Learner driver pratice: is my supervising driver suitable for the task?

lizferris1984

HI everyone. So I am a learner driver in my mid 30's, I've been learning since the beginning of May and overall I am happy with my progress so far. I have a good ADI whose teaching methods are working well for me. 3 weeks ago I started practice outside of lessons with a friend. She meets the legal requirements to supervise (correct age, has held a licence over 3 years etc).

My friend doesn't own a vehicle currently, so she just uses hire cars and her dad's car when needed. She drives safely but I wouldn't describe her as a really confident driver - but then maybe I'm unfairly comparing her to my ADI, I am not sure. When supervising she doesn't really give much input. I am at a stage of learning where I can safely control the car (or I wouldn't be driving outside of lessons) - but I'm finding her lack of input a bit concerning. I realise she's not an instructor. But I'm wondering if she's not experienced enough to supervise me.

Nothing unsafe has happened during practice sessions, but she will just sit there the majority of the time not saying anything, and when she does speak it's usually saying things like "watch out" or "slow down". So it's basically not soecific enough to be useful. She doesn't seem to be putting any effort into the process, she's not a very active participant. So I'm worried I'll pick up more bad habits than learn anything. Clearly I am capable of controlling the car at this stage, as much as can be expected - as there haven't been any major problems so far.

Am I being too picky? What do people think I should expect from a supervising driver? Is some practice better than none, or could it be doing more harm than good? Basically I want the practice but I'm unsure if she's suoitable or how it could affect my driving longer term if she isn't.

Please help me with your advice on this!

AdrianC

You're practicing. She's not teaching you. You're simply getting practice in.

Her feedback should be limited - by all means tell you why something's gone or is going wrong, but apart from that, she should be keeping quiet.

Whether she's experienced enough (or simply a good enough) driver, we have no way of knowing. I assume the practice is in a car that you're both insured to drive?

Mojisola

lizferris1984 wrote: »

When supervising she doesn't really give much input.

Nothing unsafe has happened during practice sessions, but she will just sit there the majority of the time not saying anything, and when she does speak it's usually saying things like "watch out" or "slow down". So it's basically not soecific enough to be useful. She doesn't seem to be putting any effort into the process, she's not a very active participant.

She shouldn't be an active participant - she's supervising, not teaching you.

You're more likely to pick up bad habits if she keeps telling you what to do - very few drivers haven't done so after passing their tests - you don't want to learn her bad habits, you want to practice the good ones that the instructor is teaching you.

If you feel that you need someone beside you telling you how to drive, perhaps you're not ready to practice yet without the instructor.

sevenhills

lizferris1984 wrote: »

My friend doesn't own a vehicle currently, so she just uses hire cars and her dad's car when needed.

Insured?


I disagree with the previous posts. You should be told how you are doing, praised at times and then when things dont go as they should, it should be explained why.
Even if she just pointed things out afterwards, it would be better than nothing.

Mercdriver

sevenhills wrote: »

Insured?


I disagree with the previous posts. You should be told how you are doing, praised at times and then when things dont go as they should, it should be explained why.
Even if she just pointed things out afterwards, it would be better than nothing.

If her knowledge is no better than a lot of the posts on here, advice from her would worse than no advice

cajef

Mercdriver wrote: »

If her knowledge is no better than a lot of the posts on here, advice from her would worse than no advice

Agreed, as an ex ADI it was always a problem when someone had been sitting in for practice with a pupil and was giving incorrect instructions and advice, I used to tell pupils by all means get as much practice in as possible but remember what you have been taught and if you are not sure whether you have been told something you think is wrong discuss it with me, I even had one father tell me that I was teaching their precious child wrong funnily enough I knew their previous instructor and he had been told the same thing.

lizferris1984

sevenhills wrote: »

Insured?


I disagree with the previous posts. You should be told how you are doing, praised at times and then when things dont go as they should, it should be explained why.
Even if she just pointed things out afterwards, it would be better than nothing.

Yes that's all I meant by being involved! Some direction or feedback. I am definitely able to drive without dual controls, and that's on the advice of my ADI. By involvement I didn't mean grabbing the wheel or putting the handbrake on for me. I just meant in terms of verbal feedback.

Ergates

lizferris1984 wrote: »

Yes that's all I meant by being involved! Some direction or feedback. I am definitely able to drive without dual controls, and that's on the advice of my ADI. By involvement I didn't mean grabbing the wheel or putting the handbrake on for me. I just meant in terms of verbal feedback.

Do you ask her for feedback? Have you explained to her what it is you want from her?

Scrapit

How is this a dilema? If not happy kick her into touch. Simple as.

Sea_Shell

A couple of people have asked, but you've not responded...

Whose / what car are you using for this practice and are you properly insured?

AdrianC

lizferris1984 wrote: »

Yes that's all I meant by being involved! Some direction or feedback. I am definitely able to drive without dual controls, and that's on the advice of my ADI. By involvement I didn't mean grabbing the wheel or putting the handbrake on for me. I just meant in terms of verbal feedback.

And that verbal feedback is likely to be wrong, simply because she doesn't understand what/why/how your instructor is teaching you.

After all, your instructor doesn't need to physically intervene, do they?

You're practicing with her, not having another lesson from her!