What you need to know before teaching your kids to drive

New and young drivers are among the most vulnerable on our roads, but there are things we can do to set them up for successful and safe driving.

Before you contemplate letting your child behind the wheel of a vehicle, it’s important to discuss the responsibility that comes with their imminent freedoms. While teens and young adults may think they are invincible, having a conversation around the broader duty-of-care they are about to sign up to in terms of passengers in their car, pedestrians and other drivers can hit home in a profound way. Road trauma statistics and the road toll are sobering facts to discuss.

A good driving position is critical to being a good and confident driver. Ensure the driver is comfortable, with the seat and steering wheel in the right position and all mirrors adjusted for optimal vision. It’s also worth ensuring the driver understands where the indicators are (left or right of steering wheel) and the hazard lights in the case of an emergency. Modern cars can be an audible circus of beeps as well as visual alerts. Ensure your child does not panic if your vehicle’s safety tech kicks in. Explore all of this in the driveway, before you set off.

Playing the role of instructor and navigator, you need to plan ahead to ensure there’s limited stress or uncertainly behind the wheel. Make a plan for the route you’ll take, ensuring it is fit for the stage of driving your child is at – for example, first timers may need an empty car park. Create a plan for what you'll focus on during each lesson, breaking down the basics of driving, such as changing lanes, negotiating round-abouts, parking or maintaining speed on freeways. Let your child know what you’ll focus on and what they can expect with each session which can form the basis for an overall check list of required skills.

Use conversation to make children accountable behind the wheel. Use questions rather than barking instructions at them, to ensure they understand their environment and are thinking about their actions and decisions. For example, ask them what the speed limit is, rather than telling them it’s a 50km zone. Ask them questions like, is it safe to change lanes now? Is there anyone close behind you? Let me know when you’re going to start braking, and so on. All of these questions will force them to be acutely aware of their ever-changing surroundings.

Also, don’t forget to display the L or P plates correctly on the vehicle each time they drive it. Not only is it a legal requirement for drivers on learner and probationary licences, but the plates alert other road users that the person operating the vehicle is still learning and may be taking things a little slower.

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If you're able to, get your child some professional driving lessons. There’s also a great benefit of being passenger on a professional driving lesson with your child (back seat, mouth closed). This allows you to understand the language, tactics and tone that a professional driver will use – and that you should also adopt going forward.

Regular paid lessons can get expensive, but maybe a birthday or Christmas is soon? A professional driving lesson is a great gift idea.

By all means, make your child’s first lesson a great one – blue skies and minimal traffic. However, if you’re restricting your learner driver sessions to fair weather days only, you’re significantly limiting their driving experience. While the learner driver’s regulations do prescribe a set amount of day and night-time driving hours, it doesn’t speak of weather conditions. Use your common sense and expose your kids to real world driving as much as possible – short drives, long drives, busy drives, quiet drives, stressful drives. Do it all - rain, hail and shine.

Imagine your role as that of a coach, the most important coaching role you’ll ever undertake. Do not forget the post-drive pep talk! It’s important to encourage them, talk them up and praise their efforts. We want children to feel competent and safe behind the wheel and feeling good about themselves will help in this regard and set you up for a positive learning experience with every lesson.