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8285 4059

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Drive Smart Driving School

DRIVE SMART

drivesmartdrivingschool.com.au

P.O. Box 879
Modbury SA 5092

ABN 92 819 057 043


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Make The Driving Experience Hours Count!

What's The Weather Doing?

Learner Driver's need to get experience driving in all possible conditions!

If it's going to be wet - go driving! Record it in the Log Book!

 

What Time Is Sunrise & Sunset?

Any time before Sunrise or after Sunset counts as "Night Driving" in the Log book. Go Driving - Day, Night - Any time! Record it in the Log Book!

 

PARENTS, FAMILY & FRIENDS - Supervising Drivers

Drive Smart Driving School have been helping people become smart, safe thinking drivers since the year 2000.

Our aim is to help you be sure your Learner becomes the best driver they can be.

This is your page. Written by people who know what it's like. We are parents, we've been through it too.

We hope it helps you through this challenging time.

If you are a Learner Driver, there is lots of good information, thoughts and tips for you on the Learner Driver's page.

 

What makes Drive Smart different?

Drive Smart is a safety focused Driving School. As well as helping people get their licence, we work hard to teach them how to stay safe.

We teach much more than road rules and parking skills. We also make sure new drivers know what to expect and how to stay out of trouble.

Our Instructor selection, training and development program helps make sure your Learner will get the best training possible. Go to about us or call and talk to us to learn more about the Drive Smart difference.

 

We know what it’s like!

Learning to drive is a very personal thing. Each person and every family, approaches it a little differently. Every new driver starts with different basic skills and knowledge. Our job as Parents, Family, Friends and Instructors is to take that new driver from where they begin through to being a smart thinking, truly safe driver!

We understand, not only as Instructors and Trainers but more importantly as Parents, Family and Friends. All of our Instructors have at some stage taught sons, daughters or other family and friends to drive. We know what it’s like to be worrying and waiting for our own young drivers to come home safely!

 

Call and talk to Mark or Jenny - Phone 08 8285 4059

We can help you work out what is best for you and your Learner. If you need, we’ll help you make sense of the whole process. A lot has changed since most of us got our licenses a few years ago.

We are also happy to reply to your emails if that works better for you.

 

keys2drive - What is it? When is it coming? Get a free session?

keys2drive, is the single largest national Learner driver safety program in Australia's history. It has been developed by the Australian Automobile Association (AAA) and it's members including the RAA in South Australia. The Australian Government has committed $17 million to implement the program nationally! (Source: keys2drive brochure 2009)

This April, the RAA will be involved with the SA launch of the keys2drive program for new drivers, their supervisors and driving instructors. Aiming to make newly licensed drivers safe, the program also seeks to improve the relationship between Learner drivers and their supervisors under the guidance of a keys2drive accredited driving instructor. (Source: The RAA Magazine, samotor, Autumn 2010).

The program includes access to a FREE session given by a keys2drive accredited instructor plus an amazing website rich in information and supporting material. The free session is all about helping everyone involved: Learner, Parents, other Family and Friends and the Instructor to use the program and work together to make sure they end up with a truly P Plate ready driver who will be safe driving solo.

Drive Smart Driving School Instructors are excited to be a part of the keys2drive voluntary Instructor Accreditation Scheme. Several of our team have completed the initial training course and are working through the accreditation process, ready for the program's planned release in April.

We are working hard to make sure Drive Smart Driving School Instructors are ready, so you can get your FREE keys2drive session from a Drive Smart Instructor in your area.

Check out the RAA keys2drive information. Register for keys2 drive and start using the information and supporting material now! Help yourself or your learner to be truly P Plate ready.

Aim for Zero Harm In The First 6 Months on P's. In fact, let's aim for zero harm when driving - always!

 

 


Teaching Your Learner To Drive!

 

One of the best investments you will ever make

Parents and other care givers invest heavily in their "kids" future. Making sure they have the best that can be provided, giving them the best chance of living a good, long and happy life. All of this could come apart in seconds as a result of a car crash.

It is important to invest as much into making sure your kids are good, safe drivers as is to invest in every other part of their lives.

 

Qualified Supervising Drivers

Qualified Supervising Drivers are the Parents, Family and Friends that help their Learner to become the good safe driver they need to be. This means getting in the left seat and going out on the roads with some one who may have never driven. It’s a huge thing for most people.

