Driving & Driving Test Tips: Driver education, vehicle inspections, happy new year

Question
Hi Mark
Happy New year from sunny but cold Saskatoon, Canada where the driving is pretty dicey this time of year.
My daughter is in Driver Ed and requires an hour a week parental instruction (great timinng eh?)
Problem is I am a bit of a Type A, and on top of that I drive a city transit bus for a living (with all the attitudes that go with that), so I can see where this whole thing may be headed.
Can you give me an idea about how to approach this?
Where to start, progressing from the street to the freeway, etc.?
I am big on safety and vehicle inspections, but sure could use some tips on teaching method!
Thanks again!


Answer
First up is go to a large parking lot with little or no parked cars or obstructions.  Start with the basics.  Starting up and braking without jerking.  then go further and further until she is smooth.  then throw in some turning movements (cones are nice to have).  then do some parking practice and going into reverse.  Only when you think she is comfortable enough, then go out onto the roadway and practice on city streets.  Try to stay on cleared pavement first and then progress onto snow carefully.

then last but not least go onto the freeways.

it she can do all of these easily then she will be ready for her driving test.