supervising a learner driver

Supervisinga LearnerDriver

If you have any further questions about Learner and Provisional Driver Licensing Requirements,

you can telephone Road User Services on (02) 6207 7000.

A special web site:

www.roadready.act.gov.auhas been developed to assist

learner drivers and their parents.

For further information please call Canberra Connect on

13 22 81or visit

www.tams.act.gov.au

August 2007

Supervisinga Learner

Driver

� Road Ready

Disclaimer

ThispublicationisdistributedontheunderstandingthattheAustralianCapitalTerritory,itsservantsandagents,arenotresponsiblefortheresultsofanyactionstakenonthebasisofinformationinthispublication,norforanyerrorinoromissionfromthispublication.

TheAustralianCapitalTerritory,itsservantsandagents,expresslydisclaimallliabilityandresponsibilitytoanyperson,whetherapurchaserorreaderofthispublicationornot,inrespectofanythingandtheconsequenceofanythingdoneoromittedtobedonebyanysuchpersoninreliancewhetherwhollyorpartiallyuponthewholeoranypartofthecontentofthispublication.

Firstpublished2000

Secondedition2003

Thisedition2006,reprinted2006,2007

ISBNNo:1-876677-90-2

©CopyrightAustralianCapitalTerritory,Canberra2007

Thisworkiscopyright.ApartfromanyuseaspermittedundertheCopyright Act 1968,nopartmaybereproducedbyanyprocesswithoutwrittenpermissionfromtheServicesGroup,EnterpriseServicesNetwork,DepartmentofTerritory&MunicipalServices,ACTGovernment,GPOBox158,CanberraCity,ACT2601

KeywriterGayleDiPietro

DesignbyJohnvanLoon

IllustrationsbyKevinBurgemeestre

07/0963

http://www.act.gov.au

email:publications@act.gov.auTelephone:CanberraConnect132281

ThedevelopmentandimplementationoftheRoad Readyprogramwasfundedbya$2milliongrantandon-goingsupportfromtheNRMA–ACTRoadSafetyTrusttotheDepartmentofTerritory&MunicipalServices

TheAustralianCapitalTerritory’sRoad Readyprogramisagraduatedlicensingsystemthatencouragesandsupportsyoungpeopletobecomesafeandcompetentdrivers.ThissupportbeginsbeforeyoungpeopleareeligibletogainaLearnerLicenceandcontinuesbeyondthetimewhentheyobtaintheirProvisionalLicence.

IntheACT,peopleasyoungas15yearsand9monthsareabletogainaLearnerLicencethroughaschoolbased(orprivateprovider)program.OncetheLearnerhassuccessfullyobtainedaLearnerLicence,itisimportantthattheygainplentyofdrivingpracticeduringtheLearnerperiod.Lotsofdrivingpractice–atleastfiftyhours–willhelpmakeyoungpeoplesafeandeffectiveasdriversoncetheygosolo.

Thisbookletwillhelpyouasaparentorcarerto:

• continuetomakesafedrivingahighpriority,throughdiscussionandrolemodellingandbytheuseofcommentarydrivingandco-navigation;and

• effectivelysupervisethepracticedrivesofayoungpersonduringtheirLearnerperiod.

Yourroleasasupervisorwillbeexplainedandsomeresourcestomakeyourtaskeasierwillbeidentified.

LearningThroughPractice �

L

How Does my Learner Get a Provisional Licence?

IntheACTtherearetwowaystogetaProvisionalLicence.

1. CompetencyBasedTrainingandAssessment(CBT&A).ThisisacontinuousformofassessmentwithanAccreditedDrivingInstructorwherevariousdrivingskillsandattitudesaretestedandcertifiedthroughouttheLearnerperiod.

2. GovernmentTest.ThismethodoccurswhentheLearnerchoosestolearnandpractisewithoutassessmentatvariouspoints.WhentheLearnerandtheirInstructorfeelconfidentthatthelevelofdrivingisattherequiredstandard,a‘one-off’testisundertakenwithaGovernmentLicenceExaminer.

