Driving Instruction

[chicago51]

So my brother 8 1/2 years my junior has never driven before and has to drive tomorrow for his Drivers Ed class. He wanted me to take him out tomorrow since the center I intern at and his high school are both closed do to extreme cold.

Any advice for teaching a first time driver? Keep in mind all the side streets are extremely icy and since the high is -4 tomorrow I don't see much improvement in the road conditions.

 

[ResLife Hero]

Those are pretty rough conditions for a first trip. Before you go (if you have to), teach him the concept of how to steer out of a slide, go really slowly (start in a parking lot or something), and whatever you do, don't scream or do the flying armbar move moms do when he needs to brake. I learned in TX though, and I never had to worry about ice until I went to college. That could be dicey.

 

[Irish#1]

Can you find a large parking lot to start in? Biggest thing is to tell him to look on down the road and not at the front of the car. Good luck and make sure your insurance is paid! lol

 

[chicago51]

Appreciate the advice.

Yea I have no clue why his driving school said he had to go out tomorrow. He begged me to help him out. I'll try to find a large parking lot with minimal traffic.

The thing is I can't afford to have my car totaled so I am really nervous about this even though I believe in my brother and think he'll do fine. Without a car I don't how I can get to school and my internship on a daily basis lol.

 

[pkt77242]

My parents always took us to the local community college parking lot on the weekend for our first couple of times out. It gave us a big open space to drive in that is relatively empty and you can do turns, parking, backing up, and use the stop signs like a street.

 

[chicago51]

My parents always took us to the local community college parking lot on the weekend for our first couple of times out. It gave us a big open space to drive in that is relatively empty and you can do turns, parking, backing up, and use the stop signs like a street.

Great idea with the community college. It is a weekday but I assume every community college is closed for weather as my school is.

 

[IrishSteelhead]

Taught Driver's Ed one summer. All I can say is NEVER AGAIN. Still have nightmares of teenage girls immediately turning left at an intersection "because it was green."

 

[BobD]

Make sure all insurance is up to date and you're covered for teaching unlicensed drivers.

 

[RallySonsOfND]

Taught Driver's Ed one summer. All I can say is NEVER AGAIN. Still have nightmares of teenage girls immediately turning left at an intersection "because it was green."

I can't even imagine why people choose to teach drivers ed.

 

[IrishSteelhead]

It was easy money (so I thought) over the summer. Think I broke that Goddamn passenger brake twice stomping it uncontrollably.

 

[chicago51]

Need to buy a t-shirt saying "I survived teaching drivers education"

 

[BGIF]

My dad took all of us to a parking lot at a church, school, or mall.

The important thing is for you to drive until your off the road. Guage his abilities without oncoming traffic.

Equally important ... IF there's snow on the ground, get out and walk around before you drive through the snow. Those concrete bumpers at the head of some parking spaces can make holes oil pans like a great white hit it.

 

[palinurus]

Strongly endorse the parking lot idea. Also, key driving lesson to impart: Drive defensively; expect the other guy to do something wrong. Based on this, don't tailgate, don't fiddle with radio or phone, go slower than necessary. And re conditions, don't jam brakes heading downhill on snow and ice; in fact, tap brakes in bad conditions, don't slam. And speed kills.

 

[PANDFAN]

big thing is to make him understand to only use 1 foot

 

[chicago51]

Thanks for the advice. Basically he is going to drivers Ed with other first time drivers. My goal is that he doesn't go into it later today totally green and that he isn't the worst driver in the car today.