Reminders for a personal driving supervisor

The supervisor is not just a passenger during driving practice. The supervisor has an important role and this means that they are also considered a driver while sitting in the front seat next to the supervisee during driving practice.

When conducting driving practice, the supervisor must be rested, calm and in a good mood. 

Driving practice requires that the supervisee learn from the experience they gain during driving practice. Therefore, it is important that the supervisor does not become too dominant and play the role of traffic expert during driving practice. What is elementary and self-evident to the supervisor as an experienced driver may not be for the supervisee.

At the beginning of driving practice, it cannot be assumed that the supervisee, who has only just acquired the skills and competencies necessary for a driver, will immediately be a safe driver with good driving skills. Becoming a safe driver takes years and requires a lot of practice. Moreover, becoming a safe driver involves more than simply knowing traffic rules and having the ability to drive the vehicle.

Tips for successful supervision:

Before you start supervision:

• Familiarise yourself with the Road Traffic Act currently in force. Laws are updated frequently. The latest information is available in the State Gazette.
• Solve a few traffic tests to check that you are up to speed. The tests are available both online and in well-stocked bookstores. 
• Get in touch with a driving school instructor. They will give inform you on the most suitable teaching methodology as well as give information on the specific supervisee. It is important to know their strengths and weaknesses.
• Familiarise yourself with the legislation on examinations. There you will find information on the structure of the exam, the competencies to be assessed and the exercises to be performed. This way, it is possible to instruct and draw the future driver’s attention to important aspects more effectively.

When supervising:

• Choose a diverse route. It is of little help to drive from the home to the country house every weekend. It is important to navigate at different times to get an overview of changes in traffic intensity and lighting conditions. Drive around the suburbs, downtown and on the highway.
• Perform exercises in different places. This gives the future driver the skills and confidence to perform the required manoeuvres.
• Train the driver in stages so that they become a safe and independent road user:
  • At the end of the first stage, the supervisee should be able to drive in such a manner that the supervisor is not required to not touch any of the car’s controls, even the air conditioning, or explain any of the traffic control devices unless there is a real danger.
  • In the second stage, do not draw their attention to fellow road users unless a dangerous situation arises. The future driver must also notice these situations themselves.
  • In the third stage, let the future driver independently plan a route, for example, using a map application, which would last for around an hour and include a highway section. Independent driving is important for embedding skills and developing the courage to decide and act.
• Bear in mind that each supervisee is different in their abilities. The fact that the necessary skills are acquired slowly does not mean that they are acquired poorly. The feedback given to the supervisee must be honest. Excessive praise given to a mediocre or poor driver can lead to an inadequately high self-esteem, which unfortunately will mean a painful setback in the exam.

If the driver fails the exam:

• Familiarise yourself with the exam protocol of the supervisee and pay attention to exam shortcomings during subsequent drives, without forgetting other important skills.

It is much easier for a future driver who has been prepared according to previous instructions to pass the exam, but especially to be able to drive independently in the future. In fact, it must be borne in mind that all driver training should not be aimed at passing a driving exam but at driving safely and independently after the exam. 

The supervisor has an important role and they must always be alert and attentive to the activities of the supervisee. Therefore, the supervisor may experience situations that make them anxious or stressed while sitting next to the supervisee. Some anxiety and stress are normal. However, too much stress and tension are not good, especially since driving practice must take place in a stress-free atmosphere.

Stress and tension can be caused by the supervisor’s own thoughts and emotions, for example, when telling the supervisee: “What you just did there was awful!”. As a supervisor, you can reduce your stress by changing your thinking. To save their energy, the supervisor should think positively and accept that the supervisee will make mistakes. Remembering that people learn from their mistakes will help the supervisor avoid tense and stressful situations.

During driving practice, there may be moments where the supervisee needs critical feedback. When providing criticism, the supervisor must be extremely tactful to avoid a situation where the supervisee loses all motivation and feels that they are unable to do anything. Instead of providing direct criticism, focus on safety and ask the supervisee themselves what they think of the situation and what might have happened as a result of their actions.

As a supervisor, do not forget that criticism must be positive and have a constructive impact!

When supervising a young driver, attention should be paid to the most important aspects that young drivers have the most difficulties with:

• Vehicle control – ability to use the control devices, automatic movements when driving and operating the vehicle, smooth driving of the vehicle at different speeds and in different weather conditions, smoothness of driving when starting to drive, decelerating and stopping.
• Awareness of danger – ensuring their own safety and that of fellow road users, responsible behaviour of the driver, attentiveness, foresight, early foresight of the activities of fellow road users, choice of the right (appropriate) driving speed.
• Ability to cope in traffic – practical application of traffic rules, ability to observe (read) traffic and interpret traffic situations, ability to adapt to the traffic situation, precise timing of decisions and actions (not too early and not too late), cooperation and communication with other road users (consideration for other road users), route planning and independent ability to cope in traffic.

The level of preparation of a young driver who is applying for a driving license when taking a national driving test must be such that when passing the driving test they are prepared to drive independently and safely. The driver’s qualification presupposes that the driver is in control of the vehicle, drives in a safe manner and is able to handle traffic.

In order to become a safe driver, it is not enough to complete the minimum amount of driving hours in a driving school. In addition to compulsory driving lessons at the driving school, the supervisee requires additional driving practice, which can be provided by their supervisor. The driving instructor can also be the supervisor.

Before coming for a state driving test, it is advisable for the person applying for a driving license to have completed at least 100-120 driving hours or 3000-4000 km of driving practice with their supervisor.

It is important to remember: the more driving experience a young driver gets, the safer a driver they will become!

The driving practice of a supervisee should be combined with driving lessons at a driving school. In order to have a better overview of the supervisee's development and level of preparation, it is recommended that the supervisor participates in the supervisee's driving lessons conducted by the driving instructor. By taking part in the driving lessons, the supervisor has the opportunity to talk to the driving instructor of the supervisee, who can share practical suggestions and tips for successfully conducting driving practice.

Safe driving behaviour requires that the driver be able to understand hazards and be able to avoid them, knowing how to drive in accordance with the law.

It is the supervisor’s task to develop a guide to safe driving behaviour and to draw the young driver’s attention to the four most important sources of danger:

• driving while in a state of alcohol or narcotic intoxication
• exceeding the permitted speed limit
• tiredness
• not fastening a seat belt

Before becoming a supervisor, you should ask yourself three important questions:

• Am I suitable as a supervisor with my personality traits?
• Am I a good role model for the supervisee as an experienced driver (analyse yourself and your driving style as a driver)?
• Do I meet the general requirements established for a personal driving supervisor?