Re: How do I teach my mom to drive a car? Well, I'm in nearly the same boat. I've taught driving to my missus recently and got her to drive pretty good so far in a manual petrol car.
She joined driving classes and practiced driving in a diesel Indica. Once the licence was earned, she started driving in our own car. Initially, she was taught the basics of the car like where all stalks for headlights and wipers would be and how to use them.
Then, she was taught to judge the car's dimensions. She'd sit in the driver's seat in her position and I'd stand at front and corners around the car. She'd read where I was standing and also find the visual line for corners on the dashboard.
Once she was ok with them, I let her drive and initially she was quite nervous and held the steering wheel tight. During gear changes, she'd grab the gear shifter and push it into place. At times, car would stall/rev up due to incorrect gear.
During all these times, patience and encouragement was the key. I just give her corrective and recommended actions during the drive and let her figure things herself. I'd wait till she completed the drive. Then, once she's calmed down, I'd explain her all the mistakes and suggest the alternatives.
She's done brilliantly so far. She does fear traffic and barricades but she knows that when in doubt, go slow. When it comes to traffic or critical situations, only time and experience will help. She knows the basics and that's the required stuff. Every situation is unique and everyone behaves different in same situations. I just let her drive and intervene only if necessary.
She recently drove for about 100kms non-stop and even though there were a few hiccups, she gained valuable experience along the way. Just be patient and provide lots of time behind the wheels. |