How ‘Parent Taxis’ can breed far better drivers

If your automobile is element of the UK’s largest taxi firm – Parent Taxis – then there’s a great opportunity you will spend a fair bit of your time on the road with 1 or a lot more offspring sat in the back.

But just how significantly time are you devoting to transporting your little darlings around the place?

A study from the Goodyear Driving Academy has worked out the average parent invest some 3-and-a-half hours a week taking the kids from A to B, which performs out at 197 days by time they reach their 20^th birthday.

As an alternative of utilizing this time to quiz your kids on their social life (as 14% of parents admit to performing) or acting as peacekeeper to the civil war that is broken out in the back, parents are now being urged to use it to educate children on the guidelines of the road.

Are children prepared for the road?

As a parent, it is your job to be concerned endlessly about your youngsters and attempt to keep them out of trouble by warning them of the dangers posed by alcohol, sex, drugs and (bad) rock and roll.

Plus, from a extremely early age, you will also need to have to teach them the rules of the road from a pedestrian’s point of view.

But how several of us extend that to telling them the guidelines of the road from a driver’s perspective?

There are a quantity of reasons this may be less of a concern for parents: soon after all, the youngsters will virtually be adults by time they can legally drive, they’ll most most likely be taught by a expert instructor, and they’ll have to pass the driving test to prove they’re ready for the road.

However, some argue that also much emphasis is placed upon rushing young drivers by way of their test.

Graduated studying

Some Approved Driving Instructors would sooner have a graduated, lengthy-term approach to learning rather than the existing method of cramming everything into a handful of months followed by one hazard perception and a single practical test.

This theory is borne out somewhat by the terrifying statistic that road accidents are the greatest killer of the young individuals aged 17-24.

So if we’re sitting in the car with our little ones for a few hours a week, why not use the time to adopt this extended-term learning method by teaching them the rules of the road?

Visitors signs

There are a mind-numbing number of road signs adorning the sides of the UK’s highways and byways and it’s all but not possible to keep in mind what they all mean – but playing site visitors sign games with your children can support you all make positive your understanding is up to scratch.

You can do this by asking them to name signs as you pass them, or by asking them to draw indicators they see en route then explain what they are when you arrive back house.

Alternatively, you could get the little ones to make their personal ‘traffic’ signs for about the residence, remembering the following guidelines:

• Circular signs give orders


• Triangular signs give warnings


• Rectangular indicators give information

Speed in the spotlight

You may not realise it, but the way you drive will have an impact on the way your young children drive when they’re old adequate.

So make confident you verify your speed and teach your children to do the identical by telling them the speed limit on the road you’re on and how quickly you are driving at particular points on your journey.

You can then move the game on by asking if they keep in mind the speed limits on a variety of roads and even get them to guess the speed – you could even put a forfeit in if they catch you speeding.

Weather warning

If a young driver requires their lessons and test more than 3 months during the summer time, they could be massively underprepared for the driving circumstances winter throws up – and so it is important they understand that driving style has to be adapted to suit various road circumstances.

So when you are on the school run, get the children to appear at the road surface and maintain an eye out for any hazards such as pot holes – there are adequate of them about – and how various weather situations have an effect on your driving.

For a lot more suggestions on how to get your kids road prepared and learn about issues like auto upkeep and what they can count on from their driving lessons, download the Goodyear Driving Academy Parent Pack.

How ‘Parent Taxis’ can breed far better drivers