05/08/2026
Parents: Before You Choose a Driving Instructor. . .
. .Read This
Most parents compare price, availability, and pass rates.
But there’s a more important question:
How does your instructor teach?
Research shows the prefrontal cortex, the area of the brain responsible for judgement, planning and decision-making, continues developing into the mid-to-late twenties.
This means young drivers benefit enormously from guided experience that helps them think independently, rather than simply follow instructions.
That’s why there’s a world of difference between an instructor who constantly says:
“Mirrors… Signal… Manoeuvre …”
…and one who asks:
“What are you seeing?”
“What could happen next?”
“What are your options?”
The first teaches someone to follow instructions.
The second teaches someone to think.
Research also shows that newly qualified drivers are at their greatest risk during the first months after passing their test, with driving experience being one of the biggest factors influencing safety, not simply age.
Passing the driving test is only the beginning.
A modern driving instructor or coach as we are so often referred in today’s world, should be developing judgement, anticipation and independent decision-making that will stay with your son or daughter long after the L-plates come off.
When choosing an instructor, don’t just ask about price.
Ask about their teaching philosophy.
Ask about their Continuing Professional Development (CPD).
Ask how they prepare learners for life after the driving test.
Because we’re not just teaching people to pass.
We’re helping them to develop ongoing skills for life in a bid to stay safe for life.
Sources:
• National Institute of Mental Health – The Teen Brain: 7 Things to Know
• National Institute of Child Health and Human Development – Frequent driving practice linked to lower crash risk among teen drivers