Whichevermethodischosen,thetwenty-twocompetenciesoutlinedintheACT Learner Driver LogbookmustbeachievedtoobtainaProvisionalLicence.Learnerscanchoosethesystemthatsuitsthembest,andtheycanchangetheirmindduringtheLearnerperiodiftheywish.

BothmethodsofgettingaProvisionalLicencerequiretheLearnertohaveplentyofdrivingpractice.

Thisbookletwillexplorehowyoucanbestsupervisethe practiceofthedrivercompetencies.

� Road Ready

P

The Facts About New Drivers

Formostyoungpeoplegainingadrivinglicenceisariteofpassageandasymbolofadulthood.Gettingittakesupalotoftheirtimeandenergy.Unfortunately,fortoomanyfamilies,thisexcitingeventendsintragedy.

Newlylicenseddriversareover-representedinseriousroadcrashes.

• One-thirdofdriverskilledonAustralianroadsarebetween17and25yearsofage.

• Firstyeardriversarethreetimesmorelikelytobeinvolvedinroadcrashesthanmoreexperienceddrivers.

Whatcanbedoneaboutthesefigures?

Researchshowsthatittakesaroundthreetofiveyearstobecomeafullycompetentdriver.FormanyyoungpeoplethiskeylearningwillbeinthecarontheirownorwithfriendssoonaftertheygettheirProvisionalLicence.

ThegoodnewsisthatifLearnerDrivershaveover50hoursofpracticeduringtheirLearnerperiodtheycanexpecttheirriskofcrashingoncetheyhavetheirProvisionalLicencetobereducedbyaboutonethird.

LearningThroughPractice �

The bottom line is – the more driving practice young people have as a Learner, the safer they will be when they go solo!

� Road Ready

But Won’t my Car Get Crashed?

HavingaLearnerDriverbehindthewheelcanbescaryandcauseyoutoworryaboutexpensiverepairbills,andevendeathorinjury.Stopworrying!

Ittakesalongtimeforyourunskilledbeginnertobecomeafullycompetentsolodriver.Anaverageofanhourperweekoverayear(50hours)istheminimumamountoftimeyoushouldputaside.Aimfortwotofourhoursaweek-themorepracticeyoungpeoplehave,themorecompetentandsafertheybecome.

MakethemostofbeinginavehiclewithyourLearner.Itcanbeaverypositiveexperienceforyouboth,sogetstartedwiththeon-roadpracticestraightaway.

Of all categories of drivers, Learner Drivers have the lowest crash rates. So you will probably be safer while supervising a Learner than at any other time on the road.

LearningThroughPractice �

What Are Other Benefits of Driving Practice?

Therelationshipbetweenhavingplentyofdrivingpracticeandbeingsaferwhenasolodriverisclear.

Aswellaskeepingyoungdriverssafe,thereareothergoodreasonsforprovidingplentyofsuperviseddrivingpractice.

• Controlledandsmootheruseofavehiclesaveswearandtearonthecaranduseslessfuel–sosavingsaremadeforboththepocketandtheenvironment!

• IfaLearnerDriverhasplentyofdrivingpracticebetweenprofessionallessons,theyusuallyrequirefewerlessonswiththedrivinginstructor.ThemoredrivingpracticeaLearnerhas,thefewerlessonstheyneedandthesoonertheybecomecompetent!

Thesetwofactorsalonewillseemoredollarsinyourpocketandasafer,morecompetent,provisionallicenseddriver.

� Road Ready

Working Together

HelpingyourLearnertobecomeacompetentdriverisn’tsomethingyouneedtodoalone.Thinkofyourselfasbeinginapartnership–betweenyou,yourLearner,andanAccreditedDrivingInstructor,eachwithadifferentrole.

AccreditedDrivingInstructorsareexperiencedintheteachingrole.Theyknowtheprocessforteachingandassessingthedrivercompetencies.Soleavetheteachingtothem.

