Learner drivers turn to Dad

New research by carsales.com.au reveals that learner drivers prefer to call on Dad as the in-house instructor.

The question ' When learning to drive, who did you most prefer to be taught by?' was slipped in among a number of other questions put to just over a thousand respondents, and the collective response was the most striking – 38.4 per cent of learners wanted Dad in the passenger seat.

That percentage applied across both sexes of learner driver. And Dad was even considered a better option than professional driving instructors, who were still more popular than Mum, at 27.5 per cent versus 23.1.

Nearly a third (30.6 per cent) named 'Less stress' as the primary factor in choosing Dad over Mum. Around half that number (15.1 per cent) observed that they had 'more trust in father's driving'. In a related vein, 13.9 per cent said they felt safer, and 10.8 per cent confessed that Mum had 'no patience'.

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Yet despite the answers from the survey respondents, Dad (and the Driving Instructor) are not necessarily helping kids develop the right mindset before being let loose on public roads, solo.

According to an Australian Bureau of Statistics report from 2012, national road fatalities for the 17-25 year-old age group were almost double the average across all age groups. At the very least it points to an ongoing need for more experience on the roads before drivers receive their licences.

"Given this age group is one of the most susceptible to road trauma, it is essential that they get the most supportive learning experience as possible before facing the roads on their own," says Mike Sinclair, Editor-in-Chief at carsales.com.au.

"As learner drivers are now required to clock up to 120 driving hours in some states before getting their license, it's critical that their learning environment is optimum for the safety of all road users. When teaching our children to drive, parents need be patient, calm, and lead by example with their own driving.

"In addition, drivers need exposure to different types of passengers as driving conditions are never going to be completely perfect, so exposure to mum and dad's tuition behind the wheel is paramount once a driver has the basics sorted."

The respondents named siblings – brothers and sisters – as the 'instructor' of last resort. Friends were considered fine by 6.9 per cent of learners, but siblings were preferred by just 4.1 per cent.

Despite the inherent risks associated with driving – and particularly with a young person behind the wheel – fewer than half the respondents aged between 18 and 24 considered safety features to be important criteria when purchasing a car.

"These statistics may come down to the fact that Australians are simply unaware of how crucial some safety features can be," says Sinclair.

"The fact that less than half rated any safety feature as 'very important' or 'essential' indicates a clear need for widespread education about car safety.

"There is twice the chance of being killed or seriously injured in a 3 Star ANCAP safety rated car compared to a 5 star ANCAP safety rated car, making it a priority when purchasing."

Thanks to Ken and Steph for the pic