While it isn’t exactly included in wedding vows, many couples would say that driving lessons should be up there with infidelity as a must-not for any happy couple. After all, we’ve all seen depictions of domestic rows taking place behind the wheel, and honestly, many of us could think of nothing more infuriating than trying to explain basic driving elements to someone who can’t understand a word of it.

In reality, though, while not all relationships (even the happy ones!) can withstand the pressure of driving lessons, many couples do manage to make this work and they enjoy a range of benefits from doing so, including significant savings. As such, you might not want to turn away from the possibility of teaching your spouse to drive after all. Instead, consider the following ways to make sure that this pursuit doesn’t put the brakes on your love life.

Picture Credit: CC0 Licence

 

Make sure the legalities align

Without the dual controls of a professional instructor, your risks of an accident do increase, and you’re going to want to make sure that your lessons fit in the letter of the law to make your life easier if the worst does occur. Visible L plates are perhaps the most obvious consideration here, and should always be purchased and displayed before lessons. Equally, you’re going to want to research cheap car insurance companies that allow you to name your spouse as a joint driver for protection no matter what. And, of course, with motorway driving off the cards for anyone without a licence, you’ll also need to plan appropriate routes carefully for every single lesson.

Set ground rules

It’s also fundamental to offset any potential difficulties by laying down a few ground rules before you begin, such as restrictions on shouting, only having one of you talk at a time, and also allowing you to take over if things start looking sticky. While tempers may still flare in the moment, having these agreements in place at least gives you each pause to reassess, or even pause a lesson altogether, before continuing more calmly.

Supplement with professional lessons

There’s nothing to say that you can’t also supplement spousal lessons with at least a once-monthly professional input. After all, most driving instructors charge on a per-lesson basis, so there’s nothing wrong with picking up and switching around like this. Perhaps the main reason to engage in this dual learning focus is that every driver picks up bad habits, and ensuring professional oversight on the side guarantees that your partner can siphon any potential bad driving go-to’s that you didn’t realise you were teaching them. This, in turn, ensures a comprehensive learning experience that makes a pass way more likely and can help everyone to stay happy with how things are progressing.

 

Teaching anyone to drive is difficult, especially when that person is your spouse, but that’s not to say that this mode of learning has never worked for anyone. By implementing these techniques, you might just find that your marriage can stay strong in sickness and in driving.