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How to plan your stage one drives
Help your learner develop basic car controls in quiet areas with no traffic.
In this topic
What to expect in stage one
Stage one goals
How to achieve stage one goals
Examples of where to practise in stage one
Your learner’s legal requirements when they drive
Your legal requirements to supervise
Your changing role as a supervising driver through the stages
Video: Controlling the car in stage one
What to expect in stage one
Stage one is about your learner controlling the car.
Their first job is to learn how to start, stop and steer.
Trying this for the first time can be a challenge for new learners so it's important that you and your learner driver agree they'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 learner should agree they’re able to do these tasks well:
- Adjust their 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 their 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 they’re a manual driver.
How to achieve stage one goals
Here’s what you and your learner can do:
- Work together to develop their skills in basic car control.
- Find quiet areas with no traffic to practise in.
- Remove distractions from the vehicle, such as turning off audio and navigation, so they can concentrate
- Be your learner’s second pair of eyes to watch the road to help them make safe driving decisions.
- Work together to look for potential hazards.
- Give them guidance, support and encouragement.
- Talk with each other about how they’re going at the end of each drive to check on their 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 learner's legal requirements when they drive
Your legal requirements to supervise
When you supervise, you must:
- Have a current full car licence (not your Ps).
- Have a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) under 0.05 or 0 if you’ve got an alcohol interlock or are a driving instructor.
- Never drink alcohol while in a vehicle with your learner.
- Be listed as a supervising driver in their myLearners app or in their paper logbook.
- Use a registered and roadworthy car, suitable for your learner.
If you have car insurance, then check your car is covered when your learner is driving.
Lots of support
In stage one, you will need to provide your learner with lots of support.
Lessons from the road
Learn more about controlling the car in stage one.