Yes, this is not a new concept for you. This is simply a reminder to continue to build this habit. As you approach an area where you know your student is going to have to slow (for a light, a turn, etc.,) use your eye-check mirror to monitor her eye-movement. Does she check the [...]
Fluid Search Pattern - Most of the time a beginning driver tends to focus only on what is front and, unfortunately, that focus often lasts longer than two seconds and becomes a fixed stare. Since we addressed “breaking the fixed stare” with the last article, this time we are going to discuss how to make [...]
What happens before most all collisions? The driver has a fixed stare. That is why the most common comment after a collision (other than “It’s not my fault!!”) is “I just didn’t see him.”
Breaking the fixed stare is a challenge for all drivers – not just beginners. Remember, if you look at an object for [...]
Next time you’re behind-the-wheel, consciously observe your “comfort zone” for your following distance. At what distance you actually feel threatened, anxious, uneasy, afraid? Three seconds? Two seconds? One second? Be honest here - make an accurate assessment.
Then repeat that process with your student. You want to discover what her “comfort zone” really is.
If either of [...]
The recommendation for the 10 & 2 hand position went out when air bags came in. The reason is that the air bag, when it deploys, comes out at speeds of 150 to 200 miles per hour. If your hands are in the upper part of the wheel (the traditional 10 & 2 position), your [...]
When a new driver gets into a situation where she begins to tense up (this can happen when you experience an increase in traffic, or when you are getting onto a crowded freeway or merging into a crowded access or feeder road), she often will hold the steering wheel tighter. The tighter grip actually may [...]
Asking questions helps you maintain control. For instance, when you are waiting for a safe gap to turn left, you ask the student “After what vehicle do you think it will be safe to go?” If the answer you get does not leave you a large enough gap, you can correct your student by saying [...]
C - Control
CONTROL means two things - the ability to control your vehicle and the ability to control yourself. To a lesser extent, it also refers to controlling the situation (although that’s a topic in itself).
Who has primary control during a lesson? Yes, that’s correct - you, the parent. The student eventually evolves into the [...]
This should be review for you all, but it’s worth repeating. Why? Because one-third of all collisions occur at intersections.
Remember, from a stop you clear the intersection with the Commentary “Clear left, clear right, clear left”. While you are moving the Commentary for clearing an intersection is “Clear left, clear right”.
What about the center? Yes, [...]
By now, you may have heard about Toyota’s recall of vehicles that accelerated on their own. While we still do not know the exact cause of these incidents, sudden unintended acceleration can happen in any vehicle. We can use this opportunity to teach what to do in the event that you experience sudden unintended acceleration.
Go [...]