Keys2Drive lessons motor past 750,000 mark
This month the 750,000th Keys2drive lesson was provided by the Federal Government funded road safety program, which aims to help reduce road trauma for P-plate drivers.
The program has saved Australian learner drivers and their supervisors millions of dollars since the free hour-long lessons began in 2009.
The one-off lessons with professional instructors involve theory and practice and are designed to improve the safety, skills and knowledge of both learner drivers and their supervisors, typically mum or dad.
A survey of more than 2200 parents and other learner driver supervisors from across the country who took part in a Keys2drive lesson found:
Two-thirds incorporated information and techniques from the lesson in their own driving
- 54 per cent said they applied their increased knowledge of road rules in their driving
- 95 per cent would buy the safest car they could afford for their learner
- 74 per cent increased discussions with their learner about road-safety risks for novice drivers
- 94 per cent said the learner had a greater appreciation of the risks facing new solo drivers
The survey was part of the Keys2drive Parental influence in driver education report released in March this year. The research demonstrates considerable differences in parental confidence, knowledge and attitudes. Parents can provide undue praise, for example, which can lead to overconfident novice drivers. Others may be overprotective and instruct their learners without letting them do much thinking for themselves.
Supervisors, as well as learners, can greatly benefit from the additional support provided by a Keys2drive lesson with a professional instructor. They can develop the confidence to help learners fix mistakes immediately and practise with purpose, by valuing quality learning over quantity
Keys2drive lessons are sponsored by Australia's state and territory motoring clubs, including the NRMA and we encourage all eligible learners to participate.
They involve 30 minutes of theory and 30 minutes of practice for a learner and their supervisor (usually the parent) with an accredited driving instructor.
