Teaching someone to drive

[fatjames]

Has anyone ever done this?
I've offered my niece some lessons as she's feeling very nervous.
I think I'll be able to reassure her enough to get behind the wheel and familiarise herself with the controls etc.
I thought a quiet car park on Sunday would be a good place to start.
What I don't want to do is make it any worse for her or make it any harder for a professional if she decides to get proper lessons.

Just looking for any advice or do and don'ts. I was going to ask her to get her theory under her belt first, but I'm not sure how helpful that would be?

I’ll put some L plates on my car and make sure we’re insured.

[chickenstrip]

[natefz6]

Do make sure your hand brake is working. I remember my Mum trying to teach my Dad to drive in am empty Tesco car park, it didn't go well. It wasn't divorce but my Dad never did learn to drive..
____________________
"no I didn't steal it that's just the way I ride"

[doggone]

The hard part if she's a complete novice will be clutch and accelerator coordination.
Without forgetting to steer.
Or brake
Exciting times.

[fatjames]

[Confusion]

[WD Forte]

I was a driving instructor in London many years ago and dual controls was a life saver.
I've also taught a few in 'normal' cars and it can be good or horrific
it depends, sometimes both.

Lets say she's a sensible lass not given to the vapours
a instructor would/should start with

Cockpit drill (every time she get in a car)
Check and or adjust seat and ability to easily reach and use all the controls from a sitting position
Also check mirrors, driver & passenger seat belts are worn, doors properly closed etc

Getting to know the main controls: where and what they do

Pre start check: ( every time she start the engine) Neutral, Hand brake on

Start by simply pulling away and stopping in a straight line
explain what you want her to do
Some folk take a while to get the feel of a clutch's biting point
and brake pedal pressure so keep it simple and relaxed for you both

Forget shoulder checks indicators etc until she has the feel of moving away and stopping

If she's picking it up fast let her drive round the car park for a bit
in large loops getting into second as soon as poss as the car wont jerk about under a nervy foot as much

Watch too see if she's dipping her head to look at the controls
many newbies do
I used to get them to stare out of the screen using all the controls while stopped to get them out of this

make game of it, keep it simple relaxed and fun.

The above should set her up for any decent driving school

Schools
Ask about her instructor credentials at schools check they have
full ADI licenses, if not why not
Many schools in London were a racket and bung in any trainee
off the street to keep raking in the dosh
Some were good, (we all had to learn right?) but some were useless lazy bastards.
____________________
bikers smell of wee

[The Shaggy D.A.]

I taught my niece. Went OK, she passed, she enjoys driving.
____________________
Chances are quite high you are not in my Monkeysphere, and I don't care about you. Don't take it personally.
Currently : Royal Enfield 350 Meteor
Previously : CB100N > CB250RS > XJ900F > GT550 > GPZ750R/1000RX > AJS M16 > R100RT > Bullet 500 > CB500 > LS650P > Bullet Electra X & YBR125 > Bullet 350 "Superstar" & YBR125 Custom > Royal Enfield Classic 500 Despatch Limited Edition (28 of 200) & CB Two-Fifty Nighthawk > ER5

[chris-red]

I dunno if this is a common thing be round the corner from me is a this Place. It's basically a pretend set of roads anyone can drive on (if you pay) no insurance required.

When I learnt I went there with my mum it was £12 for all day.
____________________
Well, you know what they say. If you want to save the world, you have to push a few old ladies down the stairs.
Skudd:- Perhaps she just thinks you are a window licker and is being nice just in case she becomes another Jill Dando.
WANTED:- Fujinon (Fuji) M42 (Screw on) lenses, let me know if you have anything.

[Ste]

IMO get proper lessons first and if they're going well then that's the time to let her get some practice in your car.

Get a copy of one of the theory test and hazard awareness test practise DVDs for her to play with. It's probably all done on phone apps now but it's the same difference.

[doggone]

[AshWebster]

had two lessons then just drove with my dad in his car.

like Ste said let them deal with the hardest part (first few lessons) then just practise practise practise in your own time.
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Honda cg125 J reg peice of shit ---> CB650F ---> 2016 CBR600RR
Ford KA ---> 93' MR2 ---> 94'MR2 ---> 98' Subaru WRX STI Ver 3 (track car)

[fatjames]

Thanks, this is all very useful.

Setting the clutch on fire won't be of any concern to me.. there's a car we can use without going near mine. (Fiat 500)

I think I'll aim to do what WD Forte suggests, that sounds like a reasonable place to start.

I have already explained that it might not work and she has to feel comfortable with whoever is teaching her and that might not be me.

[Freddyfruitba...]

Worth considering how long ago the OP learned to drive as they do teach stuff differently these days (the cause of multiple arguments when I was practising with my kids!). Engine braking (not) for example.

Another point to consider if the learner is going to be switching between a driving school vehicle and the OP's own is that newbies can find that very confusing. My daughter always stalled several times at the start due to the different clutch biting points; and also she was taught to do the manouevering stuff eg by lining up landmarks on the instructor's car, steering wheel etc and couldn't manage with my car. I'm not saying that teaching learners how to pass a test as opposed to how to drive is a good thing - far from it - but it's often how it works (BTW my daughter's a capable enough driver these days).

