Speaking as a young-ish person who's on their learners preparing for the restricted, I feel I could offer some input. Up until I was 18 I had a few goes in an old manual accord in an open paddock area, just to see how a car 'feels', I think it helped getting all the crap out of my system then.trying to do handbrake turns, slaming brakes on and locking the wheels, smashing through gears etc. Between then and the next time I was in a car, I drove alot of race sims on a PC (used a wheel controller) which I think helped massively (of course it's no match for real world experience but it's a nice substitute). Next I done a couple of laps with a paddock racer, I was still locking the wheels under braking but was much smoother and quicker turning, knew what was going on around me and gears were no problem, sat my learners at this time aswell.
An instructor could be a good idea, however I would strongly suggest you go for a drive with him first and let him know what he could do better. He should take it better from you than a total stranger. If it was my first or early drives and I was with an intructor, I think any criticism would kill my confidence.
Hand posistion, that changes for me in both what I drive and where I drive. Around town in a car with power steer, 10 and 2, open roads I relax a bit more and go to about 4 and 8. I feel the latter I'm still in control but my arms won't fatigue, been told to move the seat foward but then my legs will cramp up. In a car without power steer, always at 10 and 2 but most importantly, not to have my thumbs 'hooked' around the wheel.
unideck,
Mar 24, 8:15pm
Hear is the answer Kaz, get him to do 4x full laps of the Coromandel loop (timed), job done.
mk3crazy,
Mar 24, 8:27pm
Your an old fart with no idea.
hpaul,
Mar 25, 5:17am
At least he can spell.
mercbens,
Mar 25, 5:33am
I taught my youngest son to drive and he had had similar experiences to OP's son. When it came time for his driving test we arranged a driving instructor for one lesson over the course that the driving inspectors used. He has been driving for over 12 years now and is a good driver. We felt that the final brush up with an instructor was worth while. Good luck
soph001,
Mar 25, 7:04pm
Well as a female driver who had proper lessons as well as drives with dad, the best thing I ever did was a one day course called "Pro Drive". They used to go round the country, teaching things like don't look at the asphalt in front of your bonnet but as far up the road as you can see, and pulse braking and so on. I am sure these tasks would not help your son pass his driving test, but what is your aim - for him to just pass his test or to become a good driver! I liked one of the first ideas ^^^^ one for one til he decides for himself where he is learning more from.
zirconium,
Mar 25, 7:57pm
Our daughter wouldn't learn with an instructor, not until she had passed her restricted license. It's a personality thing with her, doesn't take instruction well, much more happy to argue with mum and dad, until it sinks in. - It seemed she just wouldn't listen to others, not even her older cousin.Also responsible, just argumentative. Good luck!
joanie04,
Mar 25, 8:01pm
My nephew who is nearly 21 and is driving trucks all around the north island was taught by his father (my brother) then did a polytech course for his HT and forklift licences.His employer approached the polytech looking for a driver and his tutor recommended him.That was 18 months ago when he was 19.My other brother who has never had a driving lesson in his life and was taught by our father has had his HT licence since he was 16 and is currently driving truck and trailer units all over New Zealand.Basically if the teacher can teach the basics well the rest will follow.I don't think my daughter wants anyone else to teach her.I am happy to do it.My brother has given her a good start as well as a confidence boost.
wind.turbine,
Mar 25, 8:44pm
it is worse when they point out the parents mistakes every time there are passengering. I loved doing that. turned out they learnt a lot from me
bjmh,
Mar 26, 3:00pm
i was asked by a teacher,what i thought they should be teaching young adults before they came to me for work experience,i said teach them the correct way to drive,get them a license then they of use to me.his reply was "oh we don't want to be responsible for putting young drivers on the road".If we teach our own kids to drive we teach them our bad habits,unless you're a professional driver.
shortee2,
Mar 26, 8:28pm
Taught my Sons to Drive, but gave them Driving Lessons from an Instructor, as a Birthday Present, 5Lessons, they all passedLicense first time, also when they first got a car, House Rules were, No Cars out on a Friday or Saturday Night, i dropped them off in town, Taxi Home, or if they ran out of money, they phoned me, worked for us.
truckr,
Mar 26, 8:54pm
all people sitting licenceshould be taught by an instructor as most nz drivers are shit drivers and are passing on there bad habits to their kids everytime a parent bowls through a red light or stop sign cut people off kids all watch that for years before they go for their licence and then people wonder why teens have no respect for the road rules
bmwnz,
Mar 27, 2:05pm
I was a car club member when my youngest (daughter) was learning to drive, so as soon as he got her licence, I enrolled both of us in an advanced driving course at Manfield. She totally loved it and got a lot out of the day. I intended her to share my car (E39 Bimmer), but she preferred to do it in her own Nissan Pulsar.
I wish we could have found a skid pan for her as I think that's a skill well worth learning how to cope with, but largely ignored when teaching new drivers.
scuba,
Mar 27, 5:14pm
i taught 3 of my kids to drive then they paid for 2 lessons from an instructor to cover the things the tester would look for or i was not doing By the time they sat their restrictedtest they had about 20 or 30hours ofmy time driving plus a couple of hours with the instructor. same when they sat their full they had a couple of hours each with an instructor to make sure they were doing the things looked for. seems to have workedthey all got their full license before they turned 18
scuba,
Mar 27, 5:18pm
2 hands on the wheel is rubbish-power steering means you can drive safely with a finger on the wheel.
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