Mum's the word on who's best instructor

Nicholas Beel (16) says his mother Justine is calm and doesn't yell. He says it's easier to think. Photo / Natalie Slade

Auckland teenager Nicholas Beel reckons driving lessons are almost a breeze - when he's with his mother.

But his father is a "bit more edgy" and not quite as calm as his mum.

"He yells if I'm doing something wrong, it's a little bit more stressful. [Mum is] a lot better than Dad because she's calm and doesn't yell. It's easier to think."

The 16-year-old has had about 10 driving lessons with his mother and, like his older brother and many other New Zealand learner drivers, will complete his training with lessons from a professional instructor.

Nicholas said he was struggling most with learning to use the clutch and hill starts but was gradually coming to grips with both.

He is also using the free learn to drive computer program Practice, which he said had been particularly helpful in teaching him about hazards, with hands-on video examples of the risks on the roads.

"It's a big eye-opener."

His mother, Justine Beel, said the programme had reminded her not to pass on bad habits to her son.

"It's really good because it details what you need to cover and things you don't think about. When you've been driving for a while you do things intuitively rather than being aware you're doing them and it's making me aware of what I need to pass on to Nick. And it's also proving to him that I'm not talking through a hole in my head."