Teach Your Children to be Safe Driver

Although the UK driving test is a tough, comprehensive set of tests which requires a fair amount of ability and skill to pass statistics show that new drivers, especially if under twenty one years in age, are most at risk in the weeks and months after they have passed their driving test. The reason for this is simple, experience or rather lack of it.

One key way that such a lack of experience can be countered is for parents to get involved which their children's driver training. The following tips are aimed at parents wishing to do this.

Hire a professional driving instructor to teach your offspring what is needed to pass the driving test, however be prepared to give them extra practice in your own car. The more miles driven, the better. Remember you must insure your car for this purpose. Even fully comprehensive insurance is unlikely to give correct and adequate cover.

Use the principle that the best way to teach is by example. With this in mind always adhere to the Highway Code and always wear your seat belt and keep to speed limits. The Highway Code is regularly updated so it is advisable to revise the latest version before your start teaching.

Use routes that they are likely to use often and point out where the risks and hazards are.

Spend time educating them on risks that a driving instructor may not touch upon i.e. keeping a high level of concentration even in slow, urban traffic or the very real risks of showing off whilst driving. Remember also that your child is likely to on their best behavior whilst being taught by a professional driving instructor and may behave differently with you as instructor or when qualified and driving friends around.

Take them driving in different weather conditions. It may be that you child learns and passes their test during the spring and summer months which may result in them never having to drive in poor weather conditions. If this is the case, or even if it is not, the more supervised practice they get driving in such conditions the better.

Take them driving at night. To pass the driving test you do not need any special lessons in nighttime driving. Many feel this is wrong as driving at night requires a different skills set to driving during the day.

You cannot drive on a motorway until you are a fully qualified driver so no learner driver is ever taught practical motorway driving skills. Again new drivers can find motorways intimidating and scary so it is advisable to accompany your son on daughter for motorway debut.

If learning to drive in a town, even a medium sized one, or city then it is unlikely that the driving instructor will take your son or daughter on any rural roads. If not it is advisable that you do. Rural roads are the most dangerous in the UK and require a different skill level to driving on urban roads or even dual carriageways. Statistics show that Class C roads are particularly dangerous. An inexperienced driver can easily push a car to a limit on these roads, corner too fast and skid out of control.

Always be prepared to help them further developed their driving skills. Encourage them to take further training such as the Pass Plus driving course. This is an advanced driving course for newly qualified drivers and covers such areas as driving in town, safe driving in all weather conditions, driving on rural roads, driving at night, driving on dual carriageways and driving on motorways.

For more information visit to www.driving-test-success.com.