Practice after ABC of Driving After you learn the 'A-B-C's of driving, I suggest that you practise, at your

own pace, the following: 1. Up and down a steep slope, in forward gear, then in reverse gear; 2. Experience how 1st and 2nd gear 'engine braking' works in steep slopes; 3. Learn to make a perfect '8'; 4. Choose a parking slot and reverse *exactly* into the middle of the slot *without* turning back. That is, using your rearview mirror and both wing mirrors *only*. When you master this technique, your peripheral vision automatically gets honed and you will have fewer dents/ scratches/ accidents on account of you; 5. Repeat #4 at night, in a dimly lit street; 6. Repeat #4 & #5 on a steep slope; 7. Learn 'tight' parallel (kerb-side) and angular parking to perfection, once again, using only your wing and rear-view mirrors; 8. Learn to drive in *any* traffic situation *without* honking; 9. Take your car through very crowded, very narrow market places without honking; 10. Finally, never be afraid of getting a few minor scratches and dents - consider the cost of repair as your learning cost. The more deeply you feel hurt when your car gets 'hurt', the better driver you'll turn out to be!

Firstly, welcome to the forum. Now as regards to teaching your wife, the most important thing is not to yell as you did so. Just let her drive. Tell her that she has to mantain safe distance from the front car. Do not allow her to cut lanes EVER. Teach her about steady driving, like

driving at 45 - 50 in 5th gear without pressing the clutch. Try and get her to follow a cyclist at safe distance in a particular gear for sometime without knocking the vehicle. Slow & steady driving is the most difficult to master. Steering Control : Take her on winding road and make her drive on the left most lane, near the shoulder. Ask her to keep a foot distance from the shoulder, no more, no less. Teach her to keep one eye on the shoulded lane always. Will help her in night driving as well and will teach her to avoid taking the glare of oncoming traffic. Clutch Control: If she can follow a biker in first gear for some time without knocking, half the battle is one. Most new drivers I have noticed who have not graduated from Fiat/Amby days release the clutch very quickly while changing gears thus giving a jerk. Make sure she counts 5..4..3..2 while releasing the clutch, 5 correspoding to start of release and 2 corresponding to complete release. This count changes based on the gear she is changing from 1st to 2nd --5..4..3..2 2nd to 3rd --5..4..3 3rd to 4th --5..4 4th to 5th --5 Set the interval between these counts based on your vehicle's clutch setting and response. Braking: If she ever brakes without looking at the rear view mirror, remind her of it. That is the most important aspect of breaking for a learner. Then as she gets more experience you can teach

her the benifits of breaking using the gears, and pumping brakes. Guaging the Car: While turning the car, left right or U turn, always turn the steering wheel after the driver has crossed the corner object from where you are turning. The main rule while driving is "When you are not sure, you just dont do it". Guaging the car will only come from experience of driving it, so let her drive most of the time. If she stalls in the middle of the road, dont push her into starting quickly like everyone else outside, just be relaxed and help her get out of the situation by re-iterating the rules discussed. Emphasize on SLOW. Change gear SLOWLY, release clutch SLOWLY, but drive STEADILY along with the traffic. Show her that if one drives slower than the traffic, how the cars around cut you left right and center and scare the hell out of you which makes you drive only slower. But if you are up with their speed, traffic around you suddenly feels normal. If you will be patient, she will drive very well and LOVE you more for it too. I believe women are steady drivers and they generally always get a better Fuel Efficiency than their male counterparts. Cheers!!! Burjis