Teach your Teen to drive : Part 5

THE VEHICLE AND THE SPACE AROUND IT

HOW TO DO IT WELL
Help your new driver see that the appropriate use of space entails the positioning of the vehicle appropriately on all sides. The new driver should soon notice that it is essential to position the vehicle as far away as possible from potential conflicts or hazards without disturbing the flow of traffic. They should understand that driving across the centre line to get past a parked vehicle could cause a worse situation. The vehicle must be positioned between two hazards if the available space is very narrow, in some cases. Following practice, your new driver should start to realise the need to regulate speed continually to maintain a proper space zone to the sides.

THE ROLE YOU PLAY
New drivers may be puzzled when they try to abide by all the different space requirements.
Such as, you may say, “keep to the left to avoid oncoming traffic” and then,“ keep left to avoid parked vehicles.” What should your new driver do when they face oncoming traffic and parked vehicles at the same time? It may be best to steer a middle course between the oncoming vehicles and the parked vehicles when the risk is about equal.
A space cushion as desired may not be left, but there should still be enough space to react to sudden motion from either side. When space is limited between the hazards, your new driver should be advised to handle the hazards one at a time. Space should be used to enable the new driver to maneuver, change direction, and to avoid tight places. For instance, when approaching a narrow bridge, rather than meeting the oncoming vehicle, it is better to slow and let the other vehicle cross the bridge first.

SOLUTIONS TO COMMON PROBLEMS
Drifting
New drivers have a tendency to drift toward oncoming vehicles because at times they concentrate so hard on the oncoming traffic that they fail to make sure of their own vehicle’s intended path.

Blind Spots
Your new driver should understand that driving in the “blind spot” of other vehicles could be hazardous. You can make your teen aware of blind spots while your vehicle is parked by doing the following:

With your new driver in the driver’s seat, walk around the vehicle and ask them to tell you when they can’t see you in the rearview and side mirrors. When they are driving, you could point out vehicles that might be in their blind spot, and when your new driver drives in this hazardous position.

Parked Vehicles
Parked vehicles can also present a problem. Inexperienced drivers have a tendency to believe that parked vehicles will always stay parked and often do not leave enough space for them.
Persuade your new driver to move away from anything parked and to observe for indications that these vehicles might be pulling out by looking for turned wheels, a driver behind the wheel, brake lights, turn signals, and doors opening for instance. Tell your new driver that parked vehicles may also hide pedestrians who are not good at observing before crossing the road.

IMPORTANT LESSON
Handle one hazard at a time. Maintain space on all sides of the vehicle. Be aware of blind spots.

WHERE TO PRACTICE
Practice the use of space with parked vehicles on quiet side streets then progress to more heavily traveled streets with pedestrians, bicycles, and oncoming traffic. As you and your new driver move on to multi-lane streets, you can carry on working on keeping a space zone with vehicles beside you—both moving and parked. Your new driver will have a safe foundation and practical experience.

Teach your Teen to drive : Part 4

SPEED CONTROL

HOW TO DO IT WELL
The maximum speed limits on roads / streets are set on the basis of ideal driving conditions, i.e. good weather, good roads, and good traffic conditions. However, it’s rather difficult to get all these conditions at once.

That is the reason why a new driver has to be reminded to continually adjust their speed as the driving conditions change.

It can be a bit awkward for an unskilled driver at first to adjust their speed to traffic and road conditions, but you can assist them by stressing that they should maintain speed with the other traffic and maintain the same speed as the other vehicles in the flow of traffic, providing speed limits are observed.

Attempt to avoid large amounts or “packs” of traffic at first.

Demonstrate to your new driver how to perform this and how to adjust their speed as well. Have them slow down a bit and let the traffic pass them and then resume their speed.
Have your new driver adjust speed as necessary in new surroundings for example unknown intersections, crossings, or other areas where pedestrians may act unexpectedly.
Keep in mind that driving 70 km/h in some situations may be much too fast (even though the speed limit may be 80 km/h).

THE ROLE YOU PLAY
Ask your new driver to uphold a constant speed limit. For example, you can say:

“Try to maintain a speed limit at 60km/h for the next kilometer.”

The new driver may find the speedometer will drop below or above 60 km/h. With practice this should improve. Let them practice this while driving under various conditions, such as curves, hills, and so forth.

