I am in the possibly unenviable situation of taking my 16 year-old from 10 hours of drivers ed to a fully-fledged, safe member of the driving population. To make matters more challenging, the driving school has automatic cars, and both his father and I drive a manual. I get the honour of doing the teaching because I’m the more patient and less easily panicked of the two of us, and mostly I’m enjoying it.
Right now we’re working on hill starts but having a little trouble with not giving quite enough gas when the clutch reaches the bite point, leading to some interesting bunny-hops and a fair amount of stalling. Tonight was a better showing and I’m hopeful that we might actually progress to driving at normal times of day (like, when there are other vehicles on the road) soon.
So - two questions for the mavens of ST:
What tips would you give for teaching a teenager to drive?
What was the most useful thing you remember someone saying to you when you learnt to drive?
1, You using the ebrake to teach hill starts?
2. From my dad - what’s behind you does not matter - don’t totally agree with that but most beginning drivers spend too much time checking mirrors rather than watching where they are going.
3. A good skid control school will never go amiss.
Frankly - I learned my best defensive driving in motorcycle class. Awareness, keeping yourself in a safe pocket etc.
When I took my driving test, the examiner told me to always remember to turn back and look behind me when driving in reverse (and not to rely on looking backwards through the mirrors). That was 20+ years ago and to this day I am thankful for his wisdom as I have witnessed many people deviate from that rule and fail poorly.
x2 on Trirunner’s comments about mirrors. Before backing up, ALWAYS look over shoulder straight back, and sweep both sides too for any crossing traffic (which always comes out of “nowhere”, of course). And look over shoulder for lane changes (check blind spot). Sweep both sides of intersection before turning, regardless of who has right-of-way.
Many folks here in the US seem to think the turn signal is optional these days - it drives me bananas. Signal your turn before applying brakes for the turn - in other words, be a smooth and predictable driver to those behind you.
Finally, for newbie drivers at least, stash the phone - no texting or calling when behind the wheel.
If heading to someplace unfamiliar, get directions (and review them carefully) ahead of time - for new drivers, the distraction/pressure of dealing with being lost often leads to bad decisions and bad results.
My dad always said, you will have a good idea of what is in front of you, but always keep an idea of what is behind you and to the sides.
Every few seconds glance to the left and right. Know where the other cars are and look in the rear view mirror from time to time. He would question me at times and ask what is the color of the car behind us, and he would look to see if I glanced or if I already knew.
Oh yeah…all stop signs are optional and yellow light means accelerate
1) What tips would you give for teaching a teenager to drive?
You should have your kid take piano lessons before he’s old enough to drive. If you’ve learned how to time your use of the damper pedal for a proper legato between chords, then the timing for the clutch works the same way.
As an interesting tidbit, back in the very old days when I took driver’s ed, we were required to learn on a manual transmission.
What was the most useful thing you remember someone saying to you when you learnt to drive?
“I know you’re not interested in learning to drive, but you’re really going to have to do it.” Obviously, I wasn’t a typical teenager.
Already a lot of good points that I could think of have already been covered. I particularly agree with:
Reversing whilst looking over your inside shoulder. It’s legal to take your seatbelt off here when reversing. It helps a lot.Look over your shoulder prior to changing lanes.Signal in advance of lane changes. Not just one to two flashes and turning it off. Let people see what you’re intending to do.Scan the intersection prior to entering. Even when approaching a four-way signalised intersection on the green. Use your peripheral vision to anticipate anything unusual (I posted a link a few days back about the semi-trailer in South Africa that killed 27, injured 80 when running the red).
A few that I would add…
Consider getting them to cycle a few blocks and get them to appreciate the vulnerability of cyclists. It will teach them to give a wide berth. Perhaps teach them how to safely pass one.It is not the end of the world if they miss a turn. Don’t fret, swerve across traffic or hit the skids. What’s 5 minutes extra really worth?Tell them to think about having to tell their friends parents their child is dead because you were acting like an idiot in a car. Peer pressure makes even the most sensible people do stupid things at times.Building on previous, someone mentioned a defensive driving course (+1). That will show them how hard you really need to brake in an emergency amongst other thingsTeach them courtesy. There is too much anger out there. Let them experience the pleasure in actually getting a wave of gratitude (if it still exists there!) when you let someone in. Conversely teach them how to block that lane jumper :)Anticipate small children, animals etc coming out of nowhere in residential streets, school crossings etc. Expect the worst.Get them a big, heavy, underpowered car as their first! An old Benz or Volvo!First anniversary of licence reward them with a drive at a race track etc to get any inklings out of their system.Teach them how to change a tyre and use a fire extinguisher. You don’t want them caught somewhere in the middle of the night unexpectedly.
