases the chance of having a serious crash.

The chances of having a serious crash are at their highest between the hours of 10pm and 6am . Friday and Saturday nights are still the highest fatality days of the week. For young drivers, the first 6 to 12 months of having their driver’s licence is the most at-risk time.