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Teaching gf to drive

  • 31-03-2014 2:49pm
    #1
    Michael D Not Higgins
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,223 ✭✭✭


    My girlfriend has recently begun learning to drive (about 6 months ago). She had a handful of lessons to begin with but since we didn't own a car she didn't have any time to practise. Because of this, she kept learning the same things each lesson and we recently got a car to help speed up her progress.

    I have 10+ years driving experience and I've been taking her out a few times since we got the car to practise. What I've found is that the instructors barely taught her anything. She had barely a clue about the reason for the clutch and how to use it, which I'm slowly correcting. The instructor didn't even notice she kept the accelerator lightly pressed while changing gears.

    Her main problems in general driving involve the confidence to keep the speed up (I have to prompt her to change up and speed up, e.g. doing ~20mph in a 40 zone), starting off (cuts out frequently and gets flustered by a line of cars behind her) and roundabouts (can't judge when a gap is available).

    How can I address these issues with her? I'm slowly getting her speed up. We've practised the clutch on quiet roads and slight hills to get used to starting off but she's afraid to rev the engine as it feeds into her fear of the speed. Similarly with roundabouts, how do I get her to expect the gap in the traffic?


Comments

  • #2
    jamo2oo9
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,780 ✭✭✭jamo2oo9


    Michael D Not Higgins wrote: »
    My girlfriend has recently begun learning to drive (about 6 months ago). She had a handful of lessons to begin with but since we didn't own a car she didn't have any time to practise. Because of this, she kept learning the same things each lesson and we recently got a car to help speed up her progress.

    I have 10+ years driving experience and I've been taking her out a few times since we got the car to practise. What I've found is that the instructors barely taught her anything. She had barely a clue about the reason for the clutch and how to use it, which I'm slowly correcting. The instructor didn't even notice she kept the accelerator lightly pressed while changing gears.

    Her main problems in general driving involve the confidence to keep the speed up (I have to prompt her to change up and speed up, e.g. doing ~20mph in a 40 zone), starting off (cuts out frequently and gets flustered by a line of cars behind her) and roundabouts (can't judge when a gap is available).

    How can I address these issues with her? I'm slowly getting her speed up. We've practised the clutch on quiet roads and slight hills to get used to starting off but she's afraid to rev the engine as it feeds into her fear of the speed. Similarly with roundabouts, how do I get her to expect the gap in the traffic?

    Practise makes it perfect. Yes, it can be frustrating for both the learner and the instructor but at some stage, it'll catch up on her and she'll be confident about it.

    As for the instructor (ADI), sounds like he isn't paying much attention so I'd change to a different instructor.


  • #3
    Michael D Not Higgins
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,223 ✭✭✭Michael D Not Higgins


    jamo2oo9 wrote: »
    Practise makes it perfect. Yes, it can be frustrating for both the learner and the instructor but at some stage, it'll catch up on her and she'll be confident about it.

    As for the instructor (ADI), sounds like he isn't paying much attention so I'd change to a different instructor.

    I suggested as much. He apparently spent most of the lessons working on a clipboard for other students.


  • #4
    jamo2oo9
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,780 ✭✭✭jamo2oo9


    Michael D Not Higgins wrote: »
    I suggested as much. He apparently spent most of the lessons working on a clipboard for other students.

    Obviously he isn't managing his lessons very well. I'd definitely search for another instructor if he doesn't cop on and actually teach his students on what to learn and how.


  • #5
    ProudDUB
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,569 ✭✭✭✭ProudDUB


    Deffo switch instructors. The one she has sounds rubbish.

    Are there any industrial estates, or business parks near you? My brother took his daughter to one near their house, when she was learning to drive. They usually went on weekends, or after 6pm, when most of the businesses were closed and there wasn't much traffic around. She found it much easier to relax and drive on roads that technically were still proper roads, but they didn't have variables and complications that regular roads have. It worked wonders for her confidence and speed management. If she stalled, she could figure out what to do in her own time, without the stress of knowing that she had a line of cars behind her, beeping their horns at her.


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