Learn 2 Drive

Teaching her four teenagers to drive gave Millwater mother Phillippa Jones a front-row seat to the nerves, wrong turns and small victories that come with learning to handle a car.

It also showed her how much independence a driver licence can bring. Once her children, now all in their 20s, could head off confidently on their own, Phillippa began to see that her family experience might lead somewhere unexpected.

For the past 18 years, she had run a lawn and garden business, but after moving to Millwater she wanted work that was less physically demanding and based closer to home. Becoming a driving instructor offered a natural next step, and Learn 2 Drive was launched eight months ago.

Phillippa completed an intensive instructor course and gained her driving instructor endorsement. She now works with teenagers, adults who have never gained their licence, and older drivers wanting to rebuild their confidence or refresh their skills.

She says her approach is calm, friendly and firm, with lessons progressing at each learner’s pace. She knows too many instructions can overwhelm a nervous driver, so she concentrates on clear directions, reassurance and the occasional laugh.

Rather than simply teaching a standard test route, Phillippa wants learners to become safe, independent drivers. Lessons include parking and manoeuvres, speed management, mirror checks and understanding road markings. Her motto is “drive for the passengers,” she says.

“I teach my learners it’s not just looking in front to the bonnet, but looking at the whole picture and anticipating risks.”

Learn 2 Drive covers the Hibiscus Coast and, by arrangement, the North Shore. Phillippa can meet learners at home, at her Millwater base or another agreed location, with after-school and weekend lessons currently available.

Business Directory: Learn 2 Drive