Stage 1: Controlling the car

By the end of this topic you can

• You can set up the seat, steering wheel and mirrors so you can see and reach everything.
• You can find the main controls without looking down.
• You can move off, slow down and stop smoothly at a spot you choose.
• You can turn corners smoothly at low speed.
• You can stop and move off on a slight slope using the handbrake.
• You can reverse in a straight line and around a gentle curve.

What you need to know and understand

• Stage 1 practice happens in quiet locations, away from traffic.
• L plates, a current permit, a zero blood alcohol concentration and a fully licensed supervisor are required from your very first drive.
• Short, frequent sessions work better than long ones at this stage.
• Many learners have a few professional lessons early in Stage 1, before moving into traffic.
• Stage 1 skills keep improving through the whole learner period, so keep practising them.

Your Stage 1 goal checklist

In a quiet place away from traffic, show your supervisor you can:

• adjust the seat, mirrors and other controls ready to drive
• say where each control is and what it does
• start the car
• move off smoothly
• slow down and stop smoothly at a chosen point
• corner smoothly at low speed
• stop on a slight slope and move off again using the handbrake
• change gears smoothly at low speeds (manual cars only)
• reverse in a straight line and around a curved path

Good places to practise

Choose somewhere with plenty of space and few people. Ideas include:

• a new housing estate or an industrial area on a weekend
• a large car park near a beach or park at a quiet time
• car parks and access roads at sports grounds once games have finished
• a very quiet local street

Building the skills step by step

1. Sit in the parked car and learn the pedals, indicators, lights, horn, wipers and gears until you can use them without looking.
2. Set your seat, steering wheel and mirrors before every drive.
3. Start the engine, move off in a straight line and stop. Repeat until your accelerating and braking feel smooth.
4. Mark a simple course, for example with old boxes in an empty car park, and steer slowly around it, indicating at each turn.
5. In a manual, practise changing gears around the course; you will probably only need second or third gear.
6. Keep checking your mirrors and look out for people and other cars, even in an empty space.
7. Change your route or drive it in the opposite direction so it does not become automatic.
8. Reverse in a straight line, then around a corner or marker, looking carefully behind you.
9. Find a gentle slope and practise stopping and moving off, both uphill and downhill.

How much professional instruction?

There is no set number of lessons. Many learners book a few early in Stage 1 to learn good habits, such as setting up the car, before they meet traffic. Others save lessons for the end of their learner period to check they are ready for the drive test. If you can afford it, a lesson at the start of each new stage is useful, and your supervisor may be able to come along to pick up tips.

Common mistakes

• Looking down at the pedals or gear stick. Practise in the parked car until you can find controls by feel.
• Jerky starts and sudden braking. Squeeze the pedals gently and look well ahead.
• Forgetting mirrors and indicators because the car park is empty. Build the habit now so it is automatic later.
• Moving into traffic before every goal is mastered. Stay in Stage 1 until all of it feels easy.

Test yourself: Stage 1: Controlling the car

Answer each question, then read the explanation. Questions come in a random order each time.