SOLUTIONS TO COMMON PROBLEMS
Frequently, new drivers are inclined to drive through intersections too fast. Have your new driver realize just how dangerous intersections can be, even if they do have the right-of-way. You have to make sure your new driver is aware of how to approach an intersection at an early stage.

New drivers are inclined to drive too fast on / around curves as well. Your new driver should be reminded that a curve is just a small part of a regular turn. It can be hard to comprehend the necessity to slow down to enter a curve and to accelerate after leaving the curve.

This will become easier with lots of practice and reminders.

Practice will assist your driver to anticipate speed changes of the vehicle under different conditions and your new driver will be able to adjust the vehicle’s speed to the road conditions.

Make sure your new driver does not make the following common driving mistakes:

• letting the incline of a hill change their speed i.e. slowing down when going uphill, speeding up when going downhill
• slowing down too much when turning off a high speed road that has an exit lane
• driving too fast for the road and weather conditions
• losing speed when changing lanes

IMPORTANT LESSON
Adjust speed to road and weather conditions and set goals for constant speed.

WHERE TO PRACTICE
It’s best to firstly drive in easy-to-handle surroundings.

In early practice sessions, get your new driver to maintain constant speed on streets in residential areas and on dual-lane roads with not much traffic and not many side streets.

As the new driver become more experienced, you can start to take on areas where the traffic is heavier and where they will have to adjust their speed more often.

You can start practicing increasing speed and merging onto another road by merging at a quiet intersection with a yield sign. When your new driver has mastered that, you can have them try it on a higher speed road that has a longer acceleration area. Work on speed control while overtaking or being overtaken and on hills and curves.

Teach your Teen to drive : Part 3

HOW TO FOLLOW IN TRAFFIC

HOW TO DO IT THE RIGHT WAY
Your driver will find that the two-second rule assists them to maintain a safe following distance.

Thus, when driving behind a vehicle, they should maintain, at least, a two-second distance between their vehicle and the vehicle ahead of them. The best conditions are daytime and on dry roads.

The following distance should be increased to at least four seconds, when driving in adverse weather or road conditions or at night.

How to measure the following distance:
Have your driver start counting “one-thousand-and-one, one-thousand-and-two” when the back bumper of the vehicle ahead of the driver passes a fixed object, for e.g. a lamppost.

If your vehicle’s front bumper reaches that lamppost before the count of “two” your driver should drop back and increase their following distance. It is important to note that the closer they drive to traffic, the harder they’ll find it is to observe what is ahead of them.

Encourage your driver to observe several vehicles ahead of them. Remind them that if any vehicle ahead slows down or stops abruptly, it is likely that all the vehicles behind that vehicle will have to follow suit. By maintaining a good following distance, your driver will have more time to respond to the actions of other drivers.

Remind your driver that there could be other vehicles following them. If your new driver observes and communicates with the driver traveling behind them, they can avoid the possibility of being hit from the behind. You may suggest “pumping” the brake-pedal by pushing your foot on it to turn it on and off quickly to flash the brake lights and using indicators in advance to indicate your driver’s intention to slow down, stop, or turn.

THE ROLE YOU PLAY.
Assist your driver by counting out the two-second distance for them. As the driver become more experienced with the two-second distance, inquire, “How many seconds are you behind the vehicle in front of you?” After a period of time, the new driver may be able to follow at a safe distance without having to count it out every time.

SOLUTIONS TO COMMON PROBLEMS
New drivers at times count the seconds too fast and do not foresee changes in the road as swiftly as they should. They may find themselves concentrating on following so much that they lose sight of pedestrians and other vehicles. They may also tend to follow certain vehicles too closely. With practicing continually, your driver may realise that they need to follow larger vehicles at a greater than two-second distance because of the inability to see around them.

IMPORTANT LESSON
Your driver must communicate with the drivers of the vehicles behind you when being followed.

THE TWO-SECOND RULE
When following, keep at least a two-second distance between your vehicle and the one ahead of you. Increase this distance to four seconds, under adverse conditions.

WHERE TO PRACTICE?
Opt for the correct time of day and make use of an open road with a reasonable amount traffic.

