Supervising a learner - any tips?
Discussion
My girlfriend's learning to drive and she's just bought a car to practise in. She's driven me off road on a couple of occasions, but this weekend will be the first of many times she'll practise in her car with me supervising. I'm insured on the car, so can drive us to a quiet area if necessary.
I've never sat next to a learner before; so does anyone have any tips for me or her?
PS - I'm sure this has been covered before, but the search facility's down at the moment.
I've never sat next to a learner before; so does anyone have any tips for me or her?
PS - I'm sure this has been covered before, but the search facility's down at the moment.
RobM77 said:
My girlfriend's learning to drive and she's just bought a car to practise in. She's driven me off road on a couple of occasions....
That's all you need to know! Send her to a driving school - even if you have to pay - if you value the relationship. It'll be a bargain. 
Best wishes all,
Dave.
p1esk said:
RobM77 said:
My girlfriend's learning to drive and she's just bought a car to practise in. She's driven me off road on a couple of occasions....
That's all you need to know! Send her to a driving school - even if you have to pay - if you value the relationship. It'll be a bargain. Best wishes all,
Dave.
We started off road in the first place, so we didn't arrive there by accident! 
She's having some great lessons once/twice a week, but practise is a great idea I think.
Edited by RobM77 on Tuesday 6th October 14:44
Supervised both kids when they were learning and while it was occasionally nerveracking, overall it was very satisfyinig to see them progress.
Tips? Well, don't assume that a learner is looking at what you're looking at and will have noticed (for example) the pedestrian approaching the crossing 100 yards ahead. They're more likely to be focusing about 25 yards ahead. Also, remember that a learner is concentrating very hard on simply controlling the mechanical aspects of driving a car - something that experienced drivers do instinctively. This means that they have less time to take in what other traffic is doing and to plan ahead. Learners drive slowly for a very good reason!
Otherwise, as ever with coaching, praise and encouragement work wonders for confidence and try not to criticise every little thing! Smoothness will come later; it's basic safety that you're after at this stage.
Tips? Well, don't assume that a learner is looking at what you're looking at and will have noticed (for example) the pedestrian approaching the crossing 100 yards ahead. They're more likely to be focusing about 25 yards ahead. Also, remember that a learner is concentrating very hard on simply controlling the mechanical aspects of driving a car - something that experienced drivers do instinctively. This means that they have less time to take in what other traffic is doing and to plan ahead. Learners drive slowly for a very good reason!
Otherwise, as ever with coaching, praise and encouragement work wonders for confidence and try not to criticise every little thing! Smoothness will come later; it's basic safety that you're after at this stage.
gdaybruce said:
Supervised both kids when they were learning and while it was occasionally nerveracking, overall it was very satisfyinig to see them progress.
Tips? Well, don't assume that a learner is looking at what you're looking at and will have noticed (for example) the pedestrian approaching the crossing 100 yards ahead. They're more likely to be focusing about 25 yards ahead. Also, remember that a learner is concentrating very hard on simply controlling the mechanical aspects of driving a car - something that experienced drivers do instinctively. This means that they have less time to take in what other traffic is doing and to plan ahead. Learners drive slowly for a very good reason!
Otherwise, as ever with coaching, praise and encouragement work wonders for confidence and try not to criticise every little thing! Smoothness will come later; it's basic safety that you're after at this stage.
Thanks. When I'm driving my eyes are all over the place spotting side roads, driveways, junctions, parked cars with doors opening etc etc. As you say, obviously my girlfriend will be spending most of her time worrying about controlling the car, rather than scouring the road and periphery. Do you think I should mention such things, or would that just be annoying and distracting for my her? I guess if I think there's a real risk of us having to change speed or course I could calmly say "notice the old lady skateboarding up ahead" etc.Tips? Well, don't assume that a learner is looking at what you're looking at and will have noticed (for example) the pedestrian approaching the crossing 100 yards ahead. They're more likely to be focusing about 25 yards ahead. Also, remember that a learner is concentrating very hard on simply controlling the mechanical aspects of driving a car - something that experienced drivers do instinctively. This means that they have less time to take in what other traffic is doing and to plan ahead. Learners drive slowly for a very good reason!
Otherwise, as ever with coaching, praise and encouragement work wonders for confidence and try not to criticise every little thing! Smoothness will come later; it's basic safety that you're after at this stage.
Get her to play "a game". Tell her to name every sign she sees and every hazard she sees and is planning on dealing with.
Whilst she does this keep up YOUR observation. If she's missing important stuff you will know. If something needs correcting (i.e. to avert disaster) you can mention it. If your observation is good enough you should be able to do that far enough back to give her a chance.