YourroleistoSupervise thedrivingpracticeoftheLearner.Quitepossiblyyouhavealreadycommencedthetaskofgettingyoursonordaughterreadyfortheroadbydoingpassengeractivitiessuchascommentarydrivingorco-navigating.Continuewiththissupportandguidancerole.

Jointly,youandyourLearnercaninitiatelessonsandpracticesessions.EnsuretheLearnerhasplentyofpracticeinlotsofdifferentroad,traffic,tripandweatherconditions,andunderstandstheresponsibilityofdrivingsafely.

Inthebeginning,allLearnerscoulduseafewlessonsfromanAccreditedDrivingInstructor–evenLearnerswhoarenotusingtheCBT&Aprocess.Thisensuresthattheyaretaughtbasiccarmanoeuvringskillsandthatothercriticaldrivingskillsarecorrectlyintroduced.

LearningThroughPractice 9

Choosing a Accredited Driving Instructor

TheAccreditedDrivingInstructorsharesresponsibilitytogetyouryoungpersonadrivinglicence.Itisimportantthatyouworkandsupporteachotherthroughoutthewholelearningperiodtogetthebestpossibleoutcome–asafeandcompetentdriver.10 Road Ready

ChooseanAccreditedDrivingInstructorwhosuitstheneedsofyouandtheLearner.Ask,orbetterstillgettheLearnertoask,aboutanyconcernsyouhave.

• Isthedrivinginstructoraccredited?

• DotheyofferpreparationforaGovernmentTestand/oraCBT&Aapproach?

• Whatsizeandtypeofvehicleisavailable?

• WherewilltheypickupanddropofftheLearner?

• WhatamIresponsibleforifthereisacrashduringthelesson?

• Whatpriceandlengtharethelessons?

• WhathappensiftheLearnerissickorthereisanemergencyandthelessonneedstobere-scheduled?

• Dothevehicleshaveautomaticormanualtransmissions?

Readandcheckanydocumentsorcontractscarefully.

Don’tworryifyourcarisnotthesameasthedrivingschool’s.ItwilladdtothevarietyofdrivingexperiencetheLearnerhas.

10 Road Ready

Manual or Automatic?

Thereareadvantagesanddisadvantageswitheach.Forexample,ittakeslongertolearninamanual,butmanuallicenceholdersendupwithmoreoptionsopentothemwhenbuyingacar,orhelpingoutbydrivingsomeoneelse’sinanemergency.

Ontheotherhand,learningtodriveinanautomaticmeanstherearefewertaskstojuggle,andtheLearnercanfocusonthementalandperceptualaspectsofthedrivingtask.Eitherway,justbepatientandhelpyourLearnerpractisetheskillsrequiredtobeacompetentdriver.

LearningThroughPractice 11

Before You Get Started

• Startyoursupervisor’srolebyobtainingthefollowingbookletsandbrowsethroughthemwithyourLearner.

•Road Ready – ACT Road Rules Handbook

•Road Ready – Towards Your Ps in the ACT

•ACT Learner Driver Log Book

•Road Ready – Learning through Practice

TheRoad Readywebsiteatwww.roadready.act.gov.auisanotherexcellentresourcethatprovidesuptodateandrelevantinformationonroadrulesandroadsafety.

• Checkyourinsurancepolicy.DoesitcoverLearnerdrivers?Whatisandisn’tcovered?

• Checkyourvehicle.Isitroadworthy?Isallequipmentinworkingorder?Dothetyreshaveplentyoftread?Areyoufamiliarwiththecontrols?

• Re-readacopyofPreparing Your Pre Learner For Driving.

CopiesareavailablefromACTHighSchoolsorACTCanberraConnectShopfrontsatTuggeranong,Belconnen,WodenandDickson.

1� Road Ready

Before Your Learner Gets Started

EnsureyourLearnerhasaLearnerLicenceandcarriesitwiththemeverytimetheygoforapracticedrive.

Spendlotsoftimewiththem,asapassenger,sittingbesideyouinthefrontseat.Withtheminthispositionyoucantaketurnstocommentateonwhatishappeninginandoutofthecar.TheLearnercanalsonavigateorprovidedirectionsduringadrive,spototherdrivers’errorsorstyles,identifysignsandroadmarkings,andestimatetravelspeedsofboththevehicletheyareinandothersaroundthem.Eachoftheseactivitieshelpspreparethemforthetaskofdriving.

ArrangefortheirfirstfewdrivingexperiencestobewithanAccreditedDrivingInstructor.Theywillbetaughtwellrightfromthestartandwon’tadoptanyunsafepractices.

LearningThroughPractice 1�

Take a Moment

Ifsafetyisimportanttoyou,itwillprobablybecomeimportanttoyourLearneraswell.

BeforeyougetoutontheroadwithyourLearner,takeamomenttothinkaboutyourowndrivingskills.Forexample

• Doyoualwaysleaveplentyofspacebetweenyouandthevehicleinfront?

• Doyoualwaysdriveataspeedsuitablefortheconditions?

• Doyouletyourselfgetdistractedwhiledriving,byusingamobilephoneforexample?

• Doyouconstantlyscanforhazardswhendriving?

Thinkaboutyourownattitudeswhenusingtheroad.Haveyouheardyourselfsayanyofthese(orsimilar)negativelines?

• ‘It’sOKtodriveabitabovethespeedlimit.Everyonedoesit.’

• ‘Policeshouldbeoutcatchingtherealcriminalsratherthanroadtrafficoffenders.’

• ‘I’masafedriver,it’stheotheridiotsontheroad!’

Areyouuptodatewithyourknowledgeaboutroadlaw?(Takeafewminutestorefreshyourknowledgebyreadingthebookletsmentionedearlier.)

Well....youneedtoconsiderwhatmessagesyouaresendingtoyourLearnerDriver.Youngpeoplelearnbyexample,somakesureyouarearolemodelofasafedriver.

1� Road Ready

Time for Practice

YouareprobablywonderinghowyouwillfindtimetoofferyourLearnertheopportunitytobuildexperiencebehindthewheel.AimingtoscheduleoneormorepracticesessionseveryweekduringtheLearnerperiodcanseemchallenging,butitisimportant.Don’tlookforexcusesfornothavingtheLearnerdrive.Inthefuture,theLearnermayhavetodealwiththesamesituationsyounowconsidertobedifficult.(Toowet!Traffictoobusy!Runninglate!)Letthempractiseineverysituationwithyoursupport.EncourageyourLearnertodofamiliarandfrequentdrives–totheirschool,theirsocialorsportingactivitiesortheirjob.

You’llbesurprisedhowquicklytheseshortsessionsadduptomanyhoursofpractice.

Better still, think about this.

Partnershipsusuallyinvolvesomesortofcontractoragreementtoensurethattherulesandconditionsareclear,andthatthereisapositiveoutcomeforall.ThispartnershipbetweenyouandyourLearnerisnodifferent.Duringpractice,contractscaneitherbedevelopedtocovertheentirelearningperiodornegotiatedonamoreshorttermbasis.Theycantargetparticularcompetenciesorjustgeneralpractice,andcanbeoralorwritten.

LearningThroughPractice 1�

Contractshaveseveraladvantages.Theycanclearlyestablishthedate,timeanddurationofdrivingsessions,andtheycancutdownonyourworkloadathomesoyouhavemoretimetosupervisedrivingsessions.EitheryouortheLearnercaninitiateacontract.WhynotdrawupacontractwiththeLearnerDriverto:

• unpackthedishwasher(ordothedishes)everydayinexchangeforahalfhourdrivingsession;

• washthecarasatradeoffforapracticesession;

• makeasimplemealforaonehourdrivingpractice;

• dosomegardening;or

• helpcleanthehouseinexchangeforadrive.

Throughthecontractsystem,yourLearnerwillalsobegintorealisethatdrivingacarisnotaright.Itisaprivilegethatcarrieswithitresponsibility.

Examplesoftwotypesofcontractaregivenonthenexttwopages,buttheformatisnotasimportantastheagreementitself.Developonetogether.

Sample Contract A

Practice Driving Session ContractI___________________________________________________________

(LearnerDriver)agreetoperformthefollowingtask(s):

____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

inexchangefor_________________________(Supervisor’sname)

supervisingpracticedrivingsession(s)on_______________________

(insertdate[s]).

Thelengthofthesession(s)willbe______________minutesandwill

practisethefollowingcompetencies:___________________________

Thepracticesessionwilltakeplaceon(inserttripplan)

____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

Signed.......................................................(LearnerDriver)

Signed.......................................................(Supervisor)

1� Road Ready

LearningThroughPractice 1�

Sample Contract B

Practice Driving Session ContractI______________________________________.(Supervisor’sname)

agreetosupervise________________________.(Learner’sname)

duringthefollowingpracticesessions:

DATE TIME DURATION PURPOSEOFSESSION SUPERVISOR LEARNER INITIAL INITIAL

1� Road Ready

Managing Conflict During Practice Drives

BeingoutontheroadcanbestressfulenoughwithoutalsobeinginconflictwithyourLearnerDriver.

• Ifyouareangrywitheachotherbeforethepracticesessionbegins,postponethesession.

• Ifamistakeorerroroccursthatscareseitherofyou,stopandwaituntilthingshavecalmeddownbeforerecommencingthedrive.Explainyourconcernsandgivespecificexamples.Discusswhathappenedandwhy.Negotiatehowthesessionwillproceed.

• Whensomethingdoesn’tgowell,suchaslanechanging,pulloverandusediagramstopointoutwhatwasdoneandwhatshouldbedone.Thenrepeatthedrivingmanoeuvre.

• SometimestheLearnermaygetconfusedorannoyedbecausetheythinkwhatyouaretellingthemisdifferentfromtheAccreditedDrivingInstructor.HowyoulearnedmaynotbethewayyourLearnerisbeingtaught.TakethetimetocontacttheAccreditedDrivingInstructorandclarifywaystoworkwithyourLearner.

• Don’texpectyourLearnertobeasskilledasyouare.Youhavealotmoreexperiencethantheydoandtheycan’tbeexpectedtobeascompetentorconfidentasyou.

LearningThroughPractice 19

Taking a Staged Approach to Practice Drives

Learningtodriveislikeanyothercomplextask.Ifyoubreakthetaskintosmallmanageablebitsandnottrytolearntoomanythingsatonce,itismucheasier.

Earlypracticesessionsshouldtakeplaceduringdaylight,inquietstreetsoremptycarparks.OnlywhentheLearnercanperformthebasicmanoeuvreswithsmoothnessandcontrolshouldyoumoveintomoderatetraffic-ordinarystreettrafficatnonpeakhours.

OncetheLearnerisskilledandconfidentinmoderatetraffic,thenitistimetomoveintohigherrisksettingssuchasnightdriving,peakhoursorbusystreets,highwayandfreewaydriving,andbadweatherdriving.

Alwaysplanthepracticedrivesinadvance,makingsuretheyarenottoodifficultforthestageyourLearnerisat.Takeapadandpenandanyrelevantdrivingbooklets.Youmayneedtodrawsomediagramstomakeexplanationsclearer.

�0 Road Ready

Stage One – Getting Started

ThelengthofeachstageusuallydependsontheamountofpracticetheLearnerhas.BesureyourLearnerisconfidentandcompetentbeforemovingontothenextstage.

StageOneinvolvestheLearnerbecomingfamiliarwiththevehicleandtheroad.Startlocallyinanopenarea,suchasacarparkorinlighttraffic,wherefewproblemswouldbeexpected.

• Drivingsessionsshouldbeshort(about15to30minutes),andindaylight.

• Practicesessionsshouldbeundertakenatlowspeeds.

• Inthebeginning,`yourresponsibilitiesmayincludegivingstreetdirections,lookingoutforobstaclesandtraffichazards,givingguidanceinrelationtodistancesandpositionontheroad,andinstructingtheLearnerDriverwhentoindicate.

UsetheACT Learner Driver Logbookasaguidetothecompetenciesbeinglearned.TheLearnerwillneedtoworkonatleastthefirst10competencies.

Agoodwaytocommencedrivingpracticesessionsistodemonstratewhatistobelearned.Explainnotjustwhatyouaredoing,butwhyyouaredoingit.ThenhavetheLearnerdoit.

UsinghandsignalstopointoutleftandrightdirectionscansimplifythingsfortheLearner.Thinkaboutthewordsyouusetoprovidefeedback.Avoidusingwordsthatcouldbeheardasaninstruction.Forexample,ratherthensaying‘right’use‘correct’instead.

LearningThroughPractice �1

Stage Two – Moving Into Traffic

Asoftenasyoucan,taketheopportunitytodiscussyourLearner’sprogresswiththeirAccreditedDrivingInstructorandmatchthepracticesessionswiththecompetenciesbeingtaughtatthetime.

WhentheLearnerisreasonablycompetentinbasicvehiclehandlingskillsinthelocalarea,itistimetomoveoutintolighttraffic.TheLearnercanpracticenotonlythefirstsevendrivercompetencies,butalsonegotiatingintersections,judgingspeeds,braking,gearchanging,turns,goingupanddownhills,reversingandparking.

Drivingsessionscanbecomelonger,around30to45minutes.Continuetopre-planthepracticeroutes.AllowtheLearnerDrivertotakemoreresponsibilityfordrivingdecisions,suchaswhenandwheretomaketurns.

Asasupervisoryoucould:

• adviseontheappropriatespeed,giventhecurrentdrivingconditions;

• adviseontheappropriatetimeintervalbetweenyourcarandthevehicleinfront,giventhecurrenttrafficandweatherconditions;and

• identifypotentialhazardsintheroadenvironment.

Remembertotalkaboutanynewskillsjustlearnedorsituationsjustencountered,andtodiscusswhatwentwellandwhatcouldbeimprovedinafuturepracticesession.

�� RoadReady

Stage Three – Gaining Plenty of Experience

InStageThreethefocusisongainingplentyofexperienceandencouragingtheLearnerDrivertomakemoreindependentdrivingdecisions.Overtime,undertakepracticesessionsondifferenttypesofroadsandindifferenttraffic,lightandweatherconditions.Varyandextendthelengthofthelessons.

• HelptheLearnerbecomeasafedriverbyusingthe‘see-think-do’process.

• HelptheLearnerwatchforpossiblehazards.‘Whatdoyouseeahead?’

• HelptheLearnerthinkaboutwhatmighthappenandpossiblesolutions:‘Seethecyclist?Whatcouldhappenhere?Whatshouldyoudo?’

• HelptheLearnerdecidewhattodointhesesituations:‘Yes,it’sagoodideatogivehimabitmorespace.’

• Goonunplannedtripsorunfamiliarroutesatdifferenttimes.

• CheckthattheLearnerDriverhashadplentyofpracticeonalltypesofroadsandindifferentconditions.ConcentrateonfillinganygapsintheLearner’sdrivingexperiencesothatnothingisneworunfamiliaroncetheybecomesolodrivers.

• EncouragetheLearnertoseekfurtherassistanceonparticularaspectsofdrivingwhenneeded,evenaftertheyhavetheirProvisionalLicence.Remindthemthatlearningdoesn’tstopaftergettingtheirPplate!P

LearningThroughPractice ��

Conclusion

DuringtheLearnerperiodyouassupervisor,togetherwiththeAccreditedDrivingInstructor,shouldhavehelpedyourLearnerDrivertosuccessfullybecomeasafeandcompetentdriver.Itdoestaketimeandpatience.Butifitmeansthatyourstudentislesslikelytobeinvolvedinroadtraumaandtheassociatedemotional,financialandenvironmentalcosts,thensurelyit’sworthit.Atleastanhouraweekcanmakeallthedifference.

�� Road Ready