The Value of Professional Driving Lessons at Any Stage
Professional driving lessons can be beneficial at any point in your learning journey. Whether you’re just starting out or preparing for your driving test, the right guidance helps build safe and effective driving habits.
Getting Started: The Importance of Early Lessons
When you first begin driving, even one or two professional lessons can set the foundation for correct techniques and road safety. Many supervisors—often parents—may not be up to date with current road rules or may have never had professional lessons themselves. Some even come from an era when getting a license meant taking a local policeman for a quick drive around the block! While those stories are entertaining, modern driving standards have changed significantly.
Supervisors who take on the challenge of those first drives without the safety net of dual controls deserve a lot of credit! I’ve heard some hilarious and nerve-wracking stories about those early experiences. To help build confidence, I always welcome supervisors to join a lesson and learn alongside their learner driver.
Key Skills to Master
• Steering: Getting steering right from the start reduces scary moments down the road. In NSW, learners are taught two main techniques—hand-over-hand and push-pull. Allowing the wheel to naturally spin back to center (with control) also leads to smoother turns.
• Head Checks: These are just as important as using your indicators, yet many supervisors overlook them. Making head checks a habit early on improves overall road awareness and safety.
• Three-Point Turns: Surprisingly simple! Practicing these early helps learners develop slow-speed control and steering accuracy.
• Reverse Parking: This skill is required for the driving test, but it doesn’t have to be intimidating. I can teach a learner to reverse park correctly within 30 minutes, including how to fix mistakes.
Preparing for the Driving Test
If you’re getting close to test day, it’s a great idea to book lessons with a qualified instructor about two months in advance. If you haven’t done much town driving, you may need three to five lessons to fine-tune your skills. A lesson on the day of your test can also make a big difference in boosting confidence and reinforcing key techniques.
If you or your learner are struggling with any of these areas, booking a professional lesson can help. A little expert guidance goes a long way in making the journey to a full license smoother and safer.
Anne
Driver Instructor | Hunter Valley, NSW | Instructing since 2009