Teaching a Mate To Drive Advice Please....

Stellios

Stellios

Stellios

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Just wondering if anyone can advise me a little on this really. A mate of mine has been learning to drive for almost 2 years now and over the last month has had his driving test cancelled a few times due to the weather. Ive never been in a car with him driving ever, but hes looking to buy himself a car in the next week or so, and has asked me if I would be willing to sit in with him whilst he is behind the wheel. I am 23 years old, have never had a crash and have held my license for the last 5 years and my license is totally clean. He is saying he feels as if he has learnt all he can from his instructor and feels he is wasting his money paying for driving lessons now as his instructor cannot really teach him how to anticipate the roads.

So, first of all would you do it? Im by no means the best driver on the planet, but I do feel confident enough to watch over him in the passenger seat and advise him.

Also, not that I have no confidence in him at all, but if he does bin a car with me in the passenger seat whats the deal? Is it possible to have a negative effect on my driving license or insurance bonus?

Cheers for any advice,
Paul
 
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If he feels that he can learn nothing more from an instructor then get him to drive some routes with you watching him but NOT saying anything (unless its an emergency) take note of his driving then once the route is done talk to him about any errors made and also th good parts (helps boost confidence metioning his strengths)

Thats what my instructor did towards the end of my lessons and it helped lots!
 
Personally I would politely decline and advise him to carry on with the lessons in the car that he knows until he has got his test out of the way.
 
I'd say don't. The instructor should be able to get him through the test just fine. Has he failed any already or just not taken one yet?

May sound like a good idea to save some cash, but may actually result in his mistakes and some blame going to you, and possibly making your friendship awkward. Best left to the professionals I say. My instructor got me through no probs, even my parents refused to take me out anywhere as it wasn't necessary since I had a great instructor.
 
I would say don't do it, but if you must then this (below) is a good idea. Get a video of it as well so you can analyse it afterwards.

Gonzo0 said:
If he feels that he can learn nothing more from an instructor then get him to drive some routes with you watching him but NOT saying anything (unless its an emergency) take note of his driving then once the route is done talk to him about any errors made and also th good parts (helps boost confidence metioning his strengths)

Thats what my instructor did towards the end of my lessons and it helped lots!
Click to expand...
 
I think it's a good idea, I went out and about with my mum before I passed my test. Although if he got flustered and stuck it might be a bit of a problem if you weren't also insured to drive that car.
 
Do it, but every time he goes round a corner or brakes, grab the dash or the door handle. If you see a car wince or breath in through your teeth.

I am sure after that he won't ask again.
 
this is a recipe for disaster.

He's already bordering on arrogant by saying his instructor cant teach him anything. What makes him think you can teach him something the instructor cant ?

It could ruin a perfectly good friendship can teaching somebody to drive. Not recommended at all.
 
MrLOL said:
this is a recipe for disaster.

He's already bordering on arrogant by saying his instructor cant teach him anything. What makes him think you can teach him something the instructor cant ?

It could ruin a perfectly good friendship can teaching somebody to drive. Not recommended at all.
Click to expand...

I don't think he sounds arrogant, I see where he's coming from. If he's been taught everything he needs, all he needs to do is keep driving and keep in practice then have a last lesson before his test - with his instructor he'll pay £20 an hour for the privilege, if he can truck around with a mate in the car he can just keep in practice for 'free'. When I failed my test my instructor told me not to worry about booking a lesson til the last minute and to just drive as much as I could with my parents, then when I got a date book a lesson the day before and have the normal pre-test lesson as well. Otherwise I'd be sticking £40 a week to him to drive for two hours when I could drive two hours a night with my mum if I wanted - he'd 'taught' me all I needed, it was just pure practice I really needed.

I agree with the recipe for disaster/potential friendship ending scenario though, I wouldn't want to do it.
 
I would do it, but he should still do lessons on the side.

2 years seems like a bloody long time. Maybe a new instructor is in order?
 
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