Supervised practice and driver education in Nunavut

By the end of this topic you can

• You can check whether a person is qualified to supervise you.
• You can explain the minimum practice periods before and after a road test.
• You can plan practice that covers Nunavut's real conditions.
• You can explain the supervisor's legal duty to instruct.

What you need to know and understand

• The supervisor must hold a valid licence for the vehicle you are driving.
• A Class 5 supervisor needs at least two years of experience with that type of vehicle; Class 1 to 4 holders need three years.
• The supervisor must instruct you while you drive.
• First-time drivers should practise for at least four weeks on a learner's licence before the road test.
• If you fail a Class 5 or 6 road test, the manual sets a further two-week practice period; after repeated fails the examiner sets it.
• No driver education course is required by the regulations; check with Motor Vehicles about any local options.

Choosing the right supervisor

Under the Driver's Licence Regulations, the person accompanying you must hold a valid licence for that type of vehicle and have the required experience: at least two years on a Class 5, or three years if their licence is Class 1, 2, 3 or 4. They must actually teach you. A supervisor who is distracted, on the phone or has been drinking is not doing that job and puts you both at risk.

Practice periods set by the manual

• Before your first road test: at least four weeks of practice on a learner's licence.
• After failing a Class 5 or 6 road test: at least two more weeks of practice.
• After a second or later fail: the driver examiner decides the practice period.
• Drivers with an expired licence, returning from a suspension or holding a Class 5 or higher from another country may have the period set or waived by the examiner.

What to practise in Nunavut

Short community roads can hide a lot of learning. Plan sessions that cover each skill on the road test and each local hazard.

1. Pre-drive checks: tires, lights, signals, mirrors, seat and belt.
2. Smooth starts and stops, and full stops at stop signs.
3. Left and right turns with mirror and shoulder checks.
4. Backing up and parallel parking with all-round observation.
5. Gravel, snow-packed and icy surfaces at low speed, and braking early.
6. Watching for ATVs, snowmobiles, pedestrians and children, especially near schools and trail crossings.
7. Driving in low light, fog or blowing snow with your supervisor's guidance.

Common mistakes

• Practising only on one short route. Vary roads, times of day and weather.
• Letting a supervisor who has been drinking ride with you. Choose a sober, qualified supervisor every time.
• Booking the road test the day the four weeks end, without having practised parking and backing.
• Ignoring shoulder checks because roads seem empty. ATVs and snowmobiles can appear quickly.

Test yourself: Supervised practice and driver education in Nunavut

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

Go deeper

• Driving in Iqaluit and Nunavut
• How to Get a Driver’s Licence in Nunavut
• Nunavut impaired driving and zero tolerance for new drivers