You’re holding on so tightly your knuckles have turned white, your heart is beating so fast you feel like it’s about to burst out of your chest, and you really want to close your eyes and pretend you’re somewhere else, but you’re trying hard to look calm. No, these aren’t the thoughts of somebody on a theme park’s scariest rollercoaster – these are the thoughts of a parent teaching their teen how to drive.
Your child is now 16, has their learner’s permit and is ready for you to teach them how to drive. While it’s easy to be cool, calm and collected when you’re just driving around the Coles car park at 10pm with no one else in sight, it’s a lot different when you’re out on a busy road with them. The year of teaching your child to drive is an interesting (and sometimes scary) one, and one which you’ll secretly look forward to being over.
Most parents who’ve already taught their son or daughter to drive would know how much faster a car seems when their child is behind the wheel, and they’ve probably done the ‘lean to the right’ when driving past parked cars and pressed down on the invisible brake pedal once or twice too. But this doesn’t mean your child is a bad driver – it’s actually just a sign that it’s hard for you when somebody else is now in control, especially when you remember taking that person to Wiggles concerts not that long ago!
For your child to be able to concentrate and drive safely, they need supervising drivers who are supportive and not a back (or passenger) seat driver, continually yelling out ‘brake, brake.’
“Teaching someone the best driving skills is a huge responsibility and shouldn’t be underestimated,” said RAA’s Senior Manager Driver Education, Michael Simmons.
“Driver training professionals are able to work with mums and dads, to help relieve stress and arguments and make sure the correct safe driving habits are developed right from the start.”
RAA’s new Premium P-Ready comprehensive course combines a series of road safety workshops with a package of professional driving lessons by South Australia’s largest range of female and male driving instructors.
“When the majority of us learned to drive quite a few years (or decades) ago – we weren’t properly prepared for all of the different scenarios that can happen anytime on the road. We want to prepare learner drivers for every different situation they can possibly face – from navigating the Macca’s drive through to the Britannia roundabout.
“As well as learning how to drive safely, your teen will be taught important things such as what to do if they come across a crash and how to stay safe if they breakdown. Plus, they’ll also be shown how to look for a safe car to buy and maintain it properly.
“You’ll have peace of mind and might even be able to sleep better at night knowing that between you and RAA, your child is in good hands and will be ready for a lifetime of safe driving.”
For more information about the Premium P-Ready course or RAA Driver Education, visit www.raa.com.au/drivereducation or call 8202 4444.
