Coaching schedule for your teenage new driver

Your coaching schedule should support and provide continuous feedback throughout the various stages of learning to drive.

Learning stage	Description
Stage 1	Coaching before the knowledge test
Stage 2	Coaching during the learner’s (L) licence stage
Stage 3	Coaching during the novice (N) licence stage
Stage 4	Coaching with a full-privilege Class 5 driver’s licence

When to start coaching? Your coaching can begin several months before your teen's 16th birthday, the earliest date they can apply for their learner’s licence. Or you may begin coaching when your teen begins to raise the subject of driving.

Coaching before your teen’s knowledge test

Here are some tips to help your teen learn to drive:

• When your teen is in your car with you, provide examples such as, "I'm turning left here, and noticing such-and-such." Or, "I'm turning right at the corner here, but watching the pedestrians. They may step off the curb as I'm turning."
• Model safe driving behaviour.
• Practice route planning and map reading.
• A new driver in the family may affect your vehicle insurance coverage. Review your current situation with your Autoplan broker.
• Your teen should understand how vehicle insurance works. Gather cost information in anticipation of this discussion. Your Autoplan broker is a good source of information.
• Begin thinking about the house rules you want to implement. Decide which rules are appropriate for your situation, and discuss with your teen. Make sure your teen knows that driving privileges comes with rules.
• Prepare your teen by helping them study the Learn to Drive Smart guide and testing their knowledge with the online practice knowledge test.

Find an ICBC-approved driver education course location online

Coaching during the learner’s (L) licence stage

Develop your teen driver's experience slowly and incrementally. Help your teen develop confidence and ability with as little risk as possible. Here are a few more points to use for coaching:

• Be aware of the learner’s (L) licence stage restrictions.
• Discuss your teen's responsibilities as a driver. Explain how insurance works, the financial costs of a crash and how it could affect their future.
• Consider asking your Autoplan broker to have a frank discussion with your teen about the risks associated with driving. Listening to facts from an objective person may have a greater effect with your teen.
• Implement your own house rules to augment learner’s (L) licence restrictions. Be sure to encourage discussion with your teen. Discuss implications if your teen breaks your house rules.
• Complete the family contract.
• Continue with practice sessions as often as you can, introducing new challenges slowly and incrementally. Use the Tuning Up for Drivers booklet to help guide your practice sessions.
• Introduce and begin using the pre-driving checklist.
• Continue to model safe driving behaviour.
• Continue map reading and route planning sessions.
• Make sure your teen knows basic car maintenance such as how to get gas, check oil and other fluid levels, check tire air pressure and what to do about a flat tire.
• Your new teen driver is unprepared and inexperienced. They often cannot identify or assess risks the way more experienced drivers can.
• Keep your teen in low-risk driving environments (e.g., quiet streets, during daylight hours) for as long as you feel is necessary before moving on to more challenging sessions. Your teen may disagree, but remain firm.
• Ensure your teen's first challenging drive has minimal risk. For example, if you are driving on a highway, ensure it's in daylight hours and in good weather conditions. As your teen becomes a more experienced driver, they can gradually become exposed to more challenging conditions.
• When conducting practice sessions, identify and minimize potential risks that perhaps your teen can't yet recognize. For example, don't let your teen drive on a new route during rush hour.

Use Tuning Up for Drivers as a resource for coaching

ICBC's Tuning Up for Drivers booklet contains excellent suggestions to help you practice with and coach your teen. The booklet is available in print or it can also be downloaded here.

Consider enrolling your teen in an ICBC-approved driver education course

You may help your teen practice driving, or help them find someone who has the time and is able to teach them. You may also want to consider having them take an ICBC-approved driver education course. Your teen benefits from professional training in the learner’s (L) licence stage and can later qualify to reduce their novice (N) licence stage by 6 months.

Find an ICBC-approved driver education course location online

Coaching during the novice (N) licence stage

Help your teen continue to develop good driving habits and a healthy attitude. Your efforts now may help your teen remain safe for life. Tips include:

• Re-visit your house rules and family contract. Modify to reflect fewer GLP restrictions, but only if you feel your teen is ready.
• Ensure your teen's friends know your rules and your teen's responsibilities.
• Although your teen can drive without a licensed adult, continue practice sessions. Practice driving under different conditions. Accompany them on their first longer or challenging trip (e.g. to other side of town, on a highway).
• Encourage your teen to make use of the pre-trip checklist before every driving trip.
• Remind your teen about the risks of teenage driving and consequences of getting a ticket.
• Ensure your teen knows what to do if they're in a crash—what information to gather and how to deal with injuries.
• If your teen is considering purchasing a car, ensure they understand the cost of car insurance, and the financial risks of being in a crash. Your Autoplan broker will be glad to review this with your teen.

Find an ICBC-approved driver education course location online

Coaching with a full-privilege Class 5 driver’s licence

By the time they get their full-privilege licence, some teens are driving almost every day, while others continue to drive only occasionally. In any case, you may wish to continue working on goals, to do's and points to remember from Tuning Up for Drivers.

• Continue to monitor your teen's driving. Ask them to drive when you go out together as a family, for example. Provide constructive feedback, both positive and negative.
• Re-visit your house rules and family contract. Modify based on your judgment of your teen's driving.
• Continue reminding your teen about the risks of teenage driving. Complacency and overconfidence can be deadly.
• Continue reminding your teen about safety factors each and every time they get behind the wheel. For example, watch for slippery roads and be aware that even a small amount of alcohol, drugs or medication can affect their judgment
• Continue to support your teen's commitment to be a safe driver. Ensure they know that you will be available for rides home, or can provide taxi fare, if they feel they cannot drive for any reason.
• 18 and 19-year-olds—even those with a few years of driving experience—can still be impulsive and overconfident about their driving abilities. Remain vigilant.