Intersections / Crossings

1. When approaching a four-way or a three-way stop, the vehicle which was
   there first, may proceed first when it is safe to do so.
2. When approaching a traffic circle, vehicles already in the circle, and
   vehicles approaching from the right, have the right of way.
3. You must obey traffic lights and traffic signals, unless instructed otherwise
   by a traffic officer.
4. Always come to a complete stop where there is a stop sign.
5. Always yield to pedestrians at or near a pedestrian crossing.
6. Only enter an intersection or crossing when it is safe to do so.

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Teach your Teen to drive : Part 2

ASSIST YOUR NEW DRIVER TO OBSERVE

OBSERVING
Aim to have your teen look far ahead at all times while driving. Driving in town requires observation up to one block ahead. The skill to look frequently in both the inside and outside mirrors and look over their shoulder prior to turning or changing lanes will help them observe behind and the road ahead.

WHAT ROLE DO YOU PLAY?
To improve your drivers’ observation skills, ask them to inform you as soon as they become aware of something, for e.g. a traffic light, intersection, or stop sign. You can ask the driver to point out areas where their vision might be restricted as well, for e.g. the crest of a hill and blind intersections. If you ask the driver whether there is a vehicle behind them, you can better understand whether they are attentive of what is happening behind the vehicle. You could also question your teen to see if they know the speed which they are traveling at without them looking at the instrument panel first.

GENERAL PROBLEMS & SOLUTIONS
A sign that your inexperienced driver is not scanning to the sides or checking the mirrors and instruments enough is when they stare straight ahead for a long time. When they drive through intersections without slowing down can in addition mean that they have not been observing properly. Wandering in the lane is another sign that they may not be paying attention.
Encourage your new driver to not become fascinated by the road, but to be ready to react to everything in the driving path or anything that could cross or end up in that path. Also try to encourage your teen to look beyond the vehicle ahead and notice brake lights in any lane as a sign that traffic is slowing and, thus, they may have to slow down as well.
Teach your new driver to watch for things such as exhaust, front wheels turned toward the road, a driver behind the wheel, turn signals, and brake lights as a sign that a parked vehicle may pull out suddenly.

IMPORTANT LESSON
Recap with your new driver that they must observe all sides of the vehicle—front, rear, left, and right and the instrument panel as well, to have all the information necessary to ensure the making of good decisions.

WHERE TO PRACTICE?
The best places to start to practice observing on all sides of the vehicle are Quiet residential streets. Make sure your teen looks out for special hazards for e.g. vehicles pulling out of driveways, children playing, bicyclists, and pedestrians. Intersections require scanning from left to right. Looking all around the vehicle is critical as your teen moves on to heavier traffic and higher-speed roads.

Motorbike safety

Prepare yourself
Bikers are advised to ride safely, protect themselves and consider other road users. Remember, riding a motorbike is more physically demanding than driving a car and involves a high level of concentration. For this reason it is even more important to ensure you are fit and healthy, do not feel tired and have not been drinking any alcohol.

It is essential to ensure the correct clothing is worn when riding as, unlike driving a car, there is nothing else to protect you from injury in the event of an accident. A helmet is the best defence against head injury and is also a legal requirement. It is recommended that the following are worn at all times when biking:

• A helmet
• A long sleeved shirt or jacket, which fits closely around the wrists.
• Long pants to provide protection from the hottest parts of the bike
• Full fingered gloves to protect against abrasion and help maintain control of the motor bike
• A visor or goggles to ensure good visibility is maintained and to protect the eyes from dust, wind and debris
• Robust footwear for maximum grip, preferably covering the ankles, with no laces as these can be dangerous if they become tangled in the pedals.
  

Prepare your bike
Stability is the main difference between a car and a bike (only two wheels). The bike needs to be in top operating condition to ensure safety. Before setting off it's essential to check the following:

• Oil and fluids - Check brake, coolant and clutch fluid levels and of course petrol. Also check the hoses, lines and reservoirs for leaks.
• Controls - Check all levers, control cables and hoses to make sure they are in good working order and will not interfere when riding the bike. In addition, make sure that your throttle moves freely.
• Lights and electrics - Make sure the battery terminals are clean, electrolyte fluid is sufficient and the battery is properly secured. Check that all the lights work properly and that there are no cracks in them. Check the routing of wires and beware of frayed or cracked wires.
• Chassis - Check condition of the frame, forks and shocks. Check the chain or belt for tension, lubrication and wear. Ensure all the fasteners, bolts and cotter pins are in place and not broken, loose or missing.
• Tyres - Check for proper inflation as under inflation will wear the sides of the tyres, whereas over inflation will wear the middle of the tyres. Also check that there are no foreign bodies embedded in the tread. Remember a flat tyre is a major problem on a bike as there is no spare.

If you believe that something is not operating properly, don't ride the bike.

Don't overload
You are advised to check your owners' manual to find out the bike's carrying capacity and do not exceed this. Distribute the weight of the load evenly - the bulk of the weight should be positioned low and as close to the centre of the motor bike as possible. Ensure that attached loads are securely fastened and not moving freely. It is crucial that the load does not interfere with your control of the bike.

Safe riding tips

Here are a few tips worth remembering:

1. Be careful on bends and don't overtake if you can't see the road ahead
2. Learn how to handle the power of the motor bike
3. Learn to brake properly without going over the handlebars, as a motorbike's stopping power is nearly all in the front wheel. Equally don't use the back brakes alone as this can cause the bike to skid.
4. Wear protective clothing (above)
5. Ensure the bike is safe to ride (above)
6. Don't do anything outside your own capabilities or take unnecessary risks
7. Don't succumb to peer pressure when riding in groups
8. Don't ride if you feel tired or unwell

Carrying passengers

Unless you are a very experienced biker you are advised against carrying passengers.

If you do carry a passenger, check that the bike has a suitable seat with footpegs. Refer back to the manual to check you don't exceed the maximum weight capacity of the bike. Finally, make sure the suspension is adjusted for the extra weight.

If you ride as a passenger on a motorbike remember the following:

1. Wear appropriate clothing
2. Keep feet on the footpegs
3. Try to sit as still as possible
4. Always lean with the angle of the motor cycle
5. If you are nervous about riding, it's probably better not to!

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Teach your Teen to drive : Part 1

BECOME THE COPILOT AND STAY COOL!
BEGIN WITH THE RIGHT FRAME OF MIND

GET A VIEW FROM THE COPILOT’S SEAT
The curb isn’t quite as close as it seems, however, if you are generally the driver, it may look as though your teen driver is going to run into it.

Drive in the passengers’ seat prior to experiencing it with your new driver for the first time. This way, you will have a better feel for what the road looks like from the passengers’ point of view, and you will have one less surprise when your teen takes the wheel.

Example: It can be difficult to tell from the passenger seat if the vehicle is centered in its lane if you normally see the road from the driver’s seat.

Take note: The road looks very different from the passenger side.

PLAY THE ROLE AS THE “NEW DRIVER”
You act as the “new driver” with the experienced driver giving you instructions. You may find being told what to do, for e.g. “turn left”, “stop there”, can be awkward and annoying! This exercise will help you understand how the new driver may feel and what they hear once your practice sessions with them begin.

STAY ALERT
It’s vital for you to stay alert.
Take note: the minute you may start to relax may be the minute your teenager requires your help. Be comfortable, but be alert.

REMEMBER WHAT YOUR GOAL IS
It is important that you acknowledge that only so much can be taught about driving in a limited time-span. However, practicing with your teen can pay off in the years to come and you can help them make decisions and judgments rather than rely on trial – and sometimes error.

FIRST PRACTICE SESSIONS
Attempt to practice as often as possible. Start off with sessions of 15-20 minutes then increase the practice periods to lasting approximately an hour. Practice during daylight hours and then at night and during poor weather conditions as well. Take advantage of the opportunity to practice every time you get into the vehicle with your new driver. Take a break when you or your teen become tired or frustrated. Driving will not improve under tense conditions.

START IN A PARKING LOT
Empty parking lots are a great environment for you to see whether your teen can drive in a straight line forward and backward, start up and drive a short distance, and stop the vehicle smoothly.
Test your teens' ability to turn the wheel and accelerate. Decide on a point in the parking lot to turn right. Make sure they turn without cutting the corner or first drifting to the left . Make a left turn the same way, then try making a right or left turn after coming to a complete stop.