If you are reading this, you are probably going to end up (if you aren’t already) one of these Supervising Drivers. Well done. It’s one of the greatest gifts you can give your Learner.

 

Many Drivers Crash – help your Learner to not be one of them!

Average drivers crash 3 or 4 times during their driving career – fact!

Lots of people say P Plate drivers are bad and they will crash! It doesn’t have to be that way! Most new drivers crash due to lack of experience, understanding and knowledge. Make sure they are taught well! Cover everything you can. Don’t leave them having to learn the hard way!

This will take effort. If they are to be one of the “good” drivers who don’t crash, they are going to have to be one of the best drivers out there.

 

Helping your Learner be the best driver they can be – A few tips

Teaching someone to be good at anything takes effort. Teaching them to be a good, safe driver takes most effort of all. There is more to learn when becoming a good driver than there is for almost any other skill.

Most people only remember how dangerous driving can be when someone they know is in a crash. Don’t take teaching someone to drive for granted! It’s really important you get it right.

We’ve put together a few tips to help you. Go for it! It really is worth the effort!

Take the time to get this right – You only get one chance

Your Learner has thousands of things to learn. There are hundreds of “good habits” to get happening. It’s not easy. Make the time to help them. It’s worth the effort. One mistake, one crash and you’ll wish you’d done more. You only get one chance to have them taught right.

Do not rush it. The best drivers don’t learn to a time limit.

Do what ever it takes, for as long as it takes for them to become an excellent driver.

Making the time is hard but the greatest regret you will have once your Learner is on their P’s is that you didn’t do enough to help them!

You will have to come alongside your Learner and fit in with their program a bit. Make driving fun, do it at times that works for them, get them driving with their friends in the car.

The greatest gift you can give your Learner and yourself, is to make sure they are taught well. They’ll be safer and you will sleep better.

 

Choose a good driving school

The driving experience and advice you can give your Learner is invaluable but you may not cover everything they need to know? To help them become the best driver they can be, you’ll need a good Driving Instructor. Instructors have been taught what to teach and how to teach it. They know the little tricks. Good driving schools have Instructors who work hard to make sure they are good at what they do.

 

Help your Learner get lots of experience – it’s really important!

Make the time to go driving with your Learner. They will be out on their own soon. They’ll need to know what they are doing. Get them to drive everywhere.

Find ways to help them keep interested. 50 hours is no-where near enough but once the Learner has completed the minimum, their interest can drop off. Keep them driving, do more interesting things. When they are driving on their own is too late to realize they don’t know enough!

 

There can be challenges

Simple things can be a problem. Which parent will get to sit in the back seat when the Learner is driving? Is the car insured for them to drive on their L’s? They are never home when you are available to take them driving. They are always too tired to drive. They don’t listen to what you say anyway. You are terrified to go out driving with them. These are just a few things that come up.

Find ways to make it work. Change the car insurance for a few months. Get some quality Instructor lessons before you go driving. Talk to the Driving Instructor or call the Driving School office for advice. Take it in turns to be the one who gets "stuck in the back seat”. Believe us, it's totally worth the sacrifice!

 

Be a good driving role model - it matters!

One of the best ways to help your Learner to be a good driver is to be an excellent driver yourself.

They will often drive how you drive. Their attitudes and thoughts about driving will mostly have come from you, plus other family and friends. It can be a scary thought but they have been watching you drive for years. It is all they know!

If your driving is not the best, there are two things you should do. First, get a good Driving Instructor. Second, think about what you could change for the better, talk to your Learner about what you are doing and stick to the plan. Start now!

It is a total waste of time telling your Learner not to speed if you speed yourself. By the way "Creeping over the limit" is speeding!

Good habits to work on

There are hundreds of things we could list, but these are some common “good habits” that make a big difference.

  • Always follow a safe distance behind the vehicle in front (more than 2 seconds). Refer to our page on Driving Tips for information on how to calculate this. Most people follow at less than half the safe distance!

  • Never speed and always slow down when conditions require. Don't speed "because you are running late" it makes no real difference to when you arrive and sets your Learner up to do the same.

  • A yellow traffic light means: Stop, if safe to do so! Know this and always do it.

  • Regularly glance in your mirrors to keep track of what is behind and beside you. You should check behind at least once every 10 - 12 seconds.

  • Don’t talk on your Mobile without hands free and never text while driving!

  • Never drink and drive! If you really want to be a great example to your Learner, have a Zero Alcohol policy when driving. It’s really simple and it works.

