Brits would rather take a driving lesson with dad than mum

Britons would rather practise their driving skills with Dad according to a new study by AA Driving School. And it's a wonder any youngsters ever reach their driving test if the stories about parents losing their temper and grabbing the steering wheel during a practice drive are anything to go by.

But despite parent gripes, more than half the population (52 per cent) agreed that dads are better at coaching their children behind the wheel than mums (24 per cent).

The study questioned over 1,300 adults in addition to polling AA Driving School instructors to reveal:

Top ‘knee jerk reactions' from parents trying to coach their youngsters
Discrepancies between the population's and the expert view of parent instruction
The bad habits parents pass on to their children
Panicked parents' knee jerk reactions

Two fifths of the population (39 per cent) agreed that when taking their novice youngsters out on the road, it's Dad who is quicker to lose his temper whereas Mum is more likely to panic (27 per cent). Both genders however were found guilty of knee jerk reactions in high stress moments of coaching, with the top five being:

Telling the learner to slow down - 28 per cent
Stamping their foot to the floor on an imaginary brake pedal - 19 per cent
Telling the learner to pull over so they can drive - 15 per cent
Swearing - 14 per cent
Grabbing the arm rest for safety - 14 per cent
Practical Dad has better all round driving knowledge

As well as voting Dad the better coach, the nation also thinks fathers have a better general knowledge of three principle areas of learning to drive a car. Three quarters (73 per cent) agreed that dads are better at teaching practical skills (such as how to check engine oil); more than half (56 per cent) agreed that fathers have a better knowledge of road theory; two thirds (65 per cent) also thought that dads are better at teaching driving technique such as clutch control.

What the experts say

While the nation has unanimously voted Dad as the better teacher, the majority (39 per cent) of AA Driving School instructors polled claim that overall there is no difference between parents in their ability to coach their children. They do however distinguish skill levels between the genders when it comes to practical skills and driving theory; 84 per cent agreed dads are better at teaching driving technique whilst 92 per cent voted mums top of the class at theory instruction.

Bad habits die hard

Although parents can play a key role in their children's driving development, AA Driving School's instructors highlighted that many parents pass on bad habits to their learner offspring. The chief gripe from the professionals is parents not using their mirrors properly (25 per cent), not feeding the wheel, not checking the blind spot and speeding (14 per cent) and braking too hard or late (11 per cent).

Simon Douglas, director of the AA Driving School, comments: "It's not easy learning to drive and having a parent take a learner out on the road, regardless of whether it's mum or dad, can really help a novice driver move forward.

"Our fully qualified DSA approved driving instructors recommend that learner drivers should aim for at least 60 hours of driving before taking the test, of which about 40 hours should be tutored between lessons and driving with a parent is often the best way to achieve this.

"But with bad habits easily passed on, we would also advise parents to let the experts do the teaching, while parents spend their time helping their children gain experience. Above all, parents should enjoy it too: the more they get out of the session, the more the learner will get out of it.