Are Parents Bad for Your Driving?

Book Theory Test Today investigates how the driving habits of parents affect their children.

The Book Theory Test Today blogger says: “I never once set foot in a car with my parents for a driving lesson of any sort. Just imagining how it would play out was enough to convince me that it was not a good idea.

However, even though I used driving instructors for the duration of my learning experience, I was surprised by how many bad habits I’d picked up by simply watching my parents drive.”

It’s a subconscious thing according to recent research, but it’s not just behind the wheel where parents are leading their teenage learner drivers astray!

The Book Theory Test Today blogger says: “Because driving has evolved such much since our parents learnt to drive, many of them struggle to answer theory test questions correctly. A lot of parents are involved with theory test revision and a recent survey found that 17% of parents lie to their children when conducting a flash theory test quiz.

They would tell their children that they had given the correct answer to a question, when in fact they’d got it wrong, because they didn’t want to damage their confidence.”

Behind the wheel

In a statement from the CEO of the Driving Instructors Association, Mike Frisby, he said: “Parents are unwittingly affecting their offspring’s motoring habits long before they ever take to driving themselves – which in turn stresses the importance of making sure that you clamp down on your own bad habits when driving, to help prevent a future generation of poor drivers.”

The idea that parents are ‘driving’ their children to bad motoring habits stems from recent research, which shows that three-quarters of parents think they would fail a driving theory test and practical exam if they were to take it again. However, these same parents that think they would fail, still insist are teaching their children to drive.

The Book Theory Test Today blogger says: “While learning to drive with your parents is free, your learning experience may be somewhat tense. Like everything else in life, if you want to become good at something it’s best to learn in the right way, otherwise you stand to become a skilled bad driver rather than a safe one.”

So parents, before you think about teaching your teenager to drive, ask yourself – am I the right person for the job?

The Book Theory Test Today blogger says: “As a parent of two boys, I’d always dreamed of teaching them to drive, but after studying the research and recognising the bad habits I’ve slipped into since passing my test, I may need to rethink my dreams!”

Book Theory Test Today offers an intermediary service assisting clients with booking a UK driving theory test, or practical test, at test centres across the nation. The service also supplies resources to help you prepare for your driving theory test – Ready to take your theory test? Book your theory test online today…        

Tags: Learning To Drive

This entry was posted on Friday, November 7th, 2014 at 10:57 pm and is filed under Learning to Drive. You can follow any comments to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a comment, or trackback from your own site.