The Art of Confident Driving

Instructor John is back! He will give us his tips on finding a good quality driver trainer. Since you are listening to this episode, you have already found a good instructor! Not everyone can, that is why I have recorded my lessons so everyone can have access to high quality lessons at a small price. I’m sure you know of someone who has had a lesson with a bad/poor instructor (it may even be you who had that experience), and the feelings of wasting time and money having that lesson, have probably left that student not wanting to get back in the car. As my friend Instructor John says “If you pay peanuts, you’ll get monkeys!”. Although it can be a bit tough on the budget, it is usually worth paying more for services and products, so you know you are getting quality. This is so much more important with driving lessons, as you will be using this skill for life! And with poor training, you are more likely to be involved in incidents that could cost you a lot of money in the long run! If you have had multiple attempts at your driving test and still not passed using an instructor, this is an episode you MUST listen to! John is available for manual lessons from Helensvale, Gold Coast “Driving Force School of Motoring” Hosts: John Griffiths, Liz Lafferty Full driving lessons and videos for subscribers here: https://theartofconfidentdriving.com/

What happens driving test day? What should a driving test applicant know? Who’s car do they use? What will the examiner say? What do I do if I make a mistake? All these questions and many more will be answered by Instructor Liz, who has had over 27 years experience presenting drivers for the practical driving test.  Listen to this episode and be confident when you attempt the test! Full driving lessons and instructional videos here: Home – The Art of Confident Driving Host: Liz Lafferty

Holiday driving. How to get to your destination without stress, and be able to enjoy the journey! A few extra tips from Instructor Liz: Learner drivers should have extensive experience with general driving before attempting highway and open road driving. Travelling with the family can be a great adventure! But make sure you arrive safe and sound. Don’t allow the driver to be distracted – kids, you must keep the driver hydrated and happy. Passenger: Shotgun position – check all lights are working, give the car some cool driving songs, you are the back up driver so keep watch! Passengers: rear seats – either: eye spy, watching a device with headphones on (so the noise doesn’t distract the driver) or hold intelligent conversations to keep the driver alert. Alternate choices include; singalong, reading books, thumb wars. Above all, please, follow the road rules, prepare for the journey – know your route and make sure your car is roadworthy. Let’s all work together to get to our destinations safely! With your sense of humour (and driving adventure) intact. Host: Liz Lafferty

Examiner Vs Instructor, what difference does it matter if I call the Examiner an Instructor? In this episode, Instructor Liz will explain why some examiners can’t technically be called instructors! From Liz: “I think examiners have a tough job, but it doesn’t mean they are tough on the applicants. If you don’t agree with the assessment, you should ask calmly and respectfully for them to explain what the issues were. While I could be an examiner, I choose to teach instead, which means I miss out on all the perks that state government workers (examiners) enjoy, but it is worth it, because I can have quality time educating my students! Plus, if I was an examiner, unless they were up to my very high standards of car control and road rule knowledge, I would fail most applicants! LOL” Host: Liz Lafferty Full driving lessons and instructional videos are here: https://theartofconfidentdriving.com/

Liz, an experienced driving instructor, shares invaluable insights on the pre-drive checklist for new vehicles. She emphasizes the importance of familiarizing oneself with the controls, ensuring seatbelts are fastened, and checking dashboard warnings. Listeners will learn essential safety measures that all drivers, especially learners, should follow to prevent surprises on the road. Liz's practical tips help build confidence, making the transition to any vehicle smoother and safer.

Motivation. 2024 Happy New Year! It’s easy to be motivated at the start of the year, but how do we keep the motivation going? When learning to drive, trying to lose weight, keeping away from the booze, or any other task that we want to achieve, we can get setbacks or have problems keeping on track. In this episode, Instructor Liz explains why it’s so important to have a set goal and take small but consistent steps to achieve our dream! For learner drivers (or drivers wanting to upskill) it is often too hard to even think about diving straight into traffic or complex manouvers, but by setting smaller goals, it is so much easier to achieve and with less stress. Listen to Liz give an example of her own lack of motivation, and how she overcame it. Full driving lessons available here: Home – The Art of Confident Driving

On 30/8/23 an 87-year-old driver lost control of his vehicle while in reverse and was heading towards a 4 year old girl at high speed, when Casey Wright put his body in the path of the car saving the little girl’s life. It has affected his life, and the lives of those around him dramatically. In this episode, Instructor Liz has a chat with real life hero Casey and his partner Briahne, who have had to deal with the horrific injuries, and the long term effects of this crash. They also talk about how better driver education, along with more stringent medical tests and adding practical driving tests to the states without aged tests would create a safer environment for all road users. Please consider giving a donation to Casey to help him recover. https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-hero-on-his-path-to-recovery https://7news.com.au/news/gold-coast/car-mounts-kerb-striking-man-and-four-year-old-girl-in-southport-on-the-gold-coast-c-11749228 https://www.teamleads.com.au/post/heroic-gold-coast-man-casey-wright-risks-life-to-save-child-now-faces-long-road-to-recovery Full driving lessons and instructional videos from Instructor Liz are available here: https://theartofconfidentdriving.com/

Spiral Roundabouts. They can be confusing for many drivers. In this free mini lesson, Instructor Liz will talk through the correct procedure to use this type of roundabout. These roundabouts have been catching test applicants by surprise when they are directed to use them on the test, and many have failed the practical driving test because the driver does not know how to use spiral roundabouts correctly! It is recommended you listen to the Full lessons: 21. Roundabouts and 30. Multi-Laned Roundabouts to understand the procedures, road rule requirements, and listen to Liz’s extremely helpful tips for giving way correctly and dealing with other drivers at roundabouts. Want to hear and see Liz’s Full driving lessons and instructional videos? Click here: Subscribe – The Art of Confident Driving

More rules you may not be aware of…. Are thongs ok when driving? Can I park in my own driveway? Am I able to have my windows down when I park my car? Can I have things hanging from my rear view mirror? Have a giggle with Instructor Liz while she explains these rules. Remember to check you own state or territory’s road rules! For full driving lesson from Instructor Liz click here: Home – The Art of Confident Driving

Australia has some weird and strange road rules (so do many countries!); Am I allowed to drive extra slow if I’m scared? Can I drive with my dog in my lap? Do I really have to indicate?  Is “tooting my horn” to say goodbye ok? In this episode Instructor Liz will explain some of the road rules many Aussie drivers are unaware of, or uncertain of. Full driving lessons and instructional videos are available here: Home – The Art of Confident Driving