Supporting Learner Drivers: A Guide for Friends and Family Supervisors

Supporting Learners: A Guide for Friends and Family Helping
As a driving school, we often get questions about how friends and family can support learner drivers. Here's a comprehensive guide on supervising learner drivers, including eligibility, insurance requirements, and best practices.

Who Can Legally Supervise a Learner Driver?

To supervise a learner driver, you must:

• Be at least 21 years old
• Hold a full driving licence for the vehicle type being driven (e.g., manual car licence for supervising in a manual car)
• Have held your full licence for at least 3 years (UK, EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, or Liechtenstein licences are valid)
• Not be currently banned from driving

Medical fitness: While not explicitly stated for supervisors, it's reasonable to assume that you should meet the same medical standards required for driving. The rules state that supervisors:Must not have a breath alcohol or blood alcohol level higher than the legal limit

Eyesight standards: Supervisors must meet the minimum eyesight standards for driving 

Professional assessment: If you have a medical condition that might affect your ability to supervise, it would be advisable to consult with a medical professional or a Driving Mobility Assessment Centre. These centers can provide advice on medical fitness to drive and practical driving ability 

Responsibility: As a supervisor, you are responsible for the safety of the learner and other road users. If your medical condition could impair your judgment or ability to provide proper supervision, it would be wise to refrain from supervising.

Please Note: While there's no specific rule prohibiting people with medical conditions from supervising learner drivers, you should ensure that your condition does not impair your ability to supervise safely.

Disclaimer: If in doubt, consult with a medical professional or a driving assessment center for further and more personalised advice.
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Insurance Considerations

If the Learner is Driving Your Car:

• Add them as a 'named driver' on your policy, or
• They should take out separate learner driver insurance

If the Learner is Driving Their Own Car:

• They must be the registered keeper / owner
• They need their own insurance policy covering them as a learner

Note: Some insurers require supervisors to be over 25. Always check your insurance policy details before supervising a learner driver.

Legal Considerations

The Legal Considerations when helping someone learn to drive

• It's illegal to accept any payment for supervising, including fuel money
• Learners can face severe penalties for driving without proper insurance

During Practice Sessions

As a supervisor, you must NOT:

• Use a mobile phone, tablet, or sat nav
• Supervise on motorways (only approved driving instructors can do this)
• Be over the legal alcohol limit
• Be under the influence of drugs or certain medicines

Tips for Effective Supervision

1. Plan routes in advance
2. Start with quiet roads and gradually increase difficulty
3. Provide clear, calm instructions
4. Encourage the learner to verbalize their observations
5. Discuss and reflect on each session afterwards

Remember, while practice with friends and family is valuable, it should complement, not replace, professional driving lessons. Our experienced instructors at Driving Schools in South West London are here to provide comprehensive training and ensure learners are fully prepared for their driving test.

For more information on our lessons or to book a session, contact us today!