[Skudd]

I used to be an ADI, have fun.
____________________
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Petty Anarchists look at "1984".............. The Visionary looks at "Animal Farm".

[iooi]

[RhynoCZ]

[The Shaggy D.A.]

Fuel injection keeps the engine going with no throttle input. Put a car in gear, and slowly let the clutch out, the revs will dip then pick up again - you can get up to 5th/6th without touching the throttle.
____________________
Chances are quite high you are not in my Monkeysphere, and I don't care about you. Don't take it personally.
Currently : Royal Enfield 350 Meteor
Previously : CB100N > CB250RS > XJ900F > GT550 > GPZ750R/1000RX > AJS M16 > R100RT > Bullet 500 > CB500 > LS650P > Bullet Electra X & YBR125 > Bullet 350 "Superstar" & YBR125 Custom > Royal Enfield Classic 500 Despatch Limited Edition (28 of 200) & CB Two-Fifty Nighthawk > ER5

[RhynoCZ]

So by ''new cars'' he means anything made in the 90's onwards.
____________________
'87 Honda XBR 500, '96 Kawasaki ZX7R P1, '90 Honda CB-1, '88 Kawasaki GPz550, MZ 150 ETZ
'95 Mercedes-Benz w202 C200 CGI, '98 Mercedes-Benz w210 E200 Kompressor

[The Shaggy D.A.]

Dunno, my dad taught me that in a mk2 Diesel Fiesta in '83.
____________________
Chances are quite high you are not in my Monkeysphere, and I don't care about you. Don't take it personally.
Currently : Royal Enfield 350 Meteor
Previously : CB100N > CB250RS > XJ900F > GT550 > GPZ750R/1000RX > AJS M16 > R100RT > Bullet 500 > CB500 > LS650P > Bullet Electra X & YBR125 > Bullet 350 "Superstar" & YBR125 Custom > Royal Enfield Classic 500 Despatch Limited Edition (28 of 200) & CB Two-Fifty Nighthawk > ER5

[RhynoCZ]

Well, you may slowly let go of the clutch pedal/lever in any motorised vehicle and it will start moving. Even at the idle speed, the engine still outputs power and torque.
____________________
'87 Honda XBR 500, '96 Kawasaki ZX7R P1, '90 Honda CB-1, '88 Kawasaki GPz550, MZ 150 ETZ
'95 Mercedes-Benz w202 C200 CGI, '98 Mercedes-Benz w210 E200 Kompressor

[The Shaggy D.A.]

Aye, but it's harder in a carbed vehicle, as there's nothing monitoring the revs and automatically adding fuel when it drops. Not impossible, but bloody hard for a learner.
____________________
Chances are quite high you are not in my Monkeysphere, and I don't care about you. Don't take it personally.
Currently : Royal Enfield 350 Meteor
Previously : CB100N > CB250RS > XJ900F > GT550 > GPZ750R/1000RX > AJS M16 > R100RT > Bullet 500 > CB500 > LS650P > Bullet Electra X & YBR125 > Bullet 350 "Superstar" & YBR125 Custom > Royal Enfield Classic 500 Despatch Limited Edition (28 of 200) & CB Two-Fifty Nighthawk > ER5

[MCN]

Don't fukc about trying to teach her clutch and brake and gears.
That is why instructors have 'dual controls'.
The instructors follow the novice's movements to help ensure they gain some lessons without stalling and bouncing the clutch every time. That is a big stress on its own. It will be much easier for her like that.
After a few lessons with the instructor then you can offer some 'practice' in your car.
Even the experience of more than one car is a superb lesson.

Get insurance cover too. Even if someone hits your car it will be difficult to explain who was driving if it's your neice.
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Disclaimer: The comments above may be predicted text and not necessarily the opinion of MCN.

[Riejufixing]

[stevo as b4]

I'd let her learn the basics of vehicle control in another car that can be abused as it will be and you also need to learn how not to do it, and what happens when you get it wrong.

This would be where dual controls come in handy. I remember learning how to ride a geared bike at age 11, by my dad holding the bars and throttle wide open while I was sat on the bike, to make the point that how much or how quickly the bike moves is all down to the control of the lever on the left not the throttle grip on the right.

Same thing in a car applies, and you want to actually demonstrate what happens if you stamp on the brake or accelerator while forgetting to operate your left leg. Its essentially driving badly to show how to drive correctly.

If you only show them perfect start and stops, they might not be able to emulate that with many many attempts. Show them a stall and Jerky erratic movements and they'll quickly understand what produces such responses from the vehicle and how to get a different result.

I'd be wary of trying to show a learner how to move away with no throttle input, as that might spill over into road driving which is very dangerous in today's traffic.

One thing learners spectacularly fail at is safely merging onto a busy road of moving traffic in a decisive and urgent way with proper acceleration sense.

There's rarely a place on the road today for switched off ambling along and lazy car control IMO.