The Art of Confident Driving

Tyre/tire care or as Instructor Liz says, “Don’t drive on anything that isn’t road!” In this episode, Instructor Liz explains what you should do to get the most value for money out of your tyres, as well as how to avoid costly repairs! As the photo shows, discarded coach screws left on the roads can certainly do major damage. Full driving lessons and instructional videos from a professional instructor of 27 years available here: https://theartofconfidentdriving.com/

Driving Test Tips 2. Instructor Liz gives more of her advice to make passing the practical driving test first go, much more likely! Her structured lessons have ensured that her pass rate has not fallen under 95% (first attempt) in the last 10 years, so by listening to this episode, you will understand why her students pass the test easily and confidently. For full Instructor Liz’s full driving lessons, click here: https://theartofconfidentdriving.com/  

Instructor Sonia joins Liz this week to talk about her experience as a parent teaching 2 of her children, then as an instructor teaching her other 2 kids! Both instructors talk about the more common mistakes parents/carers and supervising drivers make. This is a must listen episode for all parents new to supervising a learner driver. https://www.facebook.com/drivewithsonia  https://theartofconfidentdriving.com/

Season 3. Welcome to season 3, where Instructor Liz graduates to her P2 podcast licence! It’s been an exciting couple of seasons in 1 and 2, with the bulk of Liz’s driving lessons being available to subscribers, this season, Liz will be interviewing some educational and fun guests as well as completing her Learn to Drive podcast programme. Join her in this season opening for a couple of stories where we find out that too big of an ego makes for poor driving educators! Full driving lessons are available on apple podcast or https://theartofconfidentdriving.com/ which include instructional videos.

Driving around Australia with Gav. I was thrilled to sit down with my good mate Gavin to talk about his trip around Australia – including Tasmania – and what adventures he got up to! There was an unexpected side effect of driving solo, which gives a valuable lesson for everyone planning on long drives. His tips and advice will certainly come in handy for me when I finally get around to doing this unforgettable trip. Gavin has a lot of experience with cars, and we have had many conversations over the years, where I am usually well out of my depth with his superior mechanical knowledge, but I have a good time learning! Enjoy his story, Liz. Gav’s car story: Growing up, it was common for dad’s in my neighbourhood to spend weekends doing their own car maintenance. Oil changes, tuning (before electronics) even full engine rebuilds would be done in suburban back yards. Australia had a “culture” based around Bathurst and whether you supported Ford or Holden. My dad owned an XA Ford Fairmont, 5L V8 with 4 speed floor shift which I learned to drive in and borrow a lot of the time for my own mis spent youth, so I’ve always been a “Ford” man at heart, but I can appreciate the engineering/design on any vehicle. I continued the tradition of doing all your own mechanical work beginning with a 1972 Ford TC Cortina (4L inline 6 with T bar Automatic) then a 1967 Ford ZA Fairlane (5L V8 with column shift automatic). I rebuilt the engine for my 1982 Mitsubishi Sigma taking it from a 2L to a modified 2.6L – I also owned a 1985 Nissan 300ZX (N/A 3L V6-5 speed) with Targa Roof and that is where I was forced to start handing over my car to mechanics from time to time due to the need of having specialized tools for certain tasks. Following that, I had a 1988 Nissan “The Ute” which was just a rebadged Ford XF Falcon, closely followed by a 1991 Ford XG Falcon Ute which I drove to many camping adventures before my now 2003 BF Falcon Ute with which I toured the continent and hope to maintain for many more years to come.  

Even MORE Aussie Road Rules You May Not Know! Think you’ve mastered the Aussie road rulebook? Think again! In this episode, Instructor Liz will dig up even more obscure, surprising, and downright quirky driving laws that could trip up even the most seasoned drivers. From unexpected rules about leg placement to tinting our windows; we’re serving up road rule revelations with a side of laughs. Perfect for supervising drivers, learners, and anyone who’s ever muttered “Wait… is that actually illegal?” Buckle up—this ride’s full of twists! Full driving lessons and instructional videos are available here: https://theartofconfidentdriving.com/

Listener Advisory: This episode contains brief siren sound effects. If you’re listening while driving, please be aware; there may not be an emergency vehicle near you. But as Instructor Liz says: be aware of your surroundings! Emergency Vehicles and Driving Decisions: Insights from a Paramedic. Navigating around emergency vehicles can be one of the most stressful moments for any driver — especially new ones. In this episode, Instructor Liz explores how to respond safely and legally when sirens sound and flashing lights appear, offering calm clarity in what can feel like chaos. Joining the discussion is Zoe, an experienced paramedic who has worked in both Australia and the UK. She shares on-the-ground insights from life in emergency response, highlighting common driving errors and the impact they can have during high-stakes situations. This episode is a must listen to for new and experienced drivers alike! Topics Covered: Key road rules for responding to emergency vehicles in Australia Driver behaviour through the lens of a paramedic The differences between emergency responses in the UK and Australia How calm, confident choices can make all the difference Instructor Liz’s full lessons and instructional videos are available here: https://theartofconfidentdriving.com/

Motorway merging can be challenging for not only learner drivers, but many fully licenced drivers. In this episode, Instructor Liz will be giving her top 5 tips for merging on to motorways and highways to make you more confident and happier when attempting this procedure. From Liz: Please remember the basic road rule of “Keep Left” for all multi-laned roads! Be aware that other drivers have different levels of driving skills. DO NOT cut in front of trucks. Please use a courtesy wave if someone “lets you in” the lane. Allow extra travel time for traffic, and finally, keep in mind, we all want to get to our destination safely. Lessons required to fully understand this topic: Lesson 6: Blind spots.  Lesson 7: Early decisions.  Lesson 8: Communicate.  Lesson 23: Traffic drive.  Lesson 28: Road signs and markings.  Lesson 31: Lane Changing.  Lesson 41: Motorway driving and Free lessons: Mirrors & :Give way basics. Instructor Liz’s full driving lessons and instructional videos available here: Home

Instructor John is back! He will give us his tips on finding a good quality driver trainer. Since you are listening to this episode, you have already found a good instructor! Not everyone can, that is why I have recorded my lessons so everyone can have access to high quality lessons at a small price. I’m sure you know of someone who has had a lesson with a bad/poor instructor (it may even be you who had that experience), and the feelings of wasting time and money having that lesson, have probably left that student not wanting to get back in the car. As my friend Instructor John says “If you pay peanuts, you’ll get monkeys!”. Although it can be a bit tough on the budget, it is usually worth paying more for services and products, so you know you are getting quality. This is so much more important with driving lessons, as you will be using this skill for life! And with poor training, you are more likely to be involved in incidents that could cost you a lot of money in the long run! If you have had multiple attempts at your driving test and still not passed using an instructor, this is an episode you MUST listen to! John is available for manual lessons from Helensvale, Gold Coast “Driving Force School of Motoring” Hosts: John Griffiths, Liz Lafferty Full driving lessons and videos for subscribers here: https://theartofconfidentdriving.com/

What happens driving test day? What should a driving test applicant know? Who’s car do they use? What will the examiner say? What do I do if I make a mistake? All these questions and many more will be answered by Instructor Liz, who has had over 27 years experience presenting drivers for the practical driving test.  Listen to this episode and be confident when you attempt the test! Full driving lessons and instructional videos here: Home – The Art of Confident Driving Host: Liz Lafferty

Holiday driving. How to get to your destination without stress, and be able to enjoy the journey! A few extra tips from Instructor Liz: Learner drivers should have extensive experience with general driving before attempting highway and open road driving. Travelling with the family can be a great adventure! But make sure you arrive safe and sound. Don’t allow the driver to be distracted – kids, you must keep the driver hydrated and happy. Passenger: Shotgun position – check all lights are working, give the car some cool driving songs, you are the back up driver so keep watch! Passengers: rear seats – either: eye spy, watching a device with headphones on (so the noise doesn’t distract the driver) or hold intelligent conversations to keep the driver alert. Alternate choices include; singalong, reading books, thumb wars. Above all, please, follow the road rules, prepare for the journey – know your route and make sure your car is roadworthy. Let’s all work together to get to our destinations safely! With your sense of humour (and driving adventure) intact. Host: Liz Lafferty

Examiner Vs Instructor, what difference does it matter if I call the Examiner an Instructor? In this episode, Instructor Liz will explain why some examiners can’t technically be called instructors! From Liz: “I think examiners have a tough job, but it doesn’t mean they are tough on the applicants. If you don’t agree with the assessment, you should ask calmly and respectfully for them to explain what the issues were. While I could be an examiner, I choose to teach instead, which means I miss out on all the perks that state government workers (examiners) enjoy, but it is worth it, because I can have quality time educating my students! Plus, if I was an examiner, unless they were up to my very high standards of car control and road rule knowledge, I would fail most applicants! LOL” Host: Liz Lafferty Full driving lessons and instructional videos are here: https://theartofconfidentdriving.com/

Pre-Drive Checklist is essential when getting behind the wheel of a new vehicle. Many drivers (especially Learners) expect the controls in all vehicles to be the same! Instructor Liz will talk you through what is absolutely required before driving. Host: Liz Lafferty Full driving lessons and instructional videos here : https://theartofconfidentdriving.com/

Motivation. 2024 Happy New Year! It’s easy to be motivated at the start of the year, but how do we keep the motivation going? When learning to drive, trying to lose weight, keeping away from the booze, or any other task that we want to achieve, we can get setbacks or have problems keeping on track. In this episode, Instructor Liz explains why it’s so important to have a set goal and take small but consistent steps to achieve our dream! For learner drivers (or drivers wanting to upskill) it is often too hard to even think about diving straight into traffic or complex manouvers, but by setting smaller goals, it is so much easier to achieve and with less stress. Listen to Liz give an example of her own lack of motivation, and how she overcame it. Full driving lessons available here: Home – The Art of Confident Driving

On 30/8/23 an 87-year-old driver lost control of his vehicle while in reverse and was heading towards a 4 year old girl at high speed, when Casey Wright put his body in the path of the car saving the little girl’s life. It has affected his life, and the lives of those around him dramatically. In this episode, Instructor Liz has a chat with real life hero Casey and his partner Briahne, who have had to deal with the horrific injuries, and the long term effects of this crash. They also talk about how better driver education, along with more stringent medical tests and adding practical driving tests to the states without aged tests would create a safer environment for all road users. Please consider giving a donation to Casey to help him recover. https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-hero-on-his-path-to-recovery https://7news.com.au/news/gold-coast/car-mounts-kerb-striking-man-and-four-year-old-girl-in-southport-on-the-gold-coast-c-11749228 https://www.teamleads.com.au/post/heroic-gold-coast-man-casey-wright-risks-life-to-save-child-now-faces-long-road-to-recovery Full driving lessons and instructional videos from Instructor Liz are available here: https://theartofconfidentdriving.com/