  • Take blind spot checks seriously.

  • Expect others to do the wrong thing. Always slow down and be ready for things like slowing cars to stop suddenly in front or children to suddenly run out into the road.

Be the type of driver you would like your Learner to become

  • They will be a much safer driver.

  • You will be a better than average driver yourself

  • They will have more respect for what you say when you are teaching them.

  • The learning process and getting a licence will be simpler and cheaper.

Learners from families with a "Safe Driving Culture" are much more likely to become safe drivers!

Driving Instructors can see the sort of example that has been set. It's much easier to teach safe driving skills and strategies to Learners who have grown up with safe driving examples.

 

Drive Smart Driving School can help you put all this together

Call and talk to Mark or Jenny or email us if that is better.

Let us help you get started on the right track. Tell us about your needs and any concerns you have.
We’ll organise a course of lessons to suit you, your Learner and
your budget . Phone 08 8285 4059.

 

Teaching your Learner to be a safe, smart-thinking driver can be fun and is worth doing right.

Keep looking down the page. There is plenty more information to help you get your head around all of this.

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Who can be a Qualified Supervising Driver?

Apart from needing to be calm, patient and a little brave, you also must fit the following requirements before you can go out on the road “Supervising” your Learner.

 

A Qualified Supervising Driver must:

  • Have had a Full Australian Licence (Class ‘C’ Car) for at least 2 years.
    (Some approved overseas licenses are ok too. Check with SA Service Centre 13 10 84 to see if you qualify).
    Time on P’s or Motor Bike licence does not count. If you lost your licence and got it back less than 2 years ago, sorry, you don't “qualify”.

  • Have less than 0.05 blood alcohol level and no trace of THC (Cannabis) or Methyl amphetamine (Speed) in your blood or oral fluid.

By the way, we strongly recommend you have a Zero Blood Alcohol level before going out teaching your learner to drive. You will need to be at your best, quick thinking and calm.

For full details, please go to our booklets page or refer to the “Before you drive” (Grey part) of the “Driving Companion” book your Learner should have been given (or should get) from the Services SA office when they got (get) their Learner’s Permit.

 

Are you scared to take your Learner driving?

What is it like to sit in the left seat with a driver who has no experience or ability? Not always easy! If you are feeling nervous and scared, that’s pretty normal. You don't have the passenger side brake pedal that most Driving Instructors do. Without this, Instructors would be a lot more nervous too.

 

Getting Started.

Take it slowly at first until you and the Learner build confidence. Go out into a quiet street, or empty car park somewhere. Get the Learner moving, steering and stopping the car. Then move onto a slightly bigger road with little or no traffic. Turning left on to and off the road, go around the block a few times. Be very careful not to throw the Learner (or yourselves) in too deep too early!

  • Try to remember back to when you first drove.
    Remember your Learner may never have done this before. Start out simple and don’t fuss too much with the details. For example, steering enough to miss the parked car is much more important than whether they signalled properly for the turn. Don’t try to do too much at once. Never yell at your Learner!

  • Do you want to let the Instructor get them started?
    If all this sounds a bit hard or too scary, get the Instructor in early. They do it all the time, have an extra brake and won’t be stressed. Once your Learner is confident they can drive without hitting things they will be more relaxed too. Then you can go out feeling better about the whole thing. The Instructor will also get the good habits going right from the start.

  • Giving Directions.
    Once out on the road, what you say and how you say it can make a big difference. Remember the Learner is probably concentrating really hard just to keep the car on the road. Don’t give them too much information at once. Keep it simple and choose your words carefully. Instead of saying, "slow down", try something like, "brake", then "more brake". Rather than just saying “steer, steer” if they are not steering enough say “steer more” or “turn the wheel more”. If they are not braking enough saying "press twice as hard" can help. Saying things like, "half this speed" or "walking speed - now" can give some idea of how slow they need to go. Remember they may have no idea about safe speeds when they first start.

Speed, Speeding And The Big Tip.

This is a big one. Parents, Family, Friends and even some Driving Instructors can do huge damage here if they don’t get the message right! Be really patient! Think carefully about what you say and do. It does matter!

  • Good speed control is something most new drivers will take a long time to master.

  • There is no rush to get your Learner “up to speed”. They will be driving faster (maybe too fast) soon enough.

  • Pushing them will teach them that it is ok to drive faster than they feel safe!

