Get the British public behind the wheel of a car and you’ll see the full range of skill levels – from complete beginner to advanced driver. But no matter how good they are, all drivers have some bad habits that need to be kicked into touch. So if you’re an instructor, here’s the top five bad habits you should be teaching your pupils to avoid:
#1 – Not understanding road signs
According to a recent survey by Goodyear Driving Academy, one in 10 drivers have driven through a red light, and 37% said that there were rules and regulations of the road that they didn’t understand. Unless a learner driver gets to grips with road signs and the rules of the Highway Code, the consequences could be disastrous. Encourage pupils to stay up to date on changes to the law, and make sure that if they have any questions about road signs, speed regulations or any other legislation that you answer them fully and correctly.
#2 – Eating or drinking while driving
It’s tempting, especially on a long journey, to grab a sandwich and drink at a motorway service station and graze on the go. However, this means the driver will be taking their hands off the wheel and their eyes off the road. Eating and drinking (non-alcoholic drinks, obviously!) while driving can cause accidents due to inattention and an inability to respond to changing road conditions quickly.
#3 – Texting or using a mobile phone while driving
Not only is this incredibly dangerous, but it is also illegal. It is becoming less socially acceptable to text or use a mobile phone while driving, but driving instructors will need to really push home the consequences of ignoring this law to the Text-loving iPhone generation.
#4 – Keeping paperwork in order
For driving instructors, insurance is no laughing matter. Yes, it’s a big cost for any new driver, but the importance of having the right insurance should be made very clear to all pupils – and the consequences of not having proper cover before they go out on the road. The Motor Insurance Bureau estimates that there are approximately one million uninsured drivers on UK roads. Don’t let your pupils be part of that statistic.
#5 – Taking prescription drugs
Everyone knows about the effects of drinking or taking drugs and driving, but drivers also need to be made aware of the effect taking prescription drugs can have on their driving ability too. This is particularly relevant to over-the-counter cough medicines during the winter, and antihistamines during the summer.