With a learner start mentioning something important EARLY.
But if she's doing well you'll soon find you don't need to talk much.
She may also value you giving her directions.
Whilst she does this keep up YOUR observation. If she's missing important stuff you will know. If something needs correcting (i.e. to avert disaster) you can mention it. If your observation is good enough you should be able to do that far enough back to give her a chance.
With a learner start mentioning something important EARLY.
But if she's doing well you'll soon find you don't need to talk much.
She may also value you giving her directions.
The most important thing is to control your temper. Supervising people that are inexperienced at something is both nerve-racking and frustrating but you must stay relaxed about it. No matter how bad things are (and I'm not saying it'll be bad, but it might be), if you start shouting then everything is fecked. If you stay calm, so will she.
Thanks. I will try ever so hard to be patient I'm a trainer by profession, so am fairly used to people who aren't confident in something.
Things are going well so far; in the time she's driven me she's not stalled and her steering is very smooth and progressive.
Commentary is one of the things that's always helped improve my observation massively. I still do it about once a week to this day. I did wonder though if it was asking to much to get her to talk and drive at the same time at this early stage (4 weeks and 4 lessons I think).
I'm a trainer by profession, so am fairly used to people who aren't confident in something.Things are going well so far; in the time she's driven me she's not stalled and her steering is very smooth and progressive.
Commentary is one of the things that's always helped improve my observation massively. I still do it about once a week to this day. I did wonder though if it was asking to much to get her to talk and drive at the same time at this early stage (4 weeks and 4 lessons I think).
I'd also vary the route a bit with some open road driving away from the endless urban sprawl of traffic, kerbs, juntions, etc. While a learner obviously needs to master all of that, the advantage of driving in your own car is that you're not limited to a standard driving school lesson and can experience faster and more flowing roads that present a different set of challenges and allow you to develop a feel for the car at higher speeds. Plus, it's more fun!
RobM77 said:
Thanks. I will try ever so hard to be patient I'm a trainer by profession, so am fairly used to people who aren't confident in something.
Things are going well so far; in the time she's driven me she's not stalled and her steering is very smooth and progressive.
Commentary is one of the things that's always helped improve my observation massively. I still do it about once a week to this day. I did wonder though if it was asking to much to get her to talk and drive at the same time at this early stage (4 weeks and 4 lessons I think).
At her stage the talking should actually help. If she hates it don't pressure her. I'm a trainer by profession, so am fairly used to people who aren't confident in something.Things are going well so far; in the time she's driven me she's not stalled and her steering is very smooth and progressive.
Commentary is one of the things that's always helped improve my observation massively. I still do it about once a week to this day. I did wonder though if it was asking to much to get her to talk and drive at the same time at this early stage (4 weeks and 4 lessons I think).
Don said:
RobM77 said:
Thanks. I will try ever so hard to be patient I'm a trainer by profession, so am fairly used to people who aren't confident in something.
Things are going well so far; in the time she's driven me she's not stalled and her steering is very smooth and progressive.
Commentary is one of the things that's always helped improve my observation massively. I still do it about once a week to this day. I did wonder though if it was asking to much to get her to talk and drive at the same time at this early stage (4 weeks and 4 lessons I think).
At her stage the talking should actually help. If she hates it don't pressure her. I'm a trainer by profession, so am fairly used to people who aren't confident in something.Things are going well so far; in the time she's driven me she's not stalled and her steering is very smooth and progressive.
Commentary is one of the things that's always helped improve my observation massively. I still do it about once a week to this day. I did wonder though if it was asking to much to get her to talk and drive at the same time at this early stage (4 weeks and 4 lessons I think).
We'll try it at the weekend and see how she gets on. I'll report back on Monday
Edited by RobM77 on Tuesday 6th October 15:37
One of the things I have done to get learners to start talking is to get them to tell you whenever they look in the mirror - say "mirror". I think the "name every hazard" game might be too much to start with. Depends how much bandwidth they have.
Also to echo what someone else said, when too many things happen and bandwidth gets stretched, vision draws in. So the focus gets closer and closer. You can often spot this as the steering goes off and the learner over-corrects.
Bert
Also to echo what someone else said, when too many things happen and bandwidth gets stretched, vision draws in. So the focus gets closer and closer. You can often spot this as the steering goes off and the learner over-corrects.
Bert
Gave my two practice runs between professional lessons, I can't add much to the excellent advice above. The car will very likely acquire some more dents as judging width is not an easily acquired skill (I think we lost one off-side mirror and a dwarf-wall pillar!) but no point in shouting about it.