By the way … many modern cars have foot brakes instead of the old hand brake (what is an ebrake also?). I remember the old hill starts with the hand brake being let off gradually. How does this work with the modern foot brakes?
As an interesting tidbit, back in the very old days when I took driver’s ed, we were required to learn on a manual transmission.
If you take your test in an automatic in the UK, they only licence you to drive an automatic. Take it in a standard, and you get everything. Automatics are very thin on the ground in the UK, too. I have never known anyone who owned one.
You couldn’t pay me what the car is worth to drive an automatic :o)
I like the piano idea. The kid’s a great French horn player, but I’m not sure about his keyboard skills!
Look over your shoulder prior to changing lanes.
Consider getting them to cycle a few blocks and get them to appreciate the vulnerability of cyclists. It will teach them to give a wide berth. Perhaps teach them how to safely pass one.Building on previous, someone mentioned a defensive driving course (+1). That will show them how hard you really need to brake in an emergency amongst other thingsTeach them how to change a tyre and use a fire extinguisher. You don’t want them caught somewhere in the middle of the night unexpectedly.
By the way … many modern cars have foot brakes instead of the old hand brake (what is an ebrake also?). I remember the old hill starts with the hand brake being let off gradually. How does this work with the modern foot brakes?
Blind spot checking is a MUST - I remember it being something my instructor harped on about, and I am religious about it. The one time I didn’t, I hit another car. Ouch.
Luckily, he’s a cyclist anyway, so he’s already very well aware of road use. I do like the idea of a defensive driving course and/or a session on the skid pan - we live in Maine, so winter driving is pretty serious. Fortunately he’s going to be on his permit all winter and that means he’ll get experience with someone older and wiser in the car when the weather sucks, but that’s one of my bigger concerns. Emergency stops, too - I did that as part of my driving instruction (and on my test), and he didn’t. It’s quite scary, even when you’re just practising and not stopping for anything, so that’ll be something we do a few times.
We’ll be having a session on how to check the oil, how to change a tyre, how to call AAA… I hadn’t thought to have a fire extinguisher in the car, but I suppose it’s not a bad idea.
E-brake, handbrake… Same thing, different terminology. The only nice thing about auto cars is the anti-rollback when you take your foot off the brake and you’re moving to the gas. My opinion is that not using the handbrake on hill starts makes it more difficult for clutch control than it needs to be - but only once you’ve gotten used to the gradual progression to the bite point, the gradual increase in gas, and the gradual releasing of the handbrake. It’s certainly an acquired skill.
You guys are great - anyone want to come give the kid a couple of hours?! I’ll let you use my car…
By the way … many modern cars have foot brakes instead of the old hand brake (what is an ebrake also?). I remember the old hill starts with the hand brake being let off gradually. How does this work with the modern foot brakes?
An ebrake is an Emergency Brake, which is the hand brake.
Good question on the foot-based emergency brakes. Most cars today are automatics. The last foot based emergency brake vehicle I drove was an automatic. The last few manuals had hand brakes. BUT, I did own an old chevy van years ago (early 80’s) that had three on the tree and a foot based emergency brake. I’m glad I live in Florida. (Flat) If I recall correctly, the brake may have engaged by foot, but it might have disengaged by hand. Or maybe with the three on the tree the clutch and first were very forgiving.
I also learned to drive in a stick (in the UK, so my licence is good until 2041!) and still drive stick today. My daughter turned 16 a couple of weeks ago so we’re in the same position as you re: learning, but so far she’s only been out in my wife’s minivan (automatic) a few times, and only once with me as back-seat passenger around a local cemetery. I didn’t do well
I ultimately want to teach her to drive stick but the e-brake in my car is electronic, operated by a button on the far left side of the dash, which makes me nervous as hell as I’d have no way of initiating a stop in an “OH SHIT!!” situation.
He won’t really learn how to drive a manual until he sits in stop and go traffic. It just takes practice.
Take him on a windy country road at some point to learn how to corner.
Once you are comfortable with him in normal traffic, make him drive you everywhere. Take a road trip. But give him breaks when he needs them. It can be exhausting for a new driver to do what we think of as a relaxing cruise.
