Parents Involvement Guide

Helping Your Child Become a Safe and Confident Driver

Thank you for supporting your child as they learn to drive. As a parent or guardian, you play a key role in helping them become not just test-ready, but a safe, confident, and responsible driver for life.

Research shows that the best outcomes happen when instructors and parents work together. In fact, your role is even more important after your child passes their test, when many parents mistakenly think their job is done.

This guide explains how you can get involved, support their lessons, and reinforce vital road safety habits.

1. Stay Informed

• Know the Plan: Your child will be following a structured syllabus during their 2-hour lessons. Lessons focus on building safe habits and confidence, not just passing the test.

• Lesson Recaps: Encourage your child to share what they learned each time. All lessons are summarised in the Total Drive app.

• Ask Questions: If you’re ever unsure how to help, feel free to ask. You’re part of the team!

2. Support Private Practice (If Applicable)

• Follow the Instructor’s Lead: Use the skills your child is learning in lessons as the basis for any extra driving practice. Covering a wide variety of roads—including ones that might feel slightly uncomfortable—can be very productive and build real confidence. Using a collaborative approach with the instructor to plan and review these drives will have a real impact. Use the skills your child is learning in lessons as the basis for any extra driving practice.

• Be a Calm Companion: Offer encouragement, stay patient, and avoid criticism during practice drives.

• Model Good Habits: Your driving influences theirs. Show good mirror use, road positioning, and no mobile phone use.

3. Use the Total Drive App

• Track Progress: Your child can show you their lesson goals, achievements, and notes from their instructor.

• Celebrate Milestones: Acknowledge progress to help keep motivation high.

4. Encourage Safe Driving Conversations

• Talk About Real-World Risks: Discuss distractions, peer pressure, and road conditions.

• Reinforce Responsibility: Emphasise that driving is a serious responsibility, not just a convenience.

5. Why Parents Really Matter – Backed by Research

• Long-Term Impact: Your involvement doesn’t stop at the test. In fact, post-test support is one of the biggest predictors of safe long-term driving.

• Driving Style Matters: Young drivers tend to copy the habits they see—so your driving attitude, use of speed, mirrors, and phone, all leave a lasting impression.

• Awareness Gap: Many parents are unaware of their own poor driving behaviours, which can unintentionally influence their child’s risk-taking or complacency.

• Attitudes at Home Count: Families with overly permissive attitudes may contribute to higher crash risk, while more protective family environments are associated with lower crash rates.

• Shared Car, Safer Outcomes: Learners who drive a shared family car after passing are statistically less likely to crash than those with their own exclusive vehicle.

6. Trust the Process

• Test Is Not the Goal: The driving test is one step in a much bigger journey. Our aim is to develop safe, skilled drivers—not just test-passers.

• Consistency Is Key: Regular lessons, reflective practice, and support at home create long-term success.

If you’d like extra tips or help with supporting your young person, including private practice, please just ask. Together, we can help your child build skills that will keep them safe for life.