How to find the time for supervised drives
The single best protective measure for safe P driving is
meaningful driving experience on L’s, which requires lots and lots
of driving. This page has suggestions for how you can handle this
part of your challenge and tips for finding practice time.
The more driving your learner driver does on L’s the more
protected they will be on P’s.
You probably agree there is a benefit, but it may also seem to
come at a cost when you consider the time and effort involved.
The table below is designed to help you reflect on the costs and
benefits of helping your son, daughter, friend, or student get lots
of experience.
Consider what you think and feel about the costs and benefits
that people talk about:
| Thoughts about |
Possible costs |
Possible benefits |
| Helping learner drivers gain much experience |
Giving up precious time I feel I don’t have.
It’s effort and energy I may not have.
Will cost me money, e.g. fuel.
Could be inconvenient.
Sounds very stressful for lots of reasons.
Any other thoughts…?
|
They’ll be much safer when they get their P’s.
It will show them how much I care and how important I believe it
is.
It’s a great opportunity to build our relationship. I can make
it quality time.
I’ll know I’ve done my best.
I’ll learn lots, too, about myself, my learner, and driving.
Any other thoughts…?
|
| Not helping learner drivers gain much experience |
I could find myself living every parent’s worst nightmare.
My kids or someone else’s could be hurt for life.
I could have to look after them for life.
I couldn’t handle the repair bills and extra expense.
|
I get time to do what I want to do.
It's easier to send them to someone else to get their hours
up.
It’s less stressful.
It’s less expensive.
Any other thoughts…?
|
Here are some tips that may help you find more practice
time:
- Consider having trustworthy friends provide practice
opportunities.
- To make practice more efficient, plan the practice drives over
breakfast and debrief over dinner.
- Test the time it takes your learner driver to drive somewhere
and compare it to the time it takes you. It’s likely that the
difference will be smaller than you think.
- If you have to drive, your learner driver can still practice
most driving skills from the passenger’s seat. Encourage them to
direct you and take some responsibility for making decisions.
- If you have to drive or feel it’s safer that you drive, perhaps
you don’t have to drive all the way. Build in time to swap seats
and let your learner drive when and where appropriate.
Next: a 'before you drive'
checklist
