Learner drivers not as good as they think they are
Sydney Morning Herald
Monday July 13, 2009
LEARNER drivers are over-confident and less skilled than they believe they are, says an NRMA survey of more than 700 learners to be released today.Instructors and learner drivers were asked what skills they thought they needed more training in. In almost all areas, instructors indicated learners needed more training than the drivers believed.Instructors said 43 per cent of students had difficulty observing speed limits but less than 20 per cent of boys, and 10 per cent of girls, believed they need more training.The president of the NRMA, Wendy Machin, said the figure was concerning because speeding is one of the main causes of crashes across all age groups."What's troubling is that more than 80 per cent of male learners don't think they have issues controlling their speed, while statistics show that young males are at high risk of being involved in a speed-related crash," she said.Blind spots were identified as the biggest problem requiring attention 70 per cent of instructors said students needed more training in this area, despite only 37.5 per cent of males and 26.9 per cent of females agreeing. More than half the instructors believed greater attention was required for reverse parking, roundabout rules and merging into traffic.The president of the Australian Driver Training Association NSW, Jeff McDougall, said it was a particular problem with the students who go to an instructor late in their learning, often trying to make up the last few hours in their logbook, or just pass the test."They're the ones I really do worry about because I think that a lot of the time they just don't think they need the help, but in fact they're left very short as far as understanding the dangers for when they go solo," Mr McDougall said.Both males and females they said the most challenging aspect of learning to drive was acquiring specific driving skills, including three-point turns and reverse parks.Female learners found building confidence, and co-ordination and concentration, more challenging than their male counterparts. Males found completing 120 hours in a logbook and learning road rules more difficult than the women.
© 2009 Sydney Morning Herald
