Supervising a Learner Driver
Transcript of 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:[email protected]: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.
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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.
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The Facts About New Drivers
Formostyoungpeoplegainingadrivinglicenceisariteofpassageandasymbolofadulthood.Gettingittakesupalotoftheirtimeandenergy.Unfortunately,fortoomanyfamilies,thisexcitingeventendsintragedy.
Newlylicenseddriversareover-representedinseriousroadcrashes.
• One-thirdofdriverskilledonAustralianroadsarebetween17and25yearsofage.
• Firstyeardriversarethreetimesmorelikelytobeinvolvedinroadcrashesthanmoreexperienceddrivers.
Whatcanbedoneaboutthesefigures?
Researchshowsthatittakesaroundthreetofiveyearstobecomeafullycompetentdriver.FormanyyoungpeoplethiskeylearningwillbeinthecarontheirownorwithfriendssoonaftertheygettheirProvisionalLicence.
ThegoodnewsisthatifLearnerDrivershaveover50hoursofpracticeduringtheirLearnerperiodtheycanexpecttheirriskofcrashingoncetheyhavetheirProvisionalLicencetobereducedbyaboutonethird.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Manual or Automatic?
Thereareadvantagesanddisadvantageswitheach.Forexample,ittakeslongertolearninamanual,butmanuallicenceholdersendupwithmoreoptionsopentothemwhenbuyingacar,orhelpingoutbydrivingsomeoneelse’sinanemergency.
Ontheotherhand,learningtodriveinanautomaticmeanstherearefewertaskstojuggle,andtheLearnercanfocusonthementalandperceptualaspectsofthedrivingtask.Eitherway,justbepatientandhelpyourLearnerpractisetheskillsrequiredtobeacompetentdriver.
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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.
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Before Your Learner Gets Started
EnsureyourLearnerhasaLearnerLicenceandcarriesitwiththemeverytimetheygoforapracticedrive.
Spendlotsoftimewiththem,asapassenger,sittingbesideyouinthefrontseat.Withtheminthispositionyoucantaketurnstocommentateonwhatishappeninginandoutofthecar.TheLearnercanalsonavigateorprovidedirectionsduringadrive,spototherdrivers’errorsorstyles,identifysignsandroadmarkings,andestimatetravelspeedsofboththevehicletheyareinandothersaroundthem.Eachoftheseactivitieshelpspreparethemforthetaskofdriving.
ArrangefortheirfirstfewdrivingexperiencestobewithanAccreditedDrivingInstructor.Theywillbetaughtwellrightfromthestartandwon’tadoptanyunsafepractices.
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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.
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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.
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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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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
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Conclusion
DuringtheLearnerperiodyouassupervisor,togetherwiththeAccreditedDrivingInstructor,shouldhavehelpedyourLearnerDrivertosuccessfullybecomeasafeandcompetentdriver.Itdoestaketimeandpatience.Butifitmeansthatyourstudentislesslikelytobeinvolvedinroadtraumaandtheassociatedemotional,financialandenvironmentalcosts,thensurelyit’sworthit.Atleastanhouraweekcanmakeallthedifference.
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