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Precautions for new driver

My eldest has just passed the test and I've bought her a small car to drive in.

I've given her all the lectures about speed, smooth driving, distractions etc.

She tells me she is sensible (and I know she generally is) but I can't help worrying just a little - she's not 18 yet even - so I want to take all the right precautions.

She has a black box fitted for her insurance.

I've told her she should drive solo for a while as distractions from passengers won't be helpful. Has anyone else done this and for how long?

Any other tips on what I should be saying to her?

Many thanks
M.
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Comments

  • foxy-stoat
    foxy-stoat Posts: 6,879 Forumite
    Eighth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Maureen43 wrote: »
    My eldest has just passed the test and I've bought her a small car to drive in.

    I've given her all the lectures about speed, smooth driving, distractions etc.

    She tells me she is sensible (and I know she generally is) but I can't help worrying just a little - she's not 18 yet even - so I want to take all the right precautions.

    She has a black box fitted for her insurance.

    I've told her she should drive solo for a while as distractions from passengers won't be helpful. Has anyone else done this and for how long?

    Any other tips on what I should be saying to her?

    Many thanks
    M.

    Of all my years of driving and the accidents/near misses I have had, the none of them where attributed to passengers. The single factor has been speed, driving too fast for the CONDITIONS, not the road signs. Just because the sign says 70, doesnt mean its safe to do 70.

    The only way I learnt was when I came off the road on a wet bend and hit a tree, was only doing 50 in a 60, had been driving for 4 months. Experiance isnt something you can tell someone, they will learn it themselves. My Dad said he was glad he saw me before the car...fortunately I wasnt too badly hurt...unfortunate for my sister who done the same thing when she was 19 some years later, she will always be 19 in my mind though.

    That and make sure the mobile is on silent and in the glove box out of sight and dont drink/drug and drive.

    If you buy her a cheap dash camera, that may help out if something should happen and the other driver auto-blames the young driver, unless the young'un was in the wrong of course!
  • Car_54
    Car_54 Posts: 9,054 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    foxy-stoat wrote: »
    Of all my years of driving and the accidents/near misses I have had, the none of them where attributed to passengers. The single factor has been speed, driving too fast for the CONDITIONS, not the road signs. Just because the sign says 70, doesnt mean its safe to do 70.

    I believe there is only one road in the UK with a 70 sign. No doubt others will disagree.
  • foxy-stoat
    foxy-stoat Posts: 6,879 Forumite
    Eighth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    edited 19 December 2025 at 8:30PM
    [quote=[Deleted User];71382680]I believe there is only one road in the UK with a 70 sign. No doubt others will disagree.[/QUOTE]

    50/60/70 - just a number.
  • Guest101
    Guest101 Posts: 15,764 Forumite
    foxy-stoat wrote: »
    50/60/70 - just a number.

    A target!


    in all seriousness, if they've passed the test then really that's that.


    However common sense would suggest Green P plates


    (also I would never use a black box insurer!)


    Having a passenger is much better than driving solo. I mean she's never driven solo before, and now it's throwing into the deep end.
  • Black box insurance reduced the cost considerably.
  • Guest101
    Guest101 Posts: 15,764 Forumite
    Maureen43 wrote: »
    Black box insurance reduced the cost considerably.



    How much will it increase next year though?
  • I wouldn't use green P plates either. Just screams to other road users that you passed by fluke and not a confident driver. They will take advantage of you too..
  • ElefantEd
    ElefantEd Posts: 1,236 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    A passenger can actually be helpful, so that the driver can concentrate on driving rather than navigating.
  • NO TEXTING when driving. Tell her that one over and over. Young people and girls in particular consider looking at and sending messages a matter of life or death.
    Mr Generous - Landlord for more than 10 years. Generous? - Possibly but sarcastic more likely.
  • wba31
    wba31 Posts: 2,189 Forumite
    Black box is a good shout, when I passed at 19 I was a complete moron behind the wheel, a black box would have been good for me to slow me down etc
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