  • Most new drivers start out slowly. Next they drive too fast. Then (after lots of practice) they get it right.

  • Make the most of the L’s time. Let your learner hold people up a little rather than rush into a move they don’t understand or aren’t ready to do quickly.

  • Remember that every time you push them to do something faster, you are reinforcing that it must be ok to do things they don’t feel safe doing!

  • Don't be embarrassed that your Learner is "driving too slowly". After all, that is why the L Plates are there. Compliment them on driving at a speed they feel is safe for their ability!

  • The speed limit is often too fast for particular situations or conditions. Let them know that it is ok to slow down to be safe! Most other drivers drive too fast for the conditions anyway.

  • New drivers speed because almost everyone else does! Help them know it’s cool to slow down!

  • It is useful to understand that many Learner’s have no idea they may have to brake to get the car to slow down a little, especially down hill. They expect that lifting their foot off the accelerator will be enough.

THE BIG TIP: A Learner Driver is not ready to get their licence until they are making safe speed choices in all situations (without being prompted) and can keep within all speed limits! It's as simple as that!

Be really careful with this. Most young drivers "go for their licence" before speed control has become a habit. If they pass, they may never establish good speed sense or control.

Turning someone who can "drive around OK" into someone who is a truly safe driver takes months of training and practice. Nothing else works! A Learner's ability to have complete speed control is a sign that they are becoming a safe driver.

 

Other Tips.

  • When you are teaching your Learner to turn corners, start slowly and encourage them to look where they want the car to go, not just at the piece of road immediately in front of the car. Turning left at intersections is usually the most difficult. Walking speed is a good turn left speed.

  • Remember to keep your learner at a good, safe following distance (at least twice the distance most people follow) behind the vehicle in front. This helps you stay out of trouble by allowing you both to see what's happening well in advance. It allows time to stop or avoid any trouble that may arise. It will also develop an excellent, safe driving habit. As mentioned above, it is one of the most important road safety concepts. The how and why of safe following distances is well explained in the Drivers Hand Book.

  • Allow the Learner lots of time to process everything. Give plenty of warning when giving directions etc. In the early stages a new driver is almost totally focused on controlling the car. Initially you will have to do almost everything else for them.

  • It is equally important to stop "doing things" for them as soon as possible. They will very soon be on the road without you, having to make every decision for themselves.

  • Most importantly - enjoy the experience and make it enjoyable for them! See you on the roads.                

Check out these pages for other information

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Contact Information

Call or send an email. Drive Smart Driving School Instructors operate in many suburbs of Adelaide, plus the Gawler area.

 

Call and talk to Mark or Jenny
on

08 8285 4059

 

Office Hours
Monday to Friday - 10.00am to 7.00pm
Saturday - 10.00am to 5.00pm

Closed - Sunday, Public Holidays and all "Long Weekends"

 

Postal Address
P.O. Box 879, Modbury SA 5092

 

Electronic Mail

General Information: DriveSmart@drivesmartdrivingschool.com.au

 

 

The Proprietors of Drive Smart Driving School are members of the Australian Driver Trainer's Association of South Australia

 

 

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          Copyright © 2008 Twisted Trunk Designs
          Last modified: Saturday March 06, 2010

 

DISCLAIMERS:

Information contained within this website is intended as a guide only and is not considered to be precise legal interpretations of the road traffic laws.

For more detailed information regarding the law, please go to the Australian Road Rules link, or to

http://www.parliament.sa.gov.au/SearchResults.aspx?keywords=Australian+Road+Rules  for a more comprehensive search.

Also, the Police Traffic Information Office is available on (08) 8207 6586 for further information on traffic laws.

 

It should be noted that references and claims relating to the "best driver you can be" all refer to the best driver we can help you become given the available time and

opportunities for training. Once on their P's, a new driver is totally responsible for their own actions and choices.

 

All Pages On This Site

about_us.htm ] booklets.htm ] buying 1st car.htm ] cbt_vs_vort.htm ] contact_us.htm ] crash stats.htm ] Defensive.htm ] driving tips.htm ] index.htm ] instructors.htm ] learners.htm ] links.htm ] more.htm ] offer_page.htm ] overseas_etc.htm ] [ parents_page.htm ] road rules.htm ] search.htm ] suburbs_we_do.htm ] testimonials.htm ] theory test.htm ] twisted_trunk_designs.htm ] your_questions.htm ] you're_the_driver_now!.htm ]