Fair Car Finance

It is important to remember when learning to drive that there is more to it than basic driving skills and knowing the highway code.

Whilst knowing how to reverse park and to slow down around schools are an essential part of learning to drive, developing a good attitude to driving is also essential.

Before scheduling that visit to the driving test centre, a learner should feel comfortable behind the wheel. Drivers who lack confidence may become either overly cautious or too aggressive, posing a hazard for themselves and other motorists.
Adults who offer to sit with learner drivers on practice drives play an important role in developing positive driving attitudes. Whether it is a parent, sibling or friend, they set a lasting example in their attitude to driving and body language.

How to help the learner become a safe and confident:

• Remain calm no matter what. If you yell, you might make a tense moment worse. The learner will be reluctant to continue driving.
• If the learner driver makes a mistake, gently point out what he did wrong. Give him the opportunity as soon as possible to repeat the procedure or drive at the same location to “get it right.”
• Give clear, unambiguous instructions. Don’t bellow, “Turn here!” when the driver is practically right on top of the intersection. Instead, say, “Drive three blocks to Locust Lane. At the red light, turn right.”
• Always sit in the front passenger seat. It’s impossible to thoroughly observe the driver’s behaviour and monitor road and traffic conditions from the back seat.
• Don’t fidget. Nervousness is contagious. Instead of concentrating on driving, the learner driver will become concerned about making mistakes and perhaps even develop an irrational fear of driving in traffic.
• Give all your attention to the learner driver. Don’t make comments about the scenery, fiddle with the radio dials, talk on the cell phone or day-dream.

Having passed the test obtaining affordable car insurance is often the next hurdle. Car Insurance premiums for young drivers are much higher than older drivers due to the higher number of accidents that young drivers are involved in.

One method to avoid this is to get a parent to insure the car in their name and add the son or daughter as a named driver. Known as “Fronting” this technique should be avoided at all cost as if discovered the insurance could be voided leaving the policy holder with huge costs in the event of an accident. However there are legal options. A good source of cheap young driver insurance is Coverbox who offer a big discount if the driver chooses not to drive after 11pm which is the most dangerous time.