You may need to check your pupil's understanding by asking questions. If they offer a partially correct answer, you should confirm the correct parts and, to complete their understanding, give them feedback on where they went wrong.

The safest rule is never to drink and drive. Alcohol seriously affects judgement and concentration. It will reduce driving ability, give a false sense of confidence and slow down reactions.

If you have to leave valuables in your car, always lock them out of sight. If a thief can't see anything of value to steal, they're less likely to break in.

The fuel in your vehicle can be a dangerous fire hazard. A strong smell of petrol may indicate a fuel leak and needs investigating. Don't use a naked flame near the vehicle if you can smell fuel, and don't smoke when refuelling your vehicle.

All your concentration should be on your driving. Any pain you feel will distract you, and you should avoid driving when drowsy. The safest course of action is to wait until you've rested and feel better.

Insurance companies are likely to charge a higher premium for people who have been convicted of driving while unfit through drink or drugs. This is because they've shown that they're a risk to others on the road.

Some people find learning to drive easy, while others struggle with the challenge. It's important that lessons are matched to the pupil's ability. Mismatching lessons and ability can lead to loss of confidence, disinterest and dissatisfaction.

While a driving instructor should have a prepared plan for each lesson, there needs to be flexibility in how it's delivered. If one teaching method isn't successful, then other methods need to be tried to find one that works for the pupil.

When planning and delivering a lesson, it's important to remember that we all learn in different ways. Continuing to deliver in the same way, when the pupil is clearly not engaging or making progress, may reduce their motivation even further.

Any medical condition that would affect your driving must be reported to the DVLA Drivers Medical Group or, in Northern Ireland, the DVA Drivers Medical Section. If you have any condition or you have to take any medication that you think might affect your driving, it's worth checking the information available on www.gov.uk

A transfer of knowledge is when links are made between previous experience and the new skills to be learned. For example, a pedestrian who can judge appropriate gaps in the traffic to cross the road can link this skill to turning right into side roads when they learn to drive. A good instructor will identify these links.

If your usual techniques or methods don't appear to be working, you should discuss the matter with your pupil, and explore alternative ways of getting the point across.

Learning is far more effective when a pupil can identify for themselves the reason why something has gone wrong. If they can't work it out, you can help them to understand with an explanation or a diagram. When they understand the problem, the pupil should then practise this manoeuvre.

All-round observation is essential throughout any manoeuvre. Drivers should use their mirrors and pay particular attention to the direction in which they're moving, to vulnerable road users, and to what might be happening in any blind spots.

As people age, their reactions tend to slow and they can take longer to assess hazards. Don't try to rush them, but be tolerant and patient.