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How to plan your stage one drives
Learn basic car controls in quiet areas with no traffic.
In this topic
What to expect in stage one
Stage one goals
How to achieve your stage one goals
Examples of where to practise in stage one
Your legal requirements when you drive
Video: Controlling the car in stage one
What to expect in stage one
Stage one is about learning how to control the car.
Your first job is to learn how to start, stop and steer.
Trying this for the first time can be a challenge so it's important that you and your supervising driver agree you're able to do all the stage one goals before moving into traffic.
Stage one goals
By the end of this stage, you and your supervising driver should agree you’re able to do these tasks safely:
- Adjust your seat, mirrors, steering wheel and other controls.
- Start up and shut down the engine.
- Move off smoothly.
- Slow down and stop smoothly.
- Go around corners smoothly at low speed.
- Check mirrors before braking.
- Check your blind spot before changing position, such as leaving the kerb.
- Stop the car on a slight slope and move off again using the park brake.
- Reverse in a straight line and around a curved path.
- Use gears smoothly, if you’re a manual driver.
How to achieve your stage one goals
Here’s what you and your supervising drive can do:
- Work together to develop your skills in basic car control.
- Find quiet areas with no traffic to practise in.
- Remove distractions from the vehicle, such as turning off music and navigation, so you can concentrate.
- Have your supervising driver be your second pair of eyes to watch the road to help you make safe driving decisions.
- Work together to look for potential hazards.
- Have open and honest conversations with your supervising driver.
- Talk with each other about how you’re going at the end of each drive to check on your progress.
Examples of where to practise in stage one
You should practise in empty, quiet areas with no traffic, such as:
- Car parks.
- Access roads at sporting grounds.
- New housing developments.
- Industrial areas.
- Local streets.
Your legal requirements when you drive
Lessons from the road
Learn more about controlling the car in stage one.