Give clear and timely route instructions and try and head off Trouble before it arrives (example: blue lights ahead or behind = panic!). After only 4 lessons she'll still be trying to think of how to cope with the next few yards rather than some remote problem down the road.
Give clear and timely route instructions and try and head off Trouble before it arrives (example: blue lights ahead or behind = panic!). After only 4 lessons she'll still be trying to think of how to cope with the next few yards rather than some remote problem down the road.
My dad supervised me as a learner 1.5 years ago, so here are some of the things he did:
As said, keep up a constant flow of commentary for her, and read the DSA books so that you know exactly what she needs to do to pass.
Don't be surprised if the driving instructor gives out some wrong information - Some of them don't really understand what they are trying to teach, so there can be some gargled messages, which confuse the learner.
Be prepared for wheels to be kerbed and countless rubbish attempts at parking.
Stick a second mirror in the car so that you know what's happening behind.
When on dual carriageways, make sure you do a shoulder check, as one of the hardest things for learners to master is judging how fast traffic is approaching from behind, E.g. They look in the mirror, there seems enough space, but when they pull out the gap has closed.
Don't let any bad habits develop like tailgating and lane hogging.
HTH!
As said, keep up a constant flow of commentary for her, and read the DSA books so that you know exactly what she needs to do to pass.
Don't be surprised if the driving instructor gives out some wrong information - Some of them don't really understand what they are trying to teach, so there can be some gargled messages, which confuse the learner.
Be prepared for wheels to be kerbed
and countless rubbish attempts at parking.Stick a second mirror in the car so that you know what's happening behind.
When on dual carriageways, make sure you do a shoulder check, as one of the hardest things for learners to master is judging how fast traffic is approaching from behind, E.g. They look in the mirror, there seems enough space, but when they pull out the gap has closed.
Don't let any bad habits develop like tailgating and lane hogging.
HTH!
One difficult thing that can happen is that the instructor teaches something you don't agree with. This can be where the techniques for passing the test differ from perhaps "advanced" techniques. My advice is to support what the instructor does as far as possible. Getting into a debate about technique via the pupil is best avoided!
Also keep an eye out for tiredness/lost concentration. It's really easy to spot and better to rest than it all get a bit messy.
And another thing (is this a monty python sketch?) and as a trainer I am sure you will have seen this before...when a new thing is introduced overall performance can decline from where it was whilst it is assimilated (Borg stylee). I might in the past have been slihtly guilty of "what on earth are you doing? you could do that last time!"
Bert
Also keep an eye out for tiredness/lost concentration. It's really easy to spot and better to rest than it all get a bit messy.
And another thing (is this a monty python sketch?) and as a trainer I am sure you will have seen this before...when a new thing is introduced overall performance can decline from where it was whilst it is assimilated (Borg stylee). I might in the past have been slihtly guilty of "what on earth are you doing? you could do that last time!"
Bert
Big tip here and is worth it - ask to sit in on a few of her lessons with her instructor, if for some obscure reason the instructor doesn't let you, change instructor.
Hopefully the instructor is completing assessment sheets and progress records for her to take away after the lesson, if he is
get the instructor to mark down things for you to do or watch out for, and if he doesn't ask why not!
Make sure you are up to scratch yourself with the system of Mirror/Signal/Position/Speed/Gear (Look Assess Decide and Act)obviously the looking starts from when you first notice the actual or potential hazard and the assess/decide/act follows in due course with probable re-assessment along the way.
There is no real difference in how you teach a learner to use the system and it is good to get as much private practice as possible, however the main things to slip in a more capable learner when getting private practice are: mirror use, speed of approach too fast and slight speeding as well as at times, not making progress where appropriate.
If you are after any advice just ask, I am a qualified ADI & Fleet Trainer and have experience teaching learners, Advanced Drivers and also instructor training.
Hopefully the instructor is completing assessment sheets and progress records for her to take away after the lesson, if he is
get the instructor to mark down things for you to do or watch out for, and if he doesn't ask why not!
Make sure you are up to scratch yourself with the system of Mirror/Signal/Position/Speed/Gear (Look Assess Decide and Act)obviously the looking starts from when you first notice the actual or potential hazard and the assess/decide/act follows in due course with probable re-assessment along the way.
There is no real difference in how you teach a learner to use the system and it is good to get as much private practice as possible, however the main things to slip in a more capable learner when getting private practice are: mirror use, speed of approach too fast and slight speeding as well as at times, not making progress where appropriate.
If you are after any advice just ask, I am a qualified ADI & Fleet Trainer and have experience teaching learners, Advanced Drivers and also instructor training.
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