8 Driving Lesson Tips For A Total Beginner
How Do You Go About Instructing A New Driver With No Experience Whatsoever How To Drive?
To teach a young 17 year old student with no experience whatsoever how to drive is indeed a very formidable task to perform. It is like, expecting the driving instructor to do what David Copperfield does, make the Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur disappear.
When I think about the above, which I have to do, it sometimes makes me wonder in amazement, how for over forty years, I was able to carry out this duty to my students.
Who then has the authority to teach new students in the art of driving?
The answer to this is the driving school or institutes instructor, and no one else.
The instructor, you should remember possesses the certificate to teach. This certificate, in the driving school arena is known as the S.M.2 certificate.
In spite of knowing the above, you may still wish, to say, teach your son or daughter how to drive. Well then, here goes regarding how best to impart the art of driving to your children.
The methods I would suggest to you are:
1) The 10 and 2 position to hold the steering.
Explain to the new driver, the hands are to be placed ideally at 10 and 2 position. The steering, advise the student, should be held firmly and not gripped too tightly.
Remember, in times of emergency, an instructor will have to swerve the steering to avoid collision. A student gripping on to the steering tightly, will prevent the instructor from reacting fast enough when dangerous situations occur.
Therefore, a good instructor should test the steering grip of the student by pushing the steering left to right, ensuring that it can rotate fairly easily.
You will be surprised how a 5 foot girl, when in fear, will hold on to the steering. And believe me, her strength is way much stronger for an adult instructor to handle.
2) Explain how to switch on the ignition key.
Many do not know how to switch on or start an engine. Therefore, the first thing a new student has to be taught is how to start a vehicle. Explain to the student, one has to turn the ignition switch 3 times to the right before a car can start.
Practice this 2 or 3 times. Do it a few times till you are satisfied that your student can actually start a car.
Why is this important?
Because if the car should stall suddenly, you as an instructor will not be able to re-start the car for her. With traffic following behind, the student is the only person who can solve the problem of a car stalling. She has to be able to re-start the engine herself.
You cannot help her as the ignition switch is too far and out of your reach. Hopefully, you get the idea of how vitally important you have to teach your new student how to start a car.
3) Explaining how to manipulate the signals or indicators.
Next, the necessity to explain how to manipulate the signals or the indicators. Show the new student that pushing the indicator left of downwards to the right, indicates the intention to go towards the right direction.
4) Adjusting the driver’s seat.
A new driver should be taught how to adjust the seating position. Show the new driver, using the left hand, that there’s a lever under the driver’s seat which controls the seat forward or backwards. The incline adjuster is located beside the right hip of the driver.
5) How to adjust the handbrake.
Adjusting the handbrake is important. Inform the new driver to install the handbrake, one has to pull up the lever. It’s the releasing of the handbrake that poses some difficulty.
To release the brake, firstly pull up the brakes half an inch, press the release button and leave the handbrake down.
6) The gears of a manual car.
To drive a manual car, one has to learn up where the gears are located. In most cars, there’s a diagram of the gear positions imprinted on the gear knob.
Teach the student the positions of gear 1 to 5 plus the free gear. Also inform the new student, that when wishing to engage any of the gears, you should step on the clutch.
As this is the first lesson, do not bother about the reverse gear. Leave the learning of this difficult gear for another lesson.
7) The horns.
Teach or show a new student where the horn is located. Some are in the centre of the steering stalk, while others are located at the side of the steering wheel.
8) The clutch, the brakes and finally the accelerator.
Explain the various important mechanism of the clutch, the brakes and the accelerator. Explain to the new driver which leg he or she has to use. If necessary, make a new driver learn by heart the positions of the gears.
Not knowing the exact position of each gear will cause difficulty when learning how to drive.
There are other items of a manual car to be learnt. But what I’ve demonstrated to you this far will be sufficient for you to drive a car. Other things and aspects of a car will be demonstrated to you at a later stage.
Hopefully, with the advice I have given will be able to assist you to teach someone you have or care for how to drive.
Hi author, nice n useful blog.. Just asking if you could help me..
I already have car license but I have not been driving for almost 5 years now..
I got scared after an accident and could not overcome the fear on the road..
Now i’ve been thinking of taking driving lessons frm nearby driving school..
do you know if there is any driving school that can teach a license holder like me…??
5 years is rather long time. You have been psychologically affected by your accident. To overcome your fear, you need a very good and patient driving instructor.
The above instructor need to slow and instill confidence back into you.
Whether you will be able to find an instructor of such caliber as I described, is anybody’s guess.
Anyway, I hope you succeed in finding him. Best of luck to you.
By the way, where are you located?
I recently started my driving lessons after going through the normal procedures for obtaining my license. I’ve never driven in my life nor do I know anything about cars. So, it was indeed an excitement for me when I started the 8-hour requirement lessons. However on the second day of my lesson, my instructor started raising his voice and showing his displeasure, in fact he made stopped the lesson 10 mins before the lesson time ended. Clearly he is not communicating with me well and I’m expected to know when to change to gear 2 while driving – this is an example. I don’t mind him being strict with me because I really want to learn but definitely not on my second day!! I did not want to get into an argument with him either because then it would affect our ‘relationship’ and this will make lessons harder to handle. Please advise what I should do. I’m thinking of changing my instructor/driving school after the 8 hour lesson requirement and take my subsequent additional lessons from another instructor who would be more patient and sincere in teaching me to drive. Looking at your profile, I wish I could continue my lessons with you but based on location, I’m not sure if you would be keen. I live in Setapak whereas you are in Klang.
Thank you.
Having an unsuitable driving instructor obviously will cause you lots of unpleasantness. Should you fell uneasy with your present instructor, by all means, seek another who is suitable to you.
You are right! An instructor who is impatient and cannot communicate with you will make learning very unpleasant.
Thank you for you kind words. As you say, you are in Setapak and I am in Klang. Make sure you find the correct instructor in your next quest. Best of luck!
Beginner also probably can`t drive at night. I`m always need to able look at my clutch,brake and gas pedal to have confidence. I already have a P license and yet to drive on the road.
Looks like you need more lessons and practice. If possible, ask some family member or friend to assist you.