Supervising learner driver

welshjenni

Sometimes when we pull up by the house and my son/daughter (both learning) need to parallel park I will open the window wide, get out of the car and stand alongside the car to give them directions to park properly.

We spotted a neighbour seemingly taking a photo of this and muttering that it was against the law... and I wouldn't be surprised if they were to try to cause trouble if they could.

Obviously supervision is usually done from the passenger seat but would it be acceptable to be supervising them from a position immediately outside the car in these circumstances as it gives me a much clearer view

thank you

Quentin

How can you intervene to prevent any collision from outside the car?

comeandgo

You have to be in the car sitting beside them, not in the back or outside.

jm2926

if the vehicle has more than one seat, you must have someone with you whenever you are driving. The person supervising you must sit in the front passenger seat and be fit to drive the vehicle, for example, they must not be drunk. They must also be aged 21 or over and have had a full driving licence for at least three years.

http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/nireland/consumer_ni/consumer_cars_and_other_vehicles_e/consumer_driving_and_parking_e/consumer_driving_e/driving_licences.htm

welshjenni

How would I intervene from inside the car other than grabbing the wheel? He was moving at a snail pace and my view of the parked cars (one of which is also mine) was much better from outside than inside.

welshjenni

OK thanks - I will stay in the car then.

Quentin

welshjenni wrote: »

How would I intervene from inside the car other than grabbing the wheel? He was moving at a snail pace and my view of the parked cars (one of which is also mine) was much better from outside than inside.

Well..... A decent supervisor might also pull on the hand brake too or as an alternative.

But don't shoot the messenger.

You have been put right in this thread.

Maybe go and see the neighbour and confess your ignorance, tell him you have now been educated, won't do such a stupid thing again, apologise and ask if he will let it go and destroy all the evidence against you.

Paradigm

You are breaking the law but lets have a little common sense here.

Unless the car is dual controlled there is little you can do from the passenger seat anyway & if you can direct operations better from outside the car then what's the problem?

Sadly the Police won't see it that way if the neighbour decides to inform them... such is life

#tin hat time

welshjenni

I guess I viewed it as the same as when I have been driving and asked the passenger to get out and guide me in to a very tight space. Obviously it is not the same and I will stay in the car in future.

Many thanks for your opinions I appreciate you taking the time to respond.

vaio

Quentin wrote: »

.........Maybe go and see the neighbour and confess your ignorance, tell him you have now been educated, won't do such a stupid thing again, apologise and ask if he will let it go and destroy all the evidence against you.

I don't think I'd be having any contact with a neighbour like that and certainly not be confessing to him/her.

Just forget it ever happened and don't do it again

Quentin

Without a "neighbour like that" this could have ended in tears for 2 innocent neighbours whose cars were being used to practice the hardest parking manoeuvre on by a learner let loose by her supervisor who thought it the right and proper thing to do.

We know who the villain is in this tale, and the neighbour like that may be a jobsworth but I think you'd be grateful were all this going on outside your house and involved one or two of your fleet!