How to coach my student in the car

Our objective at Safe-Way Driving Centre is to give your student a chance to be a collision free driver. We will train them in a system that will give them this opportunity if used consistently and correctly. The things we can not give the students are enough repetition and experience. The driving school and the parent are a team, both working together for a common objective: To make your student as safe a driver as possible.

Please review the following information carefully and you will be better prepared to assist your student in their driving progression:

1. Eyes: The eyes control everything the vehicle does! The eyes control the speed, position, and direction of the vehicle. The key is the eyes must be looking in the right place at all times!

Coaching Point #1: Watch your students eyes at all times. The eyes must look 15-20 seconds up the road where they want the vehicle to go. Most all vehicle control mistakes are a result of where the eyes are looking. Coach student’s eyes! Obviously watch the road also and do not let your student get in a dangerous situation.

2. Keeping vehicle in center of lane and turning: The turns are either too wide, too tight (hit curbs) or too fast or too slow. We call this Moving the Vehicle.

Coaching Point #2: The primary reason for these mistakes is that the student’s eyes are looking down. Low Aim Steering. They are looking at curbs, center lines etc. Tell your student to Look into the turn at least 15-20 seconds up the road. The vehicle will go where the eyes look. You look at the person you are throwing the ball to, same thing with maneuvering the vehicle. Look where you want the vehicle to go!

3. Driving the Vehicle (Defensive Driving): Now what do we do to try to keep from getting hit, or hitting someone else, or what we call becoming a real DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE.

Coaching Point #3: If we can train your student to do 3 things there is a good chance they will not crash the car.

1. Clear every intersection Left - Right - Left - Center - Peak Away - 100% of the time - Make sure your student turns their head 45 degrees in the system above before they ever pull into traffic at any intersection. You watch them and insist they do it eveytime.
2. Mirror Check- Have student check inside rear view mirror every time before they press the brake to slow down or stop.
3. Front Space- Keep good following distance at all times. Have student stop 1 car length behind all vehicles, and keep 3-4 seconds following distance at all times, 4 seconds in bad weather always. This can all be accomplished by aiming at least 15-20 seconds up the road at all times.

   The 2 most common collisions are failure to yield right of way, and rear enders. These 3 fundamentals will take care of these if done every time

4. Getting Started

Coaching Point #4: Your student is going to look straight ahead and low most of the time. Your challenge will be to get them to move their eyes, check mirrors and aim high at all times. Remember: Make sure they do everything right however slow they might go. They will move quicker and faster with practice and experience. Make sure they follow the same procedure every time.

Coaching Point #5: Keep student in neighborhood or light traffic so you can work with them in a non-threatening environment. Do not push them too fast. Make sure they do everything right.

Coaching Point #6: Working with your student everyday 30 minutes or so is much more productive than 2 or 3 hours one time per week. Reminder: Repetition and Practice! Practice! Practice! Turns! Turns! Turns!

Coaching Point #7: When you are ready to schedule your student for another lesson with Safe-Way:

1. Schedule only in the daytime
2. A weekend time is much less stressful for beginners just learning
3. When scheduling a freeway lesson avoid heavy traffic times.
4. Parents are encouraged to schedule all driving lessons as soon as the student gets his/her permit.  Schedule on a consistant basis until complete. Do not leave large gaps between drives and do not wait until the end of the 180 day deadline. Parents are encouraged to come to the office and schedule the drives.