The new Drive Coach workshop was developed by Road Safety Education and Rotary Youth Driver Awareness (RYDA) to prepare parents for taking on the role of driving instructor and giving their teens a confident start.
The free course covered the communication tools that work best during the developmental stages of teenage brains, as well as where to start on the coaching journey and the first skills learners need to become safe drivers.
"Our research shows that young people are safer drivers and take less risks when they have parents who stay involved, set boundaries and keep the conversation going through the learner and into the solo driving stage," course leader Liona Stanicich said.
"It was great to be able to offer this programme to local families at the same time we are running RYDA for their teenagers, so everyone is on the same page."
Knowing the purposes of all the buttons and lights on the dashboard, what to do before turning the key in the ignition and how to work out the vehicle’s position on the road were important basics often overlooked, attendees learned.
"The evening was really beneficial," Beki McCabe, who attended the workshop with her newly-licensed son, said.
"We want to teach our kids to be safe and confident drivers, and the advice, information and tips were incredibly helpful," Mrs McCabe said.
The Clutha District Council supported the presentation, the first to be held in the South Island.
"The evening was awesome and we are looking forward to seeing the team back next year, when they come to deliver Rotary Youth Driver Awareness to our year 12 students," council road safety co-ordinator Rachel Harrison said.
