Remember, parents, you will be the mentor, so your local RMS can provide you with the road rules, knowing the road rules will help you become a better mentor for your learner.
Choosing a Professional Driving Instructor for the first few lessons to get the basics right. You should be asked to accompany your learner on their first few lessons. Sitting in on these will help you become familiar with the methods of the Driver Instructor uses. This will help you establish similar driving behaviours in your own car.
The Basic Start
First time in your vehicle, spend some time showing your learner the vehicle controls, gauges and warning lights. Understanding how to operate/use these controls is not only important for your safety but also for the smooth and efficient running on the vehicle.
Mirrors - Your interior mirror should be adjusted so as the rear window sits squarely within the mirror. Show how to adjust the external mirrors to eliminate blind spots. Blind spots are those areas outside of the field of vision and are not covered by the mirrors.
Steering - Holding both hands on the steering wheel with 10 to 2 position. This helps to maintain control of the vehicle.
Quiet Streets - If you live in a busy area, drive your vehicle to somewhere quiet with very minimal traffic. Start your learner by getting use to the accelerator and brake. Gentle acceleration and braking technique will get your learner use to applying the correct pressure. Gradually building speed once you feels comfortable with your learners progress.
Keep a safe distance - to avoid a potential hazard or an accident. A three second gap is essential when driving in the same direction of traffic. To check your distance after the rear of the vehicle in front passes a fixed object such as a pole, sign or tree by counting one thousand and one, one thousand and two, one thousand and three. If you reach the object on or after one thousand and three, you have a safe distance. In poor condition such as rain, increase your safe gap more than three seconds.
Teach your learner hazard recognition, this can be pedestrian crossings, parked cars, bike riders, bus stops, buses, traffic lights. Getting them to scan the environment they are in, will get them observing and responding.
BE PATIENT, give clear instructions in plenty of time for your learner to respond.