Get him to tell you a joke while he drives. He will need to learn how to multi-task.
When i was a kid, my did made sure we all learned on manuals. By the time my daughters are old enough, I don’t think I am going to bother. With hyrbids, CVTs and electrics, manuals are going the way of the column shifter.
I ultimately want to teach her to drive stick but the e-brake in my car is electronic, operated by a button on the far left side of the dash, which makes me nervous as hell as I’d have no way of initiating a stop in an “OH SHIT!!” situation.
I am currently on my second daughter as far as driving instruction. The first is almost 20 and the second is almost 16. So, I have 100+ hours in the passenger seat with a new driver driving. My wife when they were 14 and 10, so all teaching has fallen on me. I’ve only had one real “OH SHIT!!” moment in that time, and found that yelling, “BRAKE! BRAKE! HIT THE BRAKES!!” worked fairly well. Given the efficacy of the standard e-brake, especially in comparison the four wheel anti-lock disk brakes that the pedals control, it probably was way more effective than pulling on the hand brake.
About winter driving skills: a great piece of advice I got from my drivers ed instructor, way back when, is to find a wide open parking lot (no lamp posts) after a fresh snowfall, and practice low-speed skidding. Figure out what causes you to skid and how to recover. It’s fun and useful.
I’m a big fan of manual transmission for winter driving. (I’m a Maine resident, as well.) I think it gives you a much better connection with the car and how it’s behaving. Same could be said for any weather conditions, I suppose. It keeps just a little bit more of your attention focused on driving.
I ultimately want to teach her to drive stick but the e-brake in my car is electronic, operated by a button on the far left side of the dash, which makes me nervous as hell as I’d have no way of initiating a stop in an “OH SHIT!!” situation.
I am currently on my second daughter as far as driving instruction. The first is almost 20 and the second is almost 16. So, I have 100+ hours in the passenger seat with a new driver driving. My wife when they were 14 and 10, so all teaching has fallen on me. I’ve only had one real “OH SHIT!!” moment in that time, and found that yelling, “BRAKE! BRAKE! HIT THE BRAKES!!” worked fairly well. Given the efficacy of the standard e-brake, especially in comparison the four wheel anti-lock disk brakes that the pedals control, it probably was way more effective than pulling on the hand brake.
True… I just like the idea of having a last resort at MY disposal in such a scenario.
The proper set-up of side mirrors.
I have yet to meet anyone who knows the proper method. With the proper set-up, there is no blind spot.Here is an explanation, but the easiest way is rest your head against the drivers side glass, adjust the mirror until you can just see the flank of the car. Repeat for the passenger side, with your head roughly in the middle of the car. Most people do this, but with their hear right in the normal driving position. That’s great to watch the bird fly into your rear quarterpanel, but not so good for regular driving.
Agree about the empty parking lot with snow, but you’re likely to get a visit from the police these days. Also there are key parts of the manual that they should know. I.e. in a modern key-less system, how do you kill the engine?
I taught 3 kids to drive a manual. The first one got hours of parking lot practice and endless tips. The next 2 just got a 15 minute parking lot intro then we hit the streets. The more aggressive approach worked better. It turns out that, being teenagers, avoiding the embarassment of stalling out in traffic was a much more effective learning motivation than me handing out tips in a parking lot.
What tips would you give for teaching a teenager to drive?
What was the most useful thing you remember someone saying to you when you learnt to drive?
Assume no one else on the road has seen you. Never rely on another road user to do anything - take the responsibility yourself. And look ahead - not just to the car in front of you, but further up the road. What’s the traffic doing? Where’s the road going?
When you look at the traffic around you, don’t just take note of where it is that second - work out where it’s all going to be 2, 4, 5, 10 seconds from now. Plan accordingly.
On the bunny hop thing, if he’s really having trouble I’d sit him down and grab his feet with my hands. Move his feet for him to get the left one as if it’s at the bite point, then move the right one for him down towards the ground so he gets the feel of one foot down and one foot up, rather than both up. It’s just muscle memory.
I’d do some flat starts, and teach him how to ease the clutch off gently using no gas to get the car rolling. This practice will teach him to get a feel for where the clutch engages, and how and where the car will stall if let out too quickly. Then he can progress to gentle up hills and can then use this practice to engage the transmission/clutch to hold the car in place while easing off the brake. Really steep hills, the hand brake may still be necessary, but that above tip really helps